Return on investment: workload, complexity and value of the CNS

The rheumatology nurse specialist (RNS) has become an integral and vital part of the multidisciplinary team and is valued by patients. Yet, a number of challenges regularly face all clinical nurse specialists (CNS) in the UK. The perception that CNS are an expensive and poorly defined nursing resource results in regular threats to their sustainability, particularly that of the RNS. This study examined return on investment of the RNS.

An interrelational Structured Query Language (SQL) database collected data on the day-to-day activities of the RNS based on previous models of CNS and RNS work, and qualitative narrative data were then subjected to data mining.

The RNS represented an excellent return on investment, in terms of income generation activity, patient safety and efficiency. These outcomes were achieved using key principles of proactive case management using vigilance, rescue work and brokering. The mean average per whole time equivalent (WTE) RNS per annum represents £ 175,168 in terms of income/savings to an employing NHS Trust. This figure is likely to be an underestimation, as calculations on reduction in bed days in hospital have not been included.