The clinical nurse specialist role in shared governance

In the current health care environment, changes in organizational structure and care delivery systems are occurring in an effort to improve quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction while decreasing cost. Shared governance empowers the staff to help facilitate these changes. The clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is a key person in facilitating and maintaining the shared governance environment. This new facet of the role makes the CNS a valuable resource and is instrumental in helping the organization achieve its goals. This article addresses the CNS's role in the initiation and continuation of shared governance within the nursing department.