RHONDA ADAMS SCOTT is President and Chief Executive Officer of Clinical Nurse Specialist Associates LLC, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Clinical Nurse Education Specialist. Author Information . It’s a role that also involves leadership skills, with clinical nurse specialists often required to act as a mentor or preceptor to less experienced nurses, such as graduate nurses. The number of nurses with titles such as clinical nurse specialist and nurse practitioner is increasing. When a diagnosis is made, the CNS develops a treatment plan and establishes treatment goals, educating the patient and their family when necessary. A Description of the Roles, Activities, and Skills of Clinical Nurse Specialists in the United States. Clinical nurse specialists provide diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of patients. They also provide expertise and support to nurses caring for patients at the bedside, help drive practice changes throughout the organization, and ensure the use of best practices and evidence-based care to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. Collaborated with managers and team members in the development of educational programs to maximize benefits for staff. Scott, Rhonda Adams Ph.D, R.N., C.S. Communication, both orally and written, is vital to managing a team and reaching the correct solutions to problems that arise as well. The CNS holds a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing with expertise in a clinical nursing specialty (Nurses Association of New Brunswick [NANB], 2012). Clinical Nurse Educator for a very busy 32 bed neonatal intensive care unit, which consists of approximately 110 staff members. Clinical nurse specialists should be compassionate and have excellent communication skills as they will be working with individuals from all walks of life. A clinical nurse specialist is an advanced nurse who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, ailments and injuries amongst patients in their area of specialization. Clinical nurse specialists oversee every aspect of their patient’s experience. The clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is a registered nurse (RN) with advanced nursing knowledge and skills in making complex decisions (College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia [CRNNS], 2014). Skills . Provided ongoing education for staff, families/caregivers and patients. This begins with assessment, carefully noting the patient’s history and ordering appropriate diagnostic tests. In the context of chronic nurse shortages it is important that all nursing roles are reviewed to ensure the most efficient and effective use of staff, but there is no clear agreement on the competencies expected of nurses using these titles (UKCC, 1998). 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