How Long Does It Take, What Degree Do You Need, and More
Clinical Nurse Specialists
Clinical Nurse Specialists 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.
What degree do you need
Master’s Degree
One of the most common questions that we always get is what major or degree do I need to become Clinical Nurse Specialists or what courses do I need to take.
We also asked Clinical Nurse Specialists what did they major in college or university and here are the top 5 most popular majors that came up.
Registered Nursing |
Nursing Administration |
Adult Health Nursing |
Family Practice Nursing |
Maternal or Child Health and Neonatal Nursing |
Typically, the majority of Clinical Nurse Specialists employers will accept nothing less than Registered Nurses (RN) for their staffs. However, depending on the demand for these types of nurses, some facilities may consider hiring Licensed Practical Nurses. These careers typically involve earning a nursing diploma or degree and passing the appropriate nurse licensure exam.
How hard is it
You will need an extensive amount of skill, knowledge and experience to be a Clinical Nurse Specialist. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, a surgeon must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Careers in this difficulty category may need some on-the-job-training, but most of these careers assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, and work-related experience and training. These careers usually involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Similar careers include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, neurologists, and veterinarians.
License and certifications
In all states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, registered nurses must have a nursing license. To become licensed, nurses must graduate from an approved nursing program and pass the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX-RN. Other requirements for licensing vary by state. Each state’s board of nursing can give details. For more on the NCLEX-RN examination and a list of state boards of nursing visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Skills required
We asked other Clinical Nurse Specialists if they could only have 5 skills, what would they be. Here is what they said.
1. | Speaking what does this mean |
2. | Reading Comprehension what does this mean |
3. | Active Listening what does this mean |
4. | Critical Thinking what does this mean |
5. | Active Learning what does this mean |
= Hot in-demand that most employers are looking for
Knowledge required
Just like any other job, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job. Clinical Nurse Specialists are generally very knowledgeable in these 5 key areas.
1. | Medicine and Dentistry what does this mean |
2. | Education and Training what does this mean |
3. | English Language what does this mean |
4. | Customer and Personal Service what does this mean |
5. | Psychology what does this mean |
Learn more about Clinical Nurse Specialists
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Related to Clinical Nurse Specialists Requirements
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