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Community Health Nurse Specialist - Career Profile |
Career OverviewClinical Nursing Specialists who specialize in community health have substantial clinical experience and the principle function of their job is to assess the health of a community and to demonstrate proficiency in planning, implementing, and evaluating population-focused programs to improve general health.
Community Health Nurse Specialists typically have a knowledge of various specialist areas of medicine, including epidemiology, demographics, biometrics, environmental health, community structure and organization, community development, management, program evaluation, policy development, and case management.
They may also engage in research projects that are relevant to community health care, exploring ways of providing cost-effective care to people of all ages, which is also effective and efficient at promoting the health of an entire community.
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Career RequirementsCommunity Health Nurse Specialists are required to train as Clinical Nursing Specialists prior to completing any advanced training in the field. They are required to have some advanced training in the nursing field. Most Clinical Nursing Specialists have advanced degrees. Approximately 93% of all CNSs have a Master's Degree or equivalent graduate certificate to compliment their training as an RN.
Community Health Nurse Specialists are required to have an active RN license and typically have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing to have obtained this qualification.
Specialist training in general is a typical requirement for this profession. Most candidates have considerable practical experience to enhance their diagnostic skills and their ability to treat a vast range of conditions that they may encounter.
The general focus may be more on follow-up treatment and treatment management, as most serious medical conditions are treated in hospitals rather than through community medical centers. However, community health nursing specialists have considerable autonomy in patient management and care.
Some institutions offer specialist training programs and certification in community health nursing. More information about training programs and certification is available through the following organizations:
American Nurses Credentialing Center
600 Maryland Ave., SW, Suite 100 West
Washington, D.C. 20024-2571
(800) 284-2378
American Nurses' Association
8518 Georgia Ave.,
Ste. 400,
Silver Spring, MD 20910
www.nursingworld.org
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Job OutlookThe general outlook for nursing is extremely positive. For community health nursing specialists, this is again, no exception.
As the health service responses to financial and time pressures, redirecting physicians focus on to treatment of patients in critical conditions will be a priority. Follow-up treatment, pain management, and general care management will be increasingly within the scope of the responsibilities of nurses with the necessary specialist skills.
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Career TrackSee Clinical Nurse Specialist
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CompensationSee Clinical Nurse Specialist
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