The scope and variance of clinical nurse specialist job descriptions

Abstract

Specialist nurses have been part of the nursing workforce for decades but articulating the scope of such roles, educational requirements, professional expertise and levels of pay is still widely debated within the workplace. This article reports on a study that examined a sample of clinical nurse specialist (CNS) job descriptions from across the UK. One hundred job descriptions were sourced, originating from various healthcare settings, and audited to explore their scope and content. In conclusion, the job descriptions showed a high level of agreement of the scope domains of a CNS role but were less consistent when considering the experience and educational requirements of CNSs.