Press Room

National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Announces 2023 Award Winners

Only US CNS Association Recognizes Outstanding Professional Excellence

RESTON, Va. – March 17, 2023 – The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) recently announced its 2023 award winners, president, and president-elect. Mitzi Saunders, Ph.D., APRN, ACNS-BC, was elected president and Jennifer Manning, DNS, ACNS-BC, CNE, was elected president-elect of NACNS. Five new board members were also recently elected. 

NACNS is the only US non-profit organization representing the 89,000 clinical nurse specialists (CNS) in our country, and is dedicated to advancing the practice and education of the role. CNSs are one of the four categories of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).

Awards were given out to NACNS members and affiliates in the CNS field whose achievements and contributions were outstanding. Award winners were nominated and selected by their peers. More information about the annual NACNS Awards Program can be found on our website

“In order to continue to drive forward the adoption of the CNS role, we need people like these eleven award winners that go above and beyond for their practice,“ said Mitzi Saunders, Ph.D., APRN, ACNS-BC and NACNS president. “I am thrilled to be able to honor these hardworking professionals and all they do for the CNS profession.”

The 2023 NACNS National Award Winners are:

  • Clinical Nurse Specialist of the Year: Marianne Hiles, MSN, RN, APRN-CNS, ACNS-BC, RNC-LRN, C-EFM, FCNS
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist Academic Faculty Award: Jackeline Iseler, DNP, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, CNE
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist Evidence-Based Practice / Quality Improvement of the Year Award: Misty Lamprecht, MS, APRN-CNS, AOCN, BMTCN
  • Armed Forces Clinical Nurse Specialist of the Year Award: Major Kenneth Romito, DNP, APRN, AGCNS-BC, CNOR, CSSM
  • Rising Star Clinical Nurse Specialist of the Year Award: Matthew Keyes, MS, RN, CNS, ACCNS-AG, AGCNS-BC
  • NACNS Affiliate of the Year Award: North Carolina Affiliate of NACNS
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist Mentor of the Year Award: Kellie Capes, DNP, RN, AGCNS-BC, PCCN, CMSRN
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist Preceptor of the Year Award: Marcia Cornell, DNP, APRN-CNS, RN, ACNS-BC, NPD-BC, CEN, TCRN
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist Entrepreneur/Intrapreneur of the Year Award: Lisa Soltis, MSN, RN-BC, APRN, PCCN-K, CCRN-CSC-CMC, CCNS, CES-A, FCCM, FCNS
  • Sue B. Davidson Service Award: Dianna J. Copley, MSN, APRN, ACCNS-AG, CCRN
  • Brenda Lyon Leadership Award: Erica Fischer-Cartlidge, DNP, RN, AOCNS, EBP-C
  • President’s Award: Jan Powers, Ph.D., RN, CCNS, CCRN, NE-BC, FCCM, FAAN

About the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists

The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) is the only national association representing the clinical nurse specialist (CNS). CNSs are the most versatile advanced practice registered nurses and work in a variety of health care specialties to ensure the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered care. As leaders in the acute, post-acute, and ambulatory health care settings, CNSs impact direct patient care, nurses and nursing practice, and organizations and systems to optimize care and drive outstanding clinical outcomes. NACNS is dedicated to advancing CNS practice and education, and removing unnecessary and limiting regulatory barriers while assuring public access to quality CNS services. Learn more and discover the benefits of joining the NACNS. 


Five Clinical Nurse Specialists Named To NACNS Board Of Directors

National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists To Advocate For 89,000 CNSs In U.S.

RESTON, VA – January 19, 2023 – The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) announced the election of five members to the NACNS Board of Directors  and introduced its President-Elect and Secretary-Treasurer today.  

NACNS represents thousands of clinical nurse specialists (CNS) across the country.  Clinical nurse specialists are advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) who have graduate preparation in nursing.  They can diagnose, treat, prescribe and bill like other APRNs as allowed by their state regulations and typically hold leadership positions at the hospital or system level.

“NACNS Board Members play a critical leadership role within the organization.  They act as the primary advocates for the 89,000 CNSs in the United States,” said Phyllis Whitehead, PhD, APRN/CNS, ACHPN, PMGT-BC, FNAP, FAAN and president, NACNS. “Their advocacy extends beyond NACNS to their patients and the organizations they serve.  CNSs are uniquely qualified to work at the bedside as well as in clinical or educational roles.”

