Clinical Nurse Specialist
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EveryNurse Staff
- Last Updated: February 10, 2023
Explore the vital role of Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) in healthcare. Learn how their specialized expertise enhances patient care and supports healthcare teams.
Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are healthcare experts who have extensive knowledge and experience in the management of highly specialized patient conditions. In addition to performing conventional nursing duties at a patient’s bedside, a clinical nurse specialist’s scope of practice includes sharing their expertise and supporting other healthcare professionals. Their role in health care is crucial in promoting optimal patient outcomes and improving patient care and safety.
What Is a Clinical Nurse Specialist?
A clinical nurse specialist is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who has earned a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing with a focus in a specific setting or medical subspecialty. Their expertise within a specialty area allows them to treat complex diseases, injuries, and disabilities, and to be a key contributor to the care of a patient. They are also trained to work with other healthcare providers, often functioning as educators and consultants to the nursing staff.
The responsibilities of a CNS most frequently involve working to diagnose and treat patients, but the role of clinical nurse specialists often extends into other areas. The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists has designated the following core competencies for clinical nurse specialists: direct care, system leadership, coaching of staff, consultation, collaboration, interpretation of evidence, and research.
Facts About Clinical Nurse Specialists
A clinical nurse specialist is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who has earned a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing with a focus in a specific setting or medical subspecialty. Their expertise within a specialty area allows them to treat complex diseases, injuries, and disabilities, and to be a key contributor to the care of a patient. They are also trained to work with other health care providers, often functioning as educators and consultants to the nursing staff.
The responsibilities of a CNS most frequently involve working to diagnose and treat patients, but the role of clinical nurse specialists often extends into other areas. The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists has designated the following core competencies for clinical nurse specialists: direct care, system leadership, coaching of staff, consultation, collaboration, interpretation of evidence, and research.
What Does a Clinical Nurse Specialist Do?
Clinical nurse specialists provide diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of patients. They have a vast knowledge of nursing care and are able to deal with all aspects of the patient’s health, whether chronic or acute. They also provide education, teaching, and consultation to other people in the healthcare profession.
Clinical nurse specialists work in many different capacities across the healthcare industry. They may be deployed by a facility where they provide direct care for specific patients. They may also provide support and expertise to nurses caring for patients at the bedside, or consultative services to organizations to ensure best practices and evidence-based care.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Job Description
- Assisting physicians and surgeons during surgical procedures
- Analyzing the results of tests
- Providing education for patients and their families.
- Prescribing medication based on the plan of care.
- Evaluating and treating post-surgery complications.
- Helping to identify risks for surgical problems.
- Instructing, coaching, teaching, and mentoring other nurses and healthcare providers.
- Evaluating the nursing care provided by health care providers to determine if they are providing appropriate levels of care or not.
- Conducting research on the nursing profession so nurses can use new information in their practice.
How to Become a Clinical Nurse Specialist
If you’re considering a career as a clinical nurse specialist, it’s important to know what qualifications you need. In the United States, clinical nurse specialists must obtain specific credentials before they can be certified to practice professionally.
Guidelines vary depending on the state, but generally, RNs who want to become clinical nurse specialists must receive national certification and a state license. The process of becoming a CNS involves the following education, licensing, and experience requirements:
- A Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- An MSN degree or Doctor of Nursing Practice
- An active, unencumbered RN license
- A minimum of 500 supervised clinical practice hours
- CNS certification through the ANCC or the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
Clinical Nurse Specialist Salary
Clinical Nurse Specialists earn a competitive salary due to their high level of education and specialized skill set. The median salary for a CNS in 2022 is $124,680, which is the equivalent of $59.94 per hour. The top 10% in the profession earn over $165,240 per year.
Wages for nurses in advanced practice registered nursing roles are expected to grow substantially for the next decade, along with overall employment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment of APRNs is projected to grow by an astounding 38 percent through 2032. Growth in employment and financial compensation is attributed to the increased prevalence of chronic illness, higher demand for care relating to an aging population, and greater specialization in nursing practice.
| State | Hourly Wage | Monthly Pay | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $61.56 | $10,670 | $128,043 |
| New Hampshire | $57.00 | $9,879 | $118,551 |
| Vermont | $56.43 | $9,781 | $117,373 |
| Hawaii | $53.89 | $9,340 | $112,091 |
| Wyoming | $53.76 | $9,317 | $111,811 |
| Massachusetts | $53.75 | $9,317 | $111,809 |
| Tennessee | $53.69 | $9,305 | $111,667 |
| Arizona | $53.63 | $9,295 | $111,551 |
| Nevada | $52.90 | $9,169 | $111,034 |
| Washington | $52.52 | $9,102 | $109,234 |
Additional Resources
- National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists: NACNS
- California Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- American Nurses Association (ANA)
- National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA)
- The National League for Nursing (NLN)
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses
Clinical Nurse Specialist FAQ
How long does it take to become a clinical nurse specialist?
After high school, it takes a Clinical Nurse Specialist between seven and ten years to enter practice, depending on the level of education they pursue and their aptitude for the profession. A general rule is that a nurse must earn a BSN and MSN degree to become a clinical nurse specialist. Bachelor’s programs typically take four years to complete and a Master’s degree takes an additional 2-3 years. Some individuals choose to pursue additional postgraduate education in a medical subspecialty and earn a DNP, which requires 3-4 years of study.
What is the difference between an RN and a CNS?
While many of their core responsibilities overlap at times, there are several key differences between an RN and CNS. A clinical nurse specialist is a registered nurse who has earned an additional graduate-level nursing degree and is certified in a specialty area. The emphasis of a clinical nurse specialist tends to be more administrative, research, and program development-oriented, while registered nurses tend to focus on direct patient care.
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