Gerontological clinical nurse specialist at UCLA--where to begin?

Abstract

Abstract This article deals with the constraints and opportunities inherent in a large teaching institution. Among these are: the necessity to select and adhere to a focused area, the collaboration with other disciplines, especially the medical faculty, and the well established position of the clinical nurse specialist within the facility. The role of the clinical nurse specialist is defined in terms of practitioner, teacher, consultant, and researcher. The teaching aspects of the role are emphasized, along with the consultant functions. The rationale for this emphasis and the mechanisms used to implement the role, e.g., the development of an addendum to the master job description, a core curriculum, guidelines for consultation, an overall educational plan, evaluation criteria, and methods of introduction to the unit level staff are discussed.