What is a Clinical Nurse Specialist?

• A Clinical Nurse Specialist is a licensed Registered Nurse who holds a Master’s or Doctorate degree in nursing as a Clinical Nurse Specialist.


• A Clinical Nurse Specialist is an expert clinician in a specialized area of nursing practice identified in terms of:
  • a medical subspecialty (e.g. diabetes, cardiology, wounds)
  • a population (e.g. pediatrics, geriatrics, women’s health) or
  • a patient care setting (e.g. critical care, emergency room)
  
  
• A Clinical Nurse Specialist uses expert nursing skills, medical diagnosis and treatment including prescribing medications to assist patients in the prevention or resolution of a chronic disease, illness or injury.


• A Clinical Nurse Specialist can also influence patient care outcomes by providing expert clinical consultation for staff nurses.


• A Clinical Nurse Specialist is often involved in the research of nursing interventions and implementing improvements in how nurses deliver health care.


• Research about Clinical Nurse Specialists’ practice demonstrate improved patient care such as:
  • Reduced hospital costs and length of stay
  • Reduced frequency of emergency room visits
  • Improved pain management practices
  • Increased patient satisfaction with nursing care
  • Reduced medical complications in hospitalized patients


• Other Master’s and Doctorate prepared nurses (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)) include Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Anesthetists.

An estimated 69,017 RNs have the education and credentials to practice as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in the United States. Approximately 14,643 are qualified to work both as a Nurse Practitioner and a Clinical Nurse Specialist.

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