What Is a Typical Day Like for a Clinical Nurse Specialist?
A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is an advanced practice nurse who has earned at least a master's degree and specializes in a specific type of disease, patient population, care environment, type of care or type of problem.
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Daily Routine
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There is no such thing as an "average" day for a CNS. However, there are five broad functions that the CNS fulfills. These include clinical practice, teaching, management, consulting and research.
Clinical Practice
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A CNS may practice in either an acute or non-acute setting, and her specialized education and experience help her work with patients to achieve better outcomes.
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Consulting
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In addition to providing direct patient care, the CNS may also move between units offering input not only to other nurses but also to physicians.
Management
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Because of advanced and focused knowledge, a CNS also acts as case manager with the twin goals of coordinating services and resources and controlling care costs.
Teaching
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The CNS fills an important role in the development of new nurses in the clinical setting and in a more academic environment. A CNS may also deliver lectures to other health care providers as a part of their professional development.
Research
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A CNS adds to the profession and to the overall quality of patient care by becoming involved in practice-oriented research, such as patient safety issues. A CNS also can improve the profession by following data related to the efficacy of nursing practices and regulations. The outlook for the CNS role is excellent for the next decade, especially as society tries to control health care costs. The demand outstrips the supply by far, and for those thinking of starting a nursing career, there are many options to make a nursing education affordable.
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