Definition of Nurse Practitioner
Nurse
Practitioners report to the service line leader, department director
or program manager for their specialty. The NP role
is to direct the care of patients with diagnoses specific to the
expertise of the NP. The NP performs assessments and develops
the plan of care at an advanced level including ordering and interpreting
diagnostic tests, performing procedures specific to his/her
expertise and training and prescribing medications. The NP
has a designated collaborative physician available for consultation
and assistance with patient management. The NP is also responsible
for evaluating institution practice and recommending improvements
in areas of his/her expertise. Staff and community education
is also provided by the NP.
Definition of Clinical Nurse Specialist
There are
five components to the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) role: education, leadership, clinical practice, consultation,
and researching publications. The role of the CNS is to provide
in- depth knowledge, particularly in the biological and behavioral
sciences, and demonstrate advanced nursing skills through the assessment,
diagnosis, and treatment of patients in a designated area of specialty.
The CNS will assist the members of the healthcare team to provide
care for patients according to the standards of care specific to
age and the individual’s needs.
The CNS is responsible for establishing a collaborative professional
relationship with all members of the healthcare team that provide
care to patients and their families in his/her area of specialization. The
CNS acts as a role model and provides care to patients and their
families along with other members of the healthcare team.
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