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What is a clinical nurse specialist?
The clinical nurse specialist has been a part of the health care industrial complex in the United States for more than 60 years. Through the decades, the profession has become widely accepted in the health care system as a standardized, licensed, and fully regulated health care occupation, and one that significantly impacts the nation’s economy by providing safe, low-cost, and effective evidence-based health care services.
How do clinical nurse specialists practice?
Clinical nurse specialists are expert clinicians with advanced education and training in a specialized area of nursing practice who work in a wide variety of health care settings. A clinical nurse specialists’ specialty may be defined by:
- population (such as: pediatrics, geriatrics, women’s health);
- setting (such as: critical care or emergency room);
- disease or medical subspecialty (such as: diabetes or oncology);
- type of care (such as: psychiatric or rehabilitation); or
- type of problem (such as: pain, wounds, stress).
How do clinical nurse specialists influence health care delivery?
Clinical nurse specialists provide diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of patients. They also provide expertise and support to nurses caring for patients at the bedside, help drive practice changes throughout the organization, and ensure the use of best practices and evidence-based care to achieve the best possible patient outcomes.
What are the requirements to practice as a clinical nurse specialist in my state?
State laws and administrative rules for nursing practice are issued by state licensing boards and they vary from state to state. Consult your state licensing board for specifics. In 2015, NACNS in collaboration with the National Council on State Boards of Nursing collected information on state laws regarding prescriptive authority and independent practice on CNSs. Click here to learn more about your state.
What certifications or specialty certifications are available for clinical nurse specialists?
The APRN Consensus Model states that clinical nurse specialists who practice in the majority of states must obtain certification based on a population area. Current certification examinations based on population include:
- Adult/Gerontology
- Pediatrics
- Neonatal
For more information on population-level credentialing, please contact The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Critical Care Nurses Certification Corporation. Specialty certifications are available through various specialty nursing organizations. Please contact your specialty nursing association for more details.