Clinical nurse specialist practice in a care coordination model

The goal of care coordination is to facilitate and enhance positive patient outcomes. The contribution that the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) can make toward the achievement of this goal is supported in the literature. The CNS can impact patient outcomes by influencing nursing practice and organizational systems for the delivery of quality, cost-effective patient care. These CNS practice activities can be uniquely tailored to specialty populations. Three CNSs within the Department of Care Coordination report how they have developed their own individual practices within their distinct specialties. Although the approach varied, the outcomes of influencing the quality of nursing care, patient education, and safe, uncomplicated transition from the hospital to next disposition were the same.