Clinical Nurse Specialists :: Job Description

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Clinical Nurse Specialists

Careers / Clinical Nurse Specialists

Summary Description


	Plan, direct, or coordinate the daily patient care activities in a clinical practice. Ensure adherence to established clinical policies, protocols, regulations, and standards.

Sample Job Titles

1.	Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist

2.	Advanced Practice Nurse, Cardiothoracic Surgery

3.	Board Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist, Diabetes

4.	Cardiology Clinical Consultant

5.	Cardiology Clinical Nurse Specialist

6.	Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinical Nurse Specialist

7.	Cardiovascular Clinical Nurse Specialist

8.	Clinical Nurse

9.	Clinical Nurse Specialist

10.	Community Health Clinical Nurse Specialist

11.	Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist

12.	Emergency Department Clinical Nurse Specialist

13.	Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist

14.	Intensive Care Unit Clinical Nurse Specialist

15.	Intensive Care Unit Nurse

16.	Nephrology Nurse

17.	Nurse Clinician

18.	Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist

19.	Pediatric Oncology Nurse

20.	Public Health Clinical Nurse Specialist

21.	Quality Management Nurse

Job Tasks

	Collaborate with other health care professionals and service providers to ensure optimal patient care. Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.

	Provide consultation to other health care providers in areas such as patient discharge, patient care, or clinical procedures. Advise medical personnel regarding healthcare issues.

	Develop or assist others in development of care and treatment plans. Develop medical treatment plans.

	Develop and maintain departmental policies, procedures, objectives, or patient care standards based on evidence-based practice guidelines or expert opinion. Establish nursing policies or standards.

	Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing. Maintain medical or professional knowledge.

	Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice or organizational systems.

	Develop, implement, or evaluate standards of nursing practice in specialty area such as pediatrics, acute care, and geriatrics. Establish nursing policies or standards.

	Design evaluation programs regarding the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice or organizational systems.

	Plan, evaluate, or modify treatment programs based on information gathered by observing and interviewing patients, or by analyzing patient records. Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals. Develop medical treatment plans.

	Direct or supervise nursing care staff in the provision of patient therapy. Supervise patient care personnel.

	Instruct nursing staff in areas such as the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of disability, illness, management, technology, or resources. Train medical providers.

	Provide direct care by performing comprehensive health assessments, developing differential diagnoses, conducting specialized tests, or prescribing medications or treatments. Diagnose medical conditions. Prescribe medications.

	Design patient education programs that include information required to make informed health care and treatment decisions.

	Monitor or evaluate medical conditions of patients in collaboration with other health care professionals. Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities. Evaluate patient functioning, capabilities, or health.

	Provide specialized direct and indirect care to inpatients and outpatients within a designated specialty such as obstetrics, neurology, oncology, or neonatal care. Treat acute illnesses, infections, or injuries.

	Maintain departmental policies, procedures, objectives, or infection control standards. Follow protocols or regulations for healthcare activities.

	Make clinical recommendations to physicians, other health care providers, insurance companies, patients, or health care organizations. Advise medical personnel regarding healthcare issues.

	Present clients with information required to make informed health care and treatment decisions. Communicate detailed medical information to patients or family members.

	Perform discharge planning for patients. Develop medical treatment plans.

	Identify training needs or conduct training sessions for nursing students or medical staff. Train medical providers.

	Participate in clinical research projects such as by reviewing protocols, reviewing patient records, monitoring compliance, and meeting with regulatory authorities. Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues. Monitor medical facility activities to ensure adherence to standards or regulations.

	Lead nursing department implementation of, or compliance with, regulatory or accreditation processes. Manage healthcare operations.

	Observe, interview, and assess patients to identify care needs. Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals. Examine patients to assess general physical condition.

	Write nursing orders. Supervise patient care personnel.

	Chair nursing departments or committees. Manage healthcare operations.

	Develop nursing service philosophies, goals, policies, priorities, or procedures. Establish nursing policies or standards.

	Coordinate or conduct educational programs or in-service training sessions on topics such as clinical procedures. Train medical providers.

	Teach patient education programs that include information required to make informed health care and treatment decisions.

	Prepare reports to document patients' care activities. Prepare reports summarizing patient diagnostic or care activities.

Work Activities

Importance	Work Activity

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Staffing Organizational Units — Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Nature of the Work


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Registered Nurses
	Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.

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Working Conditions


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Registered Nurses
	Registered nurses work in hospitals, physicians' offices, home healthcare services, and nursing care facilities. Others work in correctional facilities or schools, or serve in the military.

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