About NACNS Board of Directors
Newly named officers and board members include:

President-Elect
Jennifer L. Manning, DNS, ACNS-BC, CNE​
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing

Secretary-Treasurer
Linda Thurby-Hay, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC, BC-ADM, CDCES
Bon Secours Mercy Health Richmond

Board Members
Jackeline Iseler, DNP, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, CNE​
Michigan State University

Pamela Moss, MPH, MSN, APRN, ACCNS-AG, CCRN-CSC​
Johns Hopkins University

Amy Shay, PhD, RN, APRN-CNS, FCNS​
Indiana University-School of Nursing

About The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists

The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) is the only national association representing the clinical nurse specialist (CNS). CNSs are the most versatile advanced practice registered nurses and work in a variety of health care specialties to ensure delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered care. As leaders in the acute, post-acute, and ambulatory health care settings, CNSs impact direct patient care, nurses and nursing practice, and organizations and systems to optimize care and drive outstanding clinical outcomes. NACNS is dedicated to advancing CNS practice and education, and removing unnecessary and limiting regulatory barriers, while assuring public access to quality CNS services. For more information or to join NACNS click here


NACNS Bylaws – Proposed Changes Available for Member Review

The NACNS Bylaws are regularly reviewed by the NACNS Board of Directors. In 2022, the Board reviewed the existing bylaws, drafted and approved proposed changes. According to Article VX, Section 1 of the NACNS Bylaws, “All proposed amendments received in proper form by the Board of Directors and submitted to the board of directors must be circulated to the entire membership, not less than thirty (30) days prior to the vote. The amendments shall be voted on by the membership at the annual meeting of the NACNS.”

In accordance with this, the proposed updated Bylaws have been made available for NACNS member review here. Members may review this document and cast their vote on it at the Annual Business Meeting, held onsite at the Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, March 11, 2023.

Please contact info@nacns.org with any questions.

Proposed Bylaws for Member Review


Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute Announces 2023 Class of Fellows

CNSI Institute

The Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute (CNSI) is pleased to announce the 2023 Class of CNSI Fellows. This is a highly prestigious honor and only awarded to those members of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) who epitomize the excellence of Clinical Nurse Specialist as leaders of the nursing profession, staunch advocates for patients and families, and forerunners of innovations to improve the health of populations. The new fellows will be inducted on Thursday, March 9th during the NACNS 2023 conference in Portland Oregon. Guest tickets for attending the dinner event are available on the NACNS conference registration website.

The 2023 Class of Fellows are:

Lianna Z. Ansryan, MSN, PHN, GERO-BC, AGCNS-BC
Clinical Nurse Specialist
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA Health), Los Angeles, California

David F. Bradley Jr., Lt Col, USAF, DNP, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BC, CNOR
Assistant Professor/Deputy Director AGCNS Program
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Daniel K Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, Bethesda, Maryland

Marcia S. Cornell, DNP APRN-CNS, RN ACNS-BC, NPD-BC, CEN, TCRN
Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist
University Hospitals, Geauga Medical Center, Chardon, Ohio

Jennifer A. Dammeyer, MS, RN, CNS-C, CCRN-K
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Critical Care Medicine
The University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Kimberly W. Elgin, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC, PCCN, CMSRN
Assistant Professor & Director, DNP Program, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing
University Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia

Latoya Freeman, DNP, MSN/Ed, APRN, ACCNS-AG, PCCN, CPPS, HNB-BC
Clinical Nurse Specialist and Adjunct Faculty
University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Rachel A. Moody, MS, CNS, RN, CENP
Nurse Administrator Nursing Practice and Quality and Assistant Professor of Nursing
Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, Minnesota

Brittany D. Rhoades, PhD, APRN, CCNS, CCTN
Clinical Nurse Specialist/Instructor Cardiothoracic Surgery
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

Jean Salera-Vieira, DNP, PNS, APRN-CNS, RNC-OB, C-EFM, C-ONQS
Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist, Director Program Development, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)
Newport Hospital, Newport, Rhode Island

Phyllis B. Whitehead, PhD, APRN/CNS, ACHPN, PMGT-BC, FNAP, FAAN
Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist and Clinical Ethicist
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke, Virginia

In 2016, the CNSI was founded as an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). Its goal is to develop and promote the charitable, educational, innovative clinical practice and scientific purposes of NACNS. Today, the Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute is the 501(c)3 arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.


