THE CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST AND NURSE PRACTITIONER ROLES: ROOM FOR BOTH OR TAKE YOUR PICK?
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Keywords
advanced practice, clinical nurse specialist, expanded practice, nurse practitioner, nursing roles
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this paper is to contribute to pertinent discussions regarding advanced practice nursing roles. In particular discussion will focus on the potential implications for the developing nurse ractitioner (NP) role on the existing clinical nurse specialist (CNS) roles.
Setting: The literature presented originates primarily from the United States of America (USA), United Kingdom and Australia. Specific emphasis is placed on the psychiatric/mental health nursing context.
Primary argument: Amidst the confusion in terminology to describe and explain advanced, expanded or extended nursing roles, and to distinguish between the clinical nurse specialist and the nurse practitioner, there is a need to establish clarity. The need for both clinical nurse specialist and nurse practitioner roles has been hotly debated in the USA.
Conclusions: The roles of clinical nurse specialist and nurse practitioner may be complementary but fulfil different functions. It is therefore important that both roles be maintained and implemented in response to consumer and health service needs.
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Manuscripts accepted for publication become the property of the AJAN.
Stephen Elsom, RN, BA, MN, MHN, PhD
Senior Lecturer, Centre for Psychiatric Nursing Research and Practice, School of Nursing, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
Professor Brenda Happell, RN, Cert Psych Nurs, B.A. (Hons), Dip Ed, B Ed., M Ed, Ph.D
Professor of Contemporary Nursing, School of Nursing and Health Studies, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
[email protected]
Associate Professor Elizabeth Manias, RN, Cert Crit Care, B Pharm, M Pharm, M Nurs Stud, PhD
Associate Professor School of Nursing, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.