December 2013
The CNS role promotes quality health care services and decreases health care expenditures through management of a patient’s primary and chronic health care as well as through care coordination and transitions using advanced nursing knowledge, abilities, and skill. A review of the CNS Core Competencies supports the centrality of the function of care coordination within the CNS role and shows that the CNS is educated and prepared to be not only a participant in care coordination but also to partner with other providers in the leadership role for coordination of care transitions. Studies have demonstrated that care coordination promoting seamless care transitions is integral to the CNS role and results in reduced hospital length of stay and fewer hospital readmissions and hospital-acquired conditions (HACs). (Impact of the Clinical Nurse Specialist Role on the Costs and Quality of Health Care, December 2013) The role of the CNS as uniquely qualified and positioned to lead and coordinate care transitions is supported by evidence as well as throughout the CNS core competency statements.