Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Career
What Do You Do In This Career?
Clinical Nurse Specialists work in clinical or hospital settings to streamline the treatment process for patients and families. In an increasingly complex health care setting, it is important to have knowledgeable, authoritative workers in every facet of the industry.
CNSs typically specialize in one area of nursing practice. They work with patients, but also take leadership roles and try to mold the system to be more user-friendly and effective in treating patients while keeping costs down. The ability to observe and influence the nursing system from the patient level all the way up to an institutional level is crucial for CNSs.
Salary and Career Information
- Salary: CNSs earn between $62,985 and $106,133 annually.
- CNS Requirements: To practice as a CNS you must earn a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree and be eligible to practice as a registered nurse. Then, you must complete a Master of Science in nursing, with an emphasis in clinical practice, and become certified at the state or national level. CNSs typically get some years of experience as an RN between achieving their bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
- Work Environment: CNSs often work in a clinic, doctor’s office, or hospital, usually with other nurses in different specialties to provide holistic care for patients and families. CNSs may spend long hours on their feet and be involved in various aspects of a clinic’s operations, from treating patients to managing medical data and records and developing new workflows to increase the efficiency and decrease the expenses of the facility.
What Kind of Coursework Can You Expect In This Program?
CNS programs are highly focused on teaching evidence based treatment and system implementation. Courses in research, direct clinical practice, and team leadership, as well as courses relating to a medical specialty, will comprise most of a CNS degree program. As with all nursing careers, ethical decision making is a crucial skill, and the core ethics of medical practice will be woven throughout classes and practical experience for CNSs in training. Classes also prepare students to coach new nurses and how to establish a strong working culture.
Earn an Online Nurse Practitioner Degree
Online nurse practitioner programs have grown in popularity in recent years as more accredited schools have begun offering online alternatives to these degrees. Combining flexibility with the lack of campus visitation required these programs are ideal for working professionals. By clicking on links below, you can request information from each school about its tuition, classes, and programs.
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Georgetown University — Stationed out of Washington DC, Georgetown University is a cultural and social hub and is one of the oldest schools in the nation. The school has two online nursing programs available, an MSN in Family Nursing and an MSN in Midwifery and Women's Health. Georgetown is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. |
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Kaplan University — Kaplan University's online presence is almost unmatched, offering over 170 online degrees and programs, including MSN in Nurse Administration, MSN in Nurse Education, and MSN in Nurse Informatics. However, there are also 70 campuses across the country for those interested in a more traditional education. Kaplan is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. |
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University of Phoenix — While it may not be surprising that the University of Phoenix is based in Phoenix, AZ, the school does have over 200 additional locations around the country. Phoenix has more than 200 online programs available, with nursing degrees in Health Education, Health Informatics, and a general track. Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. |
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American Sentinel University — American Sentinel University is an online college focused on technology, business, and healthcare. The school offers several nursing programs like the RN to MSN bridge programs or the MSN in Nursing Informatics. All of these programs require no campus visitation and can be completed online entirely. ASU has an accreditation by the Distance Education and Training Council. |
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Capella University — Based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Capella University is an online school with over 37000 current students across the nation. Its online programs like MSN in Nurse Educator (Bridge option also available) have one-to-one tutoring, accelerated study, and low student to teacher ratios. Capella holds several accreditations, including The Higher Learning Commission and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. |
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