Press Room

Dear Summer 2023 Graduates,

Congratulations on your recent graduation from a CNS program!

I believe the best thing about being a new CNS is the autonomy. Suddenly, you have the freedom to expand your practice and thinking and make changes happen with authority — the very changes that prompted you to become a CNS in the first place.

The ability to crack the egg wide open on all the knowledge, skills, and experience you have paired with CNS leadership, you can now practice at the highest level, the APRN level — and even diagnose and prescribe medical care.

But take my advice: partner well with the C-suite, or your boss’s boss. Listen to their needs and take them to the front lines. Express to them the needs of nurses, too! Also, establish physician partnerships and be bold in letting them know what you can do as a CNS. You need these relationships of trust and respect to develop your set of healthcare system privileges to practice to the full extent of your capabilities.

Finally, create and update your dashboards often and distribute quarterly reports on your activities and outcomes. Never assume others know what you are doing. All professions have to validate their work, and we are no different.

Now, enjoy being in the best nursing role—the CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST! And don’t forget to splash your achievements all over social media to grow this incredible role across the globe and celebrate you.

Best,
Dr. Mitzi
NACNS President (2023-2024)