The magic of being a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is in the numerous opportunities and expanse of influence the role provides. Especially for those nurses who find themselves passionate about specialized or niche patient populations, the CNS role provides an avenue to expand knowledge, expertise, and practice without having to leave the area of nursing that you love. As a perioperative RN, I faced a dilemma when I realized that pursuing an advanced degree would likely take me out of the operating room (OR). Luckly, I stumbled upon the CNS role and realized that my perfect fit was the pediatric perioperative CNS role.

I have been in a variety of positions since becoming a pediatric CNS, including pediatric perioperative CNS, pediatric surgery APRN, system-level director of nursing research and evidence-based practice, director of quality, and chief nursing officer. Throughout my various roles, I directly and indirectly influenced perioperative patients and nursing practice. However, my current role at the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) truly highlights the impact and influence of the CNS role. As a perioperative practice specialist, I contribute as an author of AORN’s Guidelines for Perioperative Practice and AORN Journal Clinical Issues column. I also offer expert perioperative consultation to AORN members worldwide via the nurse consult line and contribute to a variety of AORN projects. In this role, I am directly contributing to the body of work that informs perioperative nursing practice and use my collective CNS experience to impact perioperative nursing and patient outcomes at a national and international level.

It can be difficult to define the role of the CNS, but that is because it can look like many different things. Whether a CNS is a provider, educator, leader, administrator, consultant, or a combination of roles, there is magic in knowing that becoming a CNS can take you anywhere. If you are passionate about a specialized patient population and want the opportunity to impact nursing and patient care at all levels, the CNS role might be for you.

What is a CNS?

Clinical Nurse Specialists are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN). Like other APRNs, CNSs are prepared with either a master’s or doctoral degree and diagnose, prescribe, and treat patients. Like other APRNs, CNS education programs include the “3 P’s” in their graduate courses: Advanced pathophysiology, physical assessment, and pharmacology (APRN Consensus Work Group, 2008). The CNS improves outcomes by providing direct patient care, leading evidence-based practice, optimizing organizational systems, and advancing nursing practice (NACNS, 2024).

References

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Consensus Work Group. (2008). Consensus model for APRN licensure, accreditation, certification, and education. https://nacns.org/advocacy-policy/advocacy-resources/state-public-policy-resources

National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (2024). What is a CNS? NACNS: National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. https://nacns.org/about-us/what-is-a-cns/