Many people who are looking to get into the nursing field have a desire to help people and also like the salary and benefits that go along with being a nurse. However, what many people getting into the field fail to realize is that there are many different branches of nursing. There are legal nurses, registered nurses, pediatric nurses, as well as many others. Another excellent area of nursing is the clinical specialist area. These nurses assist in many areas of nursing including consultation, research, and ethical decision making. If you’d rather be “the boss” as opposed to being just on the front lines, then clinical nursing may be for you. As we’ll see below, it’s not that hard to become a clinical nurse.
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Like many specialist designation, to become a clinical nurse specialist (CNS), you will need a master’s degree in CNS (or other approved nursing field) and a special certification. The master’s degree will typically take at least a year to earn and will have to include at least 500 hours of faculty supervised work in the CNS role. The CNS certification, awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, has the aforementioned requirements plus the requirement that you be a registered nurse. Upon completing this exam, you will be a CNS. The exam is quite comprehensive and focuses on much practical areas such as the design and implementation of evidence-based nursing assessments, technology that contributes to improved outcomes, leadership skills, consultation, and evidence-based research.
While some may find it daunting to become a clinical nurse, it’s important to remember the rewards for becoming one. Clinical nurses are vital to any medical setting, providing the necessary guidance to ensure that the most people are treated in the most efficient manner possible. And while some may not like the idea of a master’s degree and certification, it’s not too much of a step up from getting your four-year bachelor’s and RN license. Indeed, taking the step towards being a clinical nurse can vastly improve your career.
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