239 Victoria Building

412-624-4586

http://www.nursing.pitt.edu

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As of June 2, 2011 the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing will not be accepting applications to the Clinical Nurse Specialist major in the master’s program. We will only be accepting applications to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program for this major. Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are registered nurses with an advanced nursing degree (master’s or doctoral degree) who are experts in a specialized area of nursing practice. They work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, their own offices, and other community-based settings such as industry, home care, and health maintenance organizations. Many Clinical Nurse Specialists are hired to coordinate the care of patients with complicated illness, and they ensure the highest quality of healthcare possible in a cost-effective manner. Clinical Nurse Specialists are clinical experts who serve as patient advocates and promote patient safety. Besides delivering direct patient care, Clinical Nurse Specialists provide consultation, conduct and implement research, promote evidence based practice, mentor new nursing professionals, provide staff development, and assume a leadership role within the administrative structure of a healthcare system. CNSs are also instrumental in leading Magnet initiatives within organizations. The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Adult-Gerontology concentration prepares nurses as expert providers of care to patients/families in acute and ambulatory care settings. In addition, the curriculum prepares the graduate to function as a developer and manager of programs of care for populations of patients; leader, consultant, mentor and change agent in advancing nursing practice; clinical outcomes manager who produces quality, cost-effective outcomes; leader of multidisciplinary groups in implementing innovative projects; and, developer of evidence-based practice projects and quality improvement initiatives that test innovative practices. The concentration includes a choice of a clinical emphasis in cardiopulmonary, critical care, oncology, trauma & emergency preparedness or a directed (self-designed) emphasis. The directed emphasis allows the student to design a clinical emphasis in a particular area of interest, e.g., internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics. The Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) concentration prepares nurses in advanced practice as experts in the care of patients with psychiatric or psychosocial issues, including the delivery of psychotherapy. Nurses are prepared to be therapists, consultants, mental health educators, case managers, and supervisors.