Clinical Nurse Specialist

Abstract

This article recognizes challenges facing the traditional clinical nurse specialist (CNS) role and supports the merger of the nurse practitioner (NP) and the CNS into a hybrid advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). A historical review of each role is presented, with justification for role merger. The focus of the article is to present a personal account of this author's successful reengineering of a traditional cardiovascular CNS role to conform to a new state and institutional APRN model and ultimately to better serve a population of post-myocardial infarction patients.

Impact of having a certified nurse specialist in critical care nursing as head nurse on ICU patient outcomes

“…Most CNSs work directly with patients or in a division of nursing education developing effective health care techniques based on clinical evidence, solving complex problems, and educating nurses [7][8][9][10]. In contrast, one-fifth of CNSs work as full-time nurse administrators such as head nurses, nursing vice-directors, or nursing directors.…”