Clinical Nurse Specialist Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

This post presents detailed information on the job description of a clinical nurse specialist, to help you understand the work they do.

It highlights the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities that commonly make up the clinical nurse specialist work description.

Please, read on:

What Does a Clinical Nurse Specialist Do?

A clinical nurse specialist is an advanced nurse who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, ailments and injuries amongst patients in their area of specialization.

The job description of a clinical nurse specialist entails rendering services in their field of specialization which includes being a clinical expert, educator, consultant or researcher.

As care givers, these specialists are responsible for observing and examining patients closely in order to come up with accurate diagnosis about their illness and health condition.

They administer treatment to patients based on findings from their diagnosis and assess the effectiveness of the treatment administered to patients.

In order to help patients recover faster, the nurse works with their loved ones and family members to identify things that appeal more to patients and make them respond to treatment faster.

As one with an open mind to patient recovery, they work with other healthcare providers to come up with the best treatment techniques they need to get better.

A professional in the field of nursing, he/she is seen as a mentor by other nurses and as such, gives them new insights into the job, grooming and helping them to become more knowledgeable on the job.

Other duties they perform include serving as a consultant on their area of specialty, attending to patients in private sessions, carrying out checkups and giving them medical counsel.

Passionate about administering best treatment to patients, clinical nurse specialists carry out medical research either solely or with a team of medical experts to find new and better treatment to ailments of different categories.

He/she makes it a priority to always be in the know in the field, by being current and updated about latest developments and discoveries obtainable in order to make immense contributions in the organization they work.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Job Description Example/Sample/Template

The list of tasks, duties, and responsibilities that make up the job description of most clinical nurse specialists are shown in the job description example below:

• Carryout medical tests in patients to diagnose their health condition
• Interpret laboratory tests results of patients
• Recommend treatment plan for patients based on diagnosis
• Counsel individuals and patients on positive health practices
• Recommend latest cost-effective nursing practices
• Liaise with other team of experts to outline best treatment for patients
• Carryout holistic evaluation of specialty population, making use of enhanced proven techniques and procedures to achieve better results
• Evaluate performances of subordinate nurses in administering treatment to patients
• Make efforts towards the improvement of patient care, healthcare policies and resources
• Evaluate operational policies in the clinic and recommend a change of old and ineffective ones with evidence
• Liaise with other experts in the designing and implementation of educational trainings and programs
• Mentor other healthcare professionals in both formal and informal health practices
• Source for funds to enhance nursing research and the utilization of findings from the research.

To prepare a resume for the post of clinical nurse specialist, the above sample job description can be used in making the professional history part of the resume.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Requirements: Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities for Career Success

The skills, abilities, and knowledge required of the clinical nurse specialist include the following:

• Good interpersonal skills
• Good communication skills
• Good organizational skills
• Good planning skills
• Good motivational skills
• Good time management
• Ability to work with other people
• Ability to listen attentively
• Being service oriented.