Clinical nurse specialist practice: facilitators and barriers

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice
• Healthcare Administration
• Clinical Nurse Specialist Roles

Background:

• Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) play a vital role in healthcare delivery.
• Understanding the contemporary practice and challenges of CNSs is essential for optimizing their impact.
• Healthcare systems are constantly evolving, necessitating an understanding of how these changes affect specialized nursing roles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the primary role components of Master's-prepared CNSs in the United States.
• To explore the impact of healthcare system changes on the implementation of CNS roles.
• To determine the resources that support or hinder the successful implementation of CNS roles.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to 288 Master's-prepared CNSs across the United States.
• The survey utilized open-ended questions to gather qualitative data on role components, system changes, and supportive resources.
• Data analysis involved identifying themes related to CNS practice, challenges, and facilitators.

Main Results:

• CNSs dedicate the most time to patient care/consultation, followed by education, research, administration, and professional development.
• Key challenges affecting CNS role implementation include institutional cost containment and employment issues.
• Nursing administrative support was identified as the most critical resource for successful CNS role implementation.

Conclusions:

• CNS roles encompass diverse activities, with patient care being the most time-intensive.
• Healthcare system changes, particularly financial pressures and employment concerns, significantly impact CNS practice.
• Strong nursing administrative support is paramount for the effective utilization and success of Clinical Nurse Specialists.