What Is a CNS in Nursing?
One of the great aspects about being a nurse is that there are so many types of nursing specialties to choose from. Certain specialities require advanced education and/or certifications and licensure. A professional who has earned such credentials is referred to as clinical nurse specialist (CNS). But exactly what is a CNS? Keep reading to learn about this role, its pros and cons, salary information, and more.
What Is a Clinical Nurse Specialist?
A clinical nurse specialist is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who has completed a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing. Some clinical nurse specialist examples include:
What Does a Clinical Nurse Specialist Do?
Regardless of the specialty a CNS chooses, there are roles a CNS can play:
- Clinician: Perform medical procedures for which APRN training is necessary.
- Consultant: Provide advice on a patient to RNs, physicians, and other members of the healthcare team.
- Educator: Teach continuing education courses and training modules.
- Researcher: Gather data to help create protocols rooted in evidence-based practice.
- Leader: Participate in administrative decision-making.
What is a CNS responsible for at work? Here are some examples:
- Assess patient histories
- Care coordination
- Conduct evidence-based research
- Diagnosis
- Medication administration
- Patient advocacy
To see what other duties this role may be responsible for, check out our sample clinical nurse specialist resume.
CNS Core Competencies
Despite the variety of career paths, there are three core competencies upon which a CNS will focus:
- Patient/Family: Implement evidence-based practice, consult with patients, evaluate impact of nursing interventions on patient outcomes.
- Nursing Practice: Consult with nurses responsible for patient care, and collaborate with nurses to make positive change.
- Organization/Systems: Collaborate with healthcare team to optimize patient experiences, and outcomes, lead and participate in quality improvement and safety initiatives
Clinical Nurse Specialist vs. Nurse Practitioner
What is a CNS compared to an NP? Great question. Although there can be overlap between the roles of a CNS and a nurse practitioner, they’re not identical. Both require at least a master’s degree, and both are involved with direct patient care.
The difference is that nurse practitioners primarily focus on direct patient care. Clinical nurse specialists are also involved with direct patient care, but they’re more likely to also focus on administration, research, and program development.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Clinical Nurse Specialist?
The amount of time it takes to become a CNS varies based upon your unique situation, but the required education alone can take between 6–11 years.
Traditional nursing school usually takes four years if you attend class full time. A master’s degree usually takes two years, and a PhD can take between two to five years. The amount of time you spend getting hands-on experience between your schooling is up to you.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Certification
Obtaining a CNS certification shows your dedication to your career and can give you a leg up in the hiring process. There are some certifications specifically for clinical nurse specialists, but it can also help to get certified in your specialty. Below are some common CNS certifications:
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC): Focuses on optimal patient care and cultivating your commitment to the profession with certification options in a range of specialties.
- AACN Certification Corporation: Focuses on health and safety in various levels of care that are aligned with national standards of excellence. There are three CNS certifications from AACN:
- ACCNS-Neonatal
- ACCNS-Pediatric
- ACCNS-Adult-Gerontology
- Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS): Focuses on entry-level clinical knowledge and skills through a certification exam.
What Is a CNS Expected to Earn?
How much does a CNS make? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a CNS salary depends on the exact specialty. For example, the salary for nurse midwives is $131,570 on average per year, and the salary for nurse practitioners is $128,490 on average per year. Those figures depend on your years of experience, education, facility, and location. These are the highest-paying states for nurse practitioners:
Employment of advanced practice nurses overall is projected to grow by 38% over the next decade. This growth is much faster than the 3% growth expected of all other occupations.
The Pros and Cons of Being a CNS
Like any other career, there are positive and negative aspects of working as a CNS. Below are some realities to keep in mind when considering this career path.
Pros
- You have practice autonomy.
- You have an important impact on patient outcomes.
- You have a variety of specialties to choose from.
Cons
- More responsibilities can bring more stress.
- Varying practice authorities across states can interfere with your scope of practice when moving to a new state.
- Extensive time commitment required to pursue this path.
Find the Career You’ve Been Searching For
IntelyCare can help you advance in nursing no matter what. Is a CNS career looking good to you? Find out how IntelyCare can match you with nurse opportunities personalized to you.