Nursing Roles Graphic Organizer Template

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Family Nurse Practitioner Observations

(FNP) (Similarities/Differences)

Ethics Clinical nurse specialists concentrate
on team dynamics and ethical conduct
to guarantee that everyone can operate
successfully and cohesively while also
treating each other and patients
ethically (Nurse Theory, 2021). CNS
strives to deliver fair treatment and
enhance healthcare for each individual
patient by utilizing evidence-based
practice knowledge. CNS are also
included in the Practice Specialty
Roles of APRNs.
Patients, the nursing process,
and the state board of nursing
hold each NP liable. NPs are
required to follow an ethical
code of conduct, national
certification, evidence-based
standards, and current practice
standards in their practice
(AANP, 2021). FNPs are
patient advocates who follow
legal and ethical norms. FNPs
are also included in the
Practice Specialty Roles of
APRNs.
CNS and FNP are similar in that they
are both Practice Specialty Roles for
APRNs. They both contribute to the
future of healthcare by offering
preventative treatment to all patients
and family members.
The difference between a CNS and a
FNP is quite minor. NPs work alone
as well as jointly with other health
care practitioners. CNSs frequently
collaborate with other clinicians,
have less autonomy, and typically
collaborate closely with employees to
teach and support utilizing evidence-
based research.

Education A Clinical Nurse Specialist might A Family Practice Nurse A minimum qualification for both
have a master's or doctorate degree in Practitioner may have a specialties is RN license and a
a particular area of nursing. The master's degree in nursing master's degree in nursing. In some
Commission on Collegiate Nursing from an ANCC or ACEN- cases, a PhD degree may be required.
Education (CCNE) or the accredited institution. They
