Proposed Clinical Nurse Specialist Entry-Level Practice Doctoral Competencies
Posted: March 18, 2009
The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) is seeking public comment on the following proposed clinical nurse specialist (CNS entry-level practice doctorate) competencies that have been developed to guide practice and education for CNSs prepared at the practice doctoral level.
Please click here to complete the survey by April 20, 2009. These CNS practice doctorate competencies (CNSs) expand upon those described in the NACNS Statement on Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice and Education (2004) and other published CNS competency statements.1 The proposed CNS practice doctoral competencies were initially developed by members of NACNS and representatives of nursing specialty organizations. They were subsequently revised to incorporate comments and suggestions from a broad-based review panel consisting of individuals with expertise in the education of CNSs; the delivery of CNS care; credentialing of CNSs; accreditation of graduate nursing education programs; employment of CNSs; and past presidents of NACNS. For this final phase, we are now soliciting review and comments from public stakeholders.
These competencies have been developed to reflect behaviors of all CNSs at completion of a practice doctorate, regardless of specialty area. CNS education has historically occurred at the master’s level and the preponderance of published competencies reflects this level of educational preparation. These CNS practice doctorate competencies reflect the additional knowledge, skills and abilities achieved through practice doctorate education and should be used in combination with existing competencies to inform educational programs and employer expectations. These competencies will serve to guide CNS educational programs, and the relevant accrediting, regulating, and certifying bodies of CNS practice.
1CNS-specific competencies: Academy of Medical/Surgical Nurses; American Association of Critical-Care Nurses; Gerontology (American Association of Colleges of Nurses/Hartford); National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists; National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses. General advanced practice competencies: American Nephrology Nurses’ Association; American Psychiatric Nurses Association; Association of Community Health Nursing Educators; Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses; International Nurses Society on Addictions; Society of Urologic Nurses; Oncology Nursing Society; Quad Council of Public Health Nursing Organizations.