The clinical nurse specialist in the faculty role

Often, contributions by the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) are seen as exclusive to CNSs employed in the service setting. Yet, this may be too narrow a view of the possibilities of the specialist role. This paper examines how a faculty member in a school of nursing who does not hold a joint appointment can fulfill the mission and intent of the CNS role. Citations from the literature and examples from practice describe how the CNS who is a faculty member can enhance nursing as a direct care provider, consultant, researcher and educator.