Clinical Nurse Specialist

How to Become a CNS

A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is one of the four types of advanced practiced nurses. State laws regarding licensing will vary, but the first step toward becoming a CNS is to become a registered nurse. To become a registered nurse, students must earn a degree from a state-approved school of nursing, be it a four-year program or two-year associate degree, and pass a state licensing examination. A master’s degree and additional training is then needed to obtain entry-level positions in any clinical nurse specialty. A CNS can obtain certification in certain specialties of their field, but not all. The American Nurses Credentialing Center awards a CNS credential to nurses who pass specialist exams in their fields. Learn about Clinical Nurse Specialist programs.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Job Description and Role

According to the American Nurses Association, a CNS is an “expert clinician and client advocate” who specializes in a particular field of nursing. They may specialize by type of care given, type of illness or disease, by patients, or by setting, such as emergency room or critical care. Their job duties span education, clinical practice, as well as medical research, administration, and consultation. They can practice in many different healthcare settings, and they not only provide basic nursing care for patients, but they are involved in consultation of nursing staffs, influencing healthcare systems, medical diagnosis, and treatment of illness, injury or disease.

CNS Job Outlook

Healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States due to the growing aging population and the large portion of healthcare workers approaching retirement. Registered nurses are the largest group of workers in healthcare, and there are about 14,000 registered nurses who are qualified to practice as a CNS. Nursing in general is projected to see roughly 587,000 job openings before 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. This is the largest projected rate of growth of any other occupation.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Salary

According to salary.com, the median salary for a clinical nurse specialist in the United States is $80,007 in 2009. Salary will vary, however, based on region, employer, and years of experience, and ranges from $65,000 to $110,000.

Below you will find a number of nationally accredited online CNS programs as well as a number of other advanced practice nursing programs for those interested in becoming a Nurse Practitioner or a Nurse Midwife. Take the first steps towards advancing your nursing career here by requesting information from any of the programs that are of interest to you.

Clinical Nurse Specialist and Related Advanced Practice Nursing Programs

Liberty University - Department of Nursing

Liberty University's Online MSN - Clinical Nurse Specialist Acute Care Track is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. Graduates are prepared for national certification as a CNS and work as practitioners and/or educators. This program is enrolling now. Request information today!

Program Offered: MSN - Acute Care Track Clinical Nurse Specialist Online

Click Here to request information from the Liberty University Online MSN Program

Rush University - College of Nursing - Illinois/Online

Rush University - College of Nursing is one of the country's most well known and well respected institutions of higher education, particularly in the fields of nursing, medicine, health sciences and graduate study. Located in Chicago, IL, the College of Nursing offers online options for Baccalaureate and Master's educated Registered Nurses. There are a number of clinical sites in the Chicago area that faculty will assist in setting up for the student. The Rush University - College of Nursing received accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Programs Offered On-Campus: ADN - MSN - (Clinical Nurse Specialist), MSN - Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist, MSN - Critical Care (Adult) Clinical Nurse Specialist, MSN - Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist, MSN - Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, MSN - Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist, Post-Master's Certificates are offered in the same CNS specialties as the MSN programs.

Programs Offered Online: Post-BSNAdvanced Generalist MSN, Community/Public Health Clinical Nurse Specialist, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)

Click Here for information about the Rush University College of Nursing Online CNS program.
Click Here for Information about the On-Campus CNS programs at Rush University.

University of Cincinnati - College of Nursing

The University of Cincinnati - College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The MSN - Nurse Midwifery online program is accredited by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM).

Programs Offered Online: MSN - Clinical Nurse Specialist (Nurse Educator), MSN - Nursing Administration, MSN - Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, MSN - Adult Nurse Practitioner, MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN - Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist, MSN - Nurse Midwifery

Click Here for information about the University of Cincinnati Online MSN programs.

Wesley College - Nursing - Delaware

The MSN - CNS program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and designed for those registered nurses with a hospital nursing diploma or an associate's degree in nursing. Registered nurses with baccalaureate level education in nursing or another field are encouraged to apply to the Graduate component of the program. The MSN - CNS program is offered at the Newcastle and Dover campuses. Applicants must be licensed registered nurses.

Programs Offered: MSN - Clinical Nurse Specialist with a focus in health promotion and wellness

Click Here to request information about this program

Wesley College, 120 North State Street, Dover, Delaware 19901

Saint Xavier University - School of Nursing

The Saint Xavier University MSN - Clinical Nurse Leader program is CCNE accredited. Graduates are eligible to sit for the AACN national CNL certification exam.

Programs Offered: Online MSN - Clinical Nurse Leader

Click Here to request information from Saint Xavier University.

University of Phoenix College of Health and Human Services

University of Phoenix School nursing programs are designed to develop the professional knowledge and skills of working registered nurses and are for those who want to pursue more advanced positions in today's challenging health care environment. Request free information from University of Phoenix to learn more.

Frontier School of Midwifery & Family Nursing - Distance Education

The Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of College and Schools. They offer online MSN Programs with post masters certificates in the following areas: Certified Nurse Midwifery (accredited by ACME), Family Nurse Practitioner, and/or Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner (both accredited by the NLNAC). FSMFN also offers an online DNP program accredited by the AACN. Coursework is web-based and clinical experience is acquired in your own community at clinics and hospitals.

Programs Offered: MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN - Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner, DNP, Post-Master's Certificate - Family Nurse Practitioner, Post-Master's Certificate - Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner, ADN-MSN Bridge FNP, ADN-MSN Women's Health Care NP

Click Here for more information about the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing distance education programs

Graceland University

All nursing programs at Graceland University are CCNE accredited. Graceland University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Practicums are completed in the student's community.

Online Programs Offered: MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner, MSN - Nurse Educator, Post-Graduate Certificate Family Nurse Practitioner, Post-Graduate Certificate in Nurse Education

Click Here to request information from Graceland University.

Sources: www.bls.gov/
http://swz.salary.com/
http://www.nacns.org/