Communicating the financial worth of the CNS through the use of fiscal reports

To maintain the clinical nurse specialist's (CNS's) leading role within hospital nursing services, routine communication to hospital administration of the impact of the CNS role on the hospital's budget is imperative. The CNS group at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters implemented a quarterly Fiscal Report to clarify the financial worth of CNS practice. The Fiscal Report presents cost savings and revenue generating activities utilizing the role components of the CNS. During fiscal year 1991, the CNS group reported a total impact of $1,600,000. This article describes in detail the use of the Fiscal Report.