Clinical Nurse Specialist
Why Is a Clinical Nurse Specialist a Job of Tomorrow?
The healthcare industry will always be recession proof. No matter what state the economy is in, or what trends come and go, people will always be in need of healthcare professionals. Inevitable illnesses and other health-related conditions keep physicians, nurses, and other medical staff in constant demand. As the world population increases, this demand will only further increase, making healthcare one of the fastest growing industries today. Employment positions for registered nurses, including clinical nurse specialists, are expected to see a 23 percent growth in opportunities by 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Registered nurses comprise the largest chunk of healthcare occupations, and will likely remain in that top position. Clinical nurse specialists in the Texas Gulf Coast area make an average of $79,000 a year, according to the Health Services Steering Committee. Salaries across the country are relatively the same for the position. Overall, the employment outlook for new clinical nurse specialists is positive.
What Does a Clinical Nurse Specialist Do?
Clinical nurse specialists are registered nurses who are licensed to diagnose and treat illnesses in a variety of specialized fields, such as psychiatric-mental health. As experts in the nursing field, they are charged with the responsibility to develop and implement population-based care programs, evaluate the clinic’s financial plans, coordinate care teams, conduct and participate in research studies, and act as a mentor to the nursing staff. Clinical nurse specialists essentially act as leaders for the community as well as the medical staff at the facility in which he or she works. There are three main realms of the clinical nurse specialist profession: patient and family relations, nursing personnel, and system and network organization. The patient and family realm has the nurse working with patients to directly diagnose and treat conditions. The nursing personnel realm requires the nurse to deal with keeping up with the modern developments of nursing while also acting as an example and guide for novice nurses. The system and network organization realm tackles the business side of running a healthcare facility, where a clinical nurse specialist must provide the best care possible at a low, affordable rate while also keeping the facility financially profitable.
What Kind of Training Do I Need to Become a Clinical Nurse Specialist?
Clinical nurse specialists must have a master’s education in healthcare to become officially certified. The master’s program typically takes about two years to complete. Students take courses in business leadership, management, and advanced health topics that pertain to the nurses’ specialty field, such as classes about neonatal care if that is the nurses’ concentration. After completing an accredited master’s degree-level nursing program, graduates must satisfactorily complete an exam established by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in order to become officially certified clinical nurse specialists.
