In the world of nursing jobs, Clinical Nurse Specialists were the first to graduate with their Master’s Degrees more than 40 years ago. These experts work in health care settings and also go out into the community to liaison with educators, researchers and government officials. The Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing report said that, of all the nursing jobs, the Clinical Nurse Specialist would be instrumental in reforming health care.

Awareness Is Growing For Clinical Nurse Specialist Nursing Jobs

Since the report was published, there has been an increasing awareness about this growing role in the healthcare field. In states like Georgia, Clinical Nurse Specialists who meet state requirements can be recognized as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). This new credential will clarify some of the confusion within the profession, giving Clinical Nurse Specialists the ability to prescribe medication and practice independently, not to mention earn more money. People working these nursing jobs are ultimately leaders in quality patient care and nurse education.

What Do Clinical Nurse Specialist Nursing Jobs Entail?

A Clinical Nurse Specialist typically works in acute care settings, diagnosing and treating illnesses and applying the latest research to medical interventions. They provide their special expertise to bring about practical changes to the overall health system. Clinical Nurse Specialists focus on patient/family relations, nursing personnel, and system/network organization. They may specialize in a condition, a particular work environment, or a specific procedure. People working these nursing jobs will practice medicine, teach others, research, consult and manage. The average salary for a CNS is $80,000, but some people make over $100,000, depending on their role, experience and geographic location.

There Is Never A Dull Day For People Working These Multi-Faceted Nursing Jobs.

“Pulling people together from different disciplines is a reflection of my role as a clinical nurse specialist,” explains Anne Hysong of the Gwinnett Medical Center in Duluth, Minnesota. She adds, “I became a clinical nurse specialist five years ago because I wanted to stay with nursing and advance nursing practices. I wanted to provide other nurses with the education and tools they need to do the best job.” She explains that these nursing jobs are split into thirds: one-third improving patient bedside care, one-third training nurses and developing best-practice policies, and another third enacting change at the organizational / system level. “I wear a lot of hats,” she says.