Core Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice Competencies

Abstract

Professional practice standards and competencies have been created by a variety of international organizations for the purpose of guiding clinical nurse specialist (CNS) practice, education, and credentialing. Competencies also address knowledge, skills, abilities, and judgment required to safely carry out one’s profession. The focus of this chapter included a review and examination of definitions and purposes of competencies, use of competencies in nursing practice, evolution of competencies with respect to CNS practice, similarities and differences in international conceptualizations of CNS practice with respect to advanced practice nursing, comparison of published CNS competencies, and examination of the relationship of research-based themes of CNS practice to published competencies. Much consistency in international competency domains of CNS practice existed regardless of the methods used to develop them. Common core competency domains included direct care, research and evidence-based practice, quality improvement, education and teaching, communication, consultation, collaboration, leadership, and policy. Published research reports supported the existence of these competency domains. Although international variability is present regarding whether or not CNSs are considered to be advanced practice nurses, competencies and domains of practice are actually stable and can be used internationally to articulate the CNS role with clarity and consistency.