Name: |
Clinical
Nurse Specialist |
Description: |
The
CNS role involves advanced expertise in a
specific knowledge and practice area of nursing.
The clinical specialist is expected to observe,
conceptualize, diagnose, and analyze complex
clinical or nonclinical problems related to
health; and to consider a range of theory
relevant to understanding those problems and
determining possible treatment options.
Responsibilities include clinical practice,
education, research, and consultation |
Settings: |
Widely varied inpatient areas,
including medical-surgical, pediatric, perinatal,
geriatric, psychiatric, rehabilitation,
critical-care, and emergency/trauma, as well as
outpatient areas such as home health, community,
public health, occupational health, and schools |
Characteristics: |
Provides direct patient care;
teaches patients and families self-care;
administers medications, IV therapy, and
treatments; performs assessments; plans,
implements, evaluates, and documents care; serves
as preceptor, team leader, and charge nurse
supervising RNs, LPNs, NAs, NTs; advocates for
the patient and family with other members of the
healthcare team |
Drawbacks: |
Staffing issues, excessive
paperwork, conflicts (e.g., with patients,
families, other healthcare providers), stress |
Desirable
skills: |
Technical, human, and conceptual
skills: critical thinking and creative problem
solving, therapeutic communication and teaching
skills, technical skill and proficiency,
teambuilding, supervision and delegation,
responsibility and accountability, flexibility,
knowledge of resources, commitment to high
standards and quality care |
Education: |
RN with MS |
Employers: |
Hospitals, extended-care and
ambulatory centers, community-based providers |
Certification: |
|
Publications: |
| Clinical
Nurse Specialist Journal |
| 410-528-4000 |
|
|
