Exploring the clinical nurse specialist role in an AIDS community-based organization

Although community-based organizations (CBOs) serving persons living with HIV/AIDS have proliferated, the role of advanced practice nurses in these CBOs has not been articulated. This article describes four components of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) role in a CBO: a nutrition program for ambulatory persons living with HIV disease. The CNS educates clients about strategies to improve and maintain their health and manage complex treatment regimens in daily lives that are often chaotic and limited by severe financial constraints. As a member of a multidisciplinary team, the CNS provides a healthcare perspective in policy development and staff education for a predominantly social service agency.