Ask Phee Phee Anything: CNSI Advocates/CNS Job Growth

Hello Readers!  This month we have two questions to answer for you.  Check them out below.

Ask Phee Phee Anything: CNSI Advocates

Q. Did NACNS members get a GIVING TUESDAY request from CNSI? Did not see it.

On Giving Tuesday we promoted and encouraged donating to CNSI on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.  Our position is that any day is a “Giving Tuesday” and CNSI is doing wonderful work and worthy of your donation at any time of year. NACNS’s partnership and advocacy with CNSI is important and will continue as we promote the role of the CNS.  To donate click here. Your donation will directly impact the future of our CNS practice and will help contribute to the mission of the CNS Institute; serve to develop and promote the charitable, educational, innovative clinical practice, and scientific goals of NACNS.

Ask Phee Phee Anything:  CNS Job Growth

Q. Are clinical nurse specialist in demand, what is the job outlook?

Is the CNS a growing profession? Heck, Yes!

The NACNS Job Board has 336 open positions listed. Your hospital may have CNS job postings as well.  According to Recruiter.com the growth in CNS jobs has surpassed 13% annually since 2012.  Between now and 2029 there will be 332,190 CNS jobs needing to be filled.  Do we need more CNSs?

Yes, indeed!

The top ten hospitals in the country employ many CNSs and, like many other organizations, they understand the value of CNS. However, there’s rich opportunity for those organizations who are not familiar with CNSs for you to advocate for the role and pitch it to the organization.  We have resources on our website on how to do that. Call it “making the case for a CNS” or a “business plan for CNSs”.

I had a discussion with one NACNS member just this week talking about “growing your own” CNS. This organization identifies nurse interested in becoming a CNS. It has a program to support the nurse as she is going to school to get education certification and for the transition period into the new position.  There are other innovative programs out there.  Speak up and ask about these types of innovative programs.  If your organization doesn’t have one, let’s make one! Contact me at pwhitehead@nacns.org.


Ask Phee Phee Anything: Things a CNS Should Care About: ICAN Legislation

Hi readers, and welcome to the October edition of Ask Phee Phee. This month, I wanted to talk about a topic that I am passionate about, which directly goes with my presidency’s theme: unstoppable advocacy. As stated on the ANA website, “the Improving Care and Access to Nurses Act (ICAN), H.R. 8812, promotes patient access to health care services delivered by the provider of their choice by removing outdated Medicare and Medicaid barriers on advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).” Because the ICAN Act was recently released, some of you may have a lot of questions. I want to answer those questions and explain why the ICAN Act is so important for CNSs. 

1. Why is the ICAN Act important to all CNSs?

This is a great example of how CNSs can advocate for themselves. This legislation is geared toward advanced practice nurses (APRNs) and takes away a lot of the limitations APRNS have previously faced. This act ensures that APRNS get fair payment and get the proper reimbursement for what they need for their patients. ICAN advances the advanced practice domain for all APRNs, but specifically CNSs. This act goes directly with the APP Hospice CTI Survey that was created in April 2022. This survey is not yet public, but it directly correlates with hospice end-of-life services and CNSs access to the proper care tools. This survey had large participation from CNSs, which further shows how important the ICAN Act is for all CNSs.

2. What are some good ICAN Act resources?

Some of the best resources can be found on the NACNS website as the legislation continues to move forward. To write to your legislator, follow this link on the NACNS website. This legislation is everywhere, you can find more information with a simple google search, or on the ANA website. Check out the NACNS news page for more updates as they come!

3. What can CNSs do today to help pass ICAN?

The most important step is to contact your legislator using the link above. The next most important action to take is to add your voice on social media with the ICAN photo as I did here. Pass along this photo to your fellow nurses and tell them to join the conversation. The most important part of this legislation is to keep the conversation going until it is approved. Never stop advocating!



Read the most recent press release from our affiliate the Rhode Island Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.

We are pleased to introduce the Rhode Island Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (RI-CNS). RI-CNS serves to meet the needs of CNSs across the state regardless of specialty or area of practice. The mission of RI-CNS is to promote the full scope of practice for CNSs, and to promotes the value and increases the visibility of the CNS among healthcare organizations, administrators, healthcare professionals and the public.

Download the Press Release


Ask Phee Phee Anything: What a CNS Should Bring to Work

Hello and happy CNS Week, Day 5! What a great week it’s been already, and to close this week’s special Ask Phee Phee blog series, I want to talk about the tools a CNS needs at work, and how to always come prepared for any situation that may arise.

Being a CNS means, one needs to be prepared for anything with their patients, and every day is different. A large part of being a CNS entails simply being present and available for whatever your patients need, physically, mentally, or emotionally.

Below is my list of the tools that a CNS should always bring to work to best serve our patients and communities. 

  1. A sense of humor
    A sense of humor is one of the most important things anyone in a health care role can bring to work. Between the long hours and emotionally/mentally draining work, being able to laugh and have a sense of humor can be extremely valuable in tense situations.
  2. Trust
    This tool goes two ways; you need your colleagues to be able to trust you as well as your patients. Being able to be someone that others trust should be a top priority for all health care workers.
  3. Reliability
    Stemming off being someone that people can trust, being reliable, and speaking up when others aren’t comfortable, is extremely important. Always being visible and transparent in your practice allows you to be a reliable person in the healthcare field.
  4. Teamwork
    Be open and be able to collaborate and communicate with those on a team. You can’t take yourself too seriously, but you need to be able to relate to and validate others’ feelings and situations in order to be the best CNS you can be.
  5. Empathy
    Always carry tissues, for the nurses, families, and patients. This is an emotional role and can carry a lot of stress for yourself and those around you. Be in tune with the situations around you and provide as much support as you can.
  6. Advocacy
    Set boundaries, and advocate for yourself as much as you advocate for others. Say no when you disagree with something or are put in an uncomfortable situation.
  7. Change
    Be a change advocate for nursing and your individual organizations as well as your own advanced practice. When our 3 spheres of impact are broken apart, other nurses can do one of the spheres, but we are unique when we practice all 3 spheres, in order to continue to demonstrate our value and impact as advanced practice registered nurses. We need to be able to push and expand our practice to continue to grow in healthcare.

Something I learned when I was a girl scout was to always “do a good turn daily,” and to always be prepared. As CNS, we need to not only do good deeds, but hold ourselves accountable to make sure that we are advancing our education and our practice, and most importantly have unstoppable advocacy.


Ask Phee Phee Anything: Diversity as a CNS

Hello to all my Ask Phee Phee readers, and happy day three of CNS Week! On this special Ask Phee Phee blog, as we celebrate CNS Week, we are going to be talking about the importance of diversity in the CNS role. The NACNS board recognizes that change is needed and is actively educating themselves and others through our initiatives this year and moving forward to create a more equitable workplace for all. 

What diversity initiatives does NACNS have in place for 2022-2023?

In 2022, NACNS has ramped up our DEI committee. This was initiated as a task force, and it has since grown and become more focused on making sure that nursing (specifically CNSs) is representative of the communities we serve. The DEI committee is making sure that members have equal opportunities within their role as a CNS. We released a DEI survey to hear from our members on diversity. 

The DEI committee’s first task identified with the survey was to investigate education, and training for diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as how to make the CNS role more diverse. Starting with members on the DEI committee, we are going to not only be more aware but actively trained to address the situation. DEI Committee Board Liaison Jerithea (Jeri) Tidwell, PhD, RN, PNP-BC, PCNS-BC, FCNSI, Chair Monica Coles, DNP, RN-BC, APRN, ACNS-BC, CDP, and co-chair Beckie Kronebusch, MSN, APRN/CNS are all helping immensely in their efforts to spread awareness and grow the committee to its full potential. 

Advocacy and Diversity

However, our goal isn’t to “form” and then not follow through. We have a commitment to change, a commitment to move forward and advocate for diversity. . Advocacy is so important at every level. Continuing to advance in our advocacy is reflective of how we take care of our patients.

Like most CNSs, I am not a member of a minority group, but I will continue to educate myself to better understand those who are and the challenges they could face becoming a CNS. If those in positions of power advocate for more diversity, then we can make a difference.  We can move beyond talking about diversity and (soon) see results.

For more on diversity, and how NACNS is actively making a change, make sure to register now for the 2022 Fall Summit on Oct. 18-19. The closing keynote on diversity and racism in nursing will be given by Marcus Henderson, MSN, RN, PhD Student.