Clinical Nurse Specialists

What the job really is

Direct nursing staff in the provision of patient care in a clinical practice setting, such as a hospital, hospice, clinic, or home. Ensure adherence to established clinical policies, protocols, regulations, and standards.

At a glance

• Sector: Healthcare Practitioners
• O*NET-SOC code: 29-1141
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Provide specialized direct and indirect care to inpatients and outpatients within a designated specialty, such as obstetrics, neurology, oncology, or neonatal care.
• Collaborate with other health care professionals and service providers to ensure optimal patient care.
• Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.
• Develop, implement, or evaluate standards of nursing practice in specialty area, such as pediatrics, acute care, and geriatrics.
• Maintain departmental policies, procedures, objectives, or infection control standards.
• Instruct nursing staff in areas such as the assessment, development, implementation, and evaluation of disability, illness, management, technology, or resources.
• Develop and maintain departmental policies, procedures, objectives, or patient care standards, based on evidence-based practice guidelines or expert opinion.
• Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice or organizational systems.
• Observe, interview, and assess patients to identify care needs.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to other caregivers to help facilitate their professional growth and development.
• Monitor or evaluate medical conditions of patients in collaboration with other health care professionals.
• Provide direct care by performing comprehensive health assessments, developing differential diagnoses, conducting specialized tests, or prescribing medications or treatments.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, eClinicalWorks EHR software, Alligator forceps, Allscripts Professional EHR, Amkai AmkaiCharts, Angiocaths, Apnea monitors, Arterial blood gas testing equipment

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Cardiologists
• Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
• Nurse Practitioners
• Acute Care Nurses
• Registered Nurses
• Critical Care Nurses
• Nurse Midwives
• Physician Assistants

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Clinical Nurse Specialists — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.