What is a Clinical Nurse Specialist

What is a Clinical Nurse Specialist?

Becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist is not easy. Had some friends which were confused regarding Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). But really, does any of you know what really is a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)?

Here's a simple answer to that.

Been spending my career as a Clinical Nurse Specialist for some time now. Spent working in different hospitals. Though the duties vary from position to position, the main focus/work of a CNS is actually helping the staff nurses to provide a very good or let's say best care as much as possible to every patients rather than providing the primary care as well as serving the physician in charge to extender role. I've listed below some of the specific activities which we as CNS are involve. This is not really in order.
- Assisting the management team to be sure that the department is in compliance with all regulations, codes, standards, etc.
- Assuring that the latest practice advances get implemented in your hospital (researching them,
- Staff development creating policies, educating staff, etc.) Upgrading the care given in your department.
- Coordinating (initiating, participating in) any research being done in the department.
- Serving as a consultant to the staff to help them solve particularly challenging clinical problems
- Working with staff members who need a little extra education/mentoring to help them "make it" on that unit
- Establishing new programs and/or policies.

As I have said. The above list are not really in order. I just write them based on what I have experienced. Being a CNS in a hospital makes you like working as "jack of all trades". Hope this could give a clearer view in everyone's mind. Overall, being a clinical nurse specialist is a great job!