Cardiovascular clinical nurse specialists: demographic, practice and educational characteristics

In 1993, California mandated a study of the practice characteristics of Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) in the state. This report describes, compares and contrasts the demographic, practice and educational characteristics of a subsample of cardiovascular CNSs with the rest of the CNS sample. Cardiovascular CNSs tended to have characteristics more indicative of a hospital-based specialty and the role appeared to be more consistently established than the general CNS sample. In addition, cardiovascular CNSs had a significantly higher percentage of graduate-prepared nurses. They had significantly fewer interactions in outpatient, community, and home settings than the rest of the CNS group. While cardiovascular CNSs play a vital role in the high technology-based hospital setting, they do not appear to be moving out of that setting as are other CNSs. This is an interesting finding since cardiovascular disease is chronic and well suited to outpatient management within the CNS charter. These findings may aid in establishing future opportunities for cardiovascular CNSs in the new health care environment, as well as serve as a benchmark for educators of CNSs.