Clinical Nurse Specialists
Direct nursing staff in the provision of patient care in a clinical practice setting, such as a hospital, hospice, clinic, or home. Ensure adherence to established clinical policies, protocols, regulations, and standards.
Also known as: Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (Adult Health CNS), APN (Advanced Practice Nurse), Board Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS-BC), Clinical Ambulatory Nurse, Clinical Medical Surgical Nurse, Clinical Nurse, Clinical Nurse Manager, Clinical Resource Nurse, ...
Annual Salary
Median annual wage (May 2024)
Job Outlook
Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Faster than average)
What You'd Do
- Coordinate or conduct educational programs or in-service training sessions on topics such as clinical procedures.
- Observe, interview, and assess patients to identify care needs.
- Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice or organizational systems.
- Provide direct care by performing comprehensive health assessments, developing differential diagnoses, conducting specialized tests, or prescribing medications or treatments.
- Provide specialized direct and indirect care to inpatients and outpatients within a designated specialty, such as obstetrics, neurology, oncology, or neonatal care.
- Maintain departmental policies, procedures, objectives, or infection control standards.
- Collaborate with other health care professionals and service providers to ensure optimal patient care.
- Develop nursing service philosophies, goals, policies, priorities, or procedures.
- Develop, implement, or evaluate standards of nursing practice in specialty area, such as pediatrics, acute care, and geriatrics.
- Develop or assist others in development of care and treatment plans.
- Make clinical recommendations to physicians, other health care providers, insurance companies, patients, or health care organizations.
- Plan, evaluate, or modify treatment programs, based on information gathered by observing and interviewing patients or by analyzing patient records.
- Present clients with information required to make informed health care and treatment decisions.
- Instruct nursing staff in areas such as the assessment, development, implementation, and evaluation of disability, illness, management, technology, or resources.
- Direct or supervise nursing care staff in the provision of patient therapy.
- Identify training needs or conduct training sessions for nursing students or medical staff.
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.
- Monitor or evaluate medical conditions of patients in collaboration with other health care professionals.
- Participate in clinical research projects, such as by reviewing protocols, reviewing patient records, monitoring compliance, and meeting with regulatory authorities.
- Perform discharge planning for patients.
Top Skills
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Knowledge Areas
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level
Technology & Tools
Software and tools commonly used in this role
In-Demand Technologies
Other Tools
Work Styles
Personality traits and work styles important for this career
Key Abilities
Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Activities
General types of job behaviors occurring on this job
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Environment
Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work
Related Careers
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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.