A Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is an advanced practice nurse competent in direct care, systems leadership, collaboration, coaching, consultation, research, ethical decision-making, and advocacy (DeNisco & Barker, 2016). The interviewee is currently a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) CNS, position described as a traditional CNS role, with over 20 years of experience. The CNS follows three spheres of practice, including the patient, nurses, and organization, and functions as five roles, such as the clinician, consultant, leader, educator, and researcher. The CNS manages multiple responsibilities that follow these roles. Preparing and presenting brief meetings to the healthcare staff prior to …show more content…
The interviewee obtained a Master’s in Nursing at California State University of Dominguez Hills and did an internship at Long Beach Memorial Hospital. Her current role as a CNS is enacted in a Level III NICU at a community facility. This role was chosen because of her passion for making a difference for babies and parents by educating, working on different projects, and consulting. She admitted that a being a neonatal nurse practitioner would not be ideal for her because she did not want to work primarily in patient care.
Role …show more content…
The staff can be a barrier due to the reluctance of change because of all the corresponding modifications. The charge nurses can assist with this process to impact the staff because it is difficult for the CNS to individually interact with 140 staff members. The physicians can be a barrier because of their inability to adjust to new practices and being hesitant to change. This uncertainty can be caused by not knowing enough about the topic, being concerned about long-term implications, and legal matters. Another barrier is time restraints due to the demands of patients, nurses, NICU management, physicians, hospital and Regional management. Being able to prioritize particular tasks is difficult, especially when follow up is not in a timely manner or when new obligations