Clinical Nurse Specialist Degree Programs
(found programs from 194 schools)

Lorry Schoenly, PhD, RN is a nurse writer and educator with over 25 years of experience. She has been certified in five different clinical specialties including critical care and emergency nursing. Starting as an associate degree registered nurse, she continued her schooling in traditional and distance-learning settings to obtain a BSN, MSN, and PhD in nursing while working full-time and raising a family. Lorry teaches nursing in a variety of settings including webinars and online nursing courses.

Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) perform a variety of functions in a healthcare system geared toward improving nursing care, systems and processes. CNS’s are masters prepared and demonstrate advanced knowledge, skill and ability in a clinical specialty. Clinical nurse specialists can work in almost any specialty area and usually first develop their knowledge, skill and ability through work at a staff level of clinical practice. Once proficient, advanced knowledge is developed by pursuing a graduate degree.

CNS’s analyze complex patient and clinical system issues and provide support for the care delivered. This might involve creating or revising clinical processes, implementing new clinical practices, or assisting staff nurses with complex care delivery. Clinical nurse specialists also provide education to staff members to improve skills and lead clinical discussions to improve critical thinking and clinical judgment among staff members in their specialty area. The Clinical Nurse Specialist is often the team member who assists in translating nursing research into practice. Because of the systems approach of the CNS position, nurses in this role often have positions on committees in the healthcare organization that review new equipment, create new policies, or approve research protocols.

Clinical Nurse Specialists most often work in large healthcare organizations within the management of the unit delivering specialty care. For example, an organization may have an Emergency CNS or a Critical Care CNS. These specialists may also have positions within freestanding specialty organizations such as organ transplant or dialysis units.

Nurses who enjoy this position usually have a passion for their chosen clinical specialty and the ability to initiate and implement change. Those who wish to enter the position should seek a graduate degree in a favored clinical specialty. With solid clinical background in the specialty and a graduate degree in hand, a nurse can begin applying for entry-level CNS positions. In a tight job market, nurses who have worked on unit projects such as evaluating new equipment, revising policies or precepting new staff will have the advantage.