Required education
MSN or PhD
Attributes
High salary
Earn more by having advanced skills and responsibilities.
Managerial
Lead, guide and support other nurses so they can provide the best care.
Patient-facing
Work hands-on, directly with patients.
Structured
Follow a routine that allows you to anticipate and prepare for every situation.
Varied
Take on different tasks, patients, and situations every day.
You’ll be a leader who’ll guide others and help make the workplace more efficient.
What you’ll do
Education
You’ll teach and mentor other nurses.
Management
You’ll supervise nurses and other staff members.
Research
You’ll gather data and stay up to date with developments in your specialty.
Treatment
You’ll examine, diagnose and prescribe medication for patients, and create treatment plans with healthcare teams.
Where you’ll work
- Community health centers
- Doctors’ offices
- Home care agencies
- Hospitals
- Mental health clinics
- Outpatient clinics
How to become a Clinical Nurse Specialist
01
Get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
02
Pass the NCLEX-RN and work as a Registered Nurse.
03
Get your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
04
Pass the National Nurses Licensing Exam.
05
Pass the Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist Exam.
06
You’re ready to work as a Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Join an Organization
Become a member of a Clinical Nurse Specialist organization to find career opportunities, learn from your colleagues, and support the profession.
Related Organizations
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A Critical Care Nurse’s role is also independent.
A Case Management Nurse is another type of management nurse.
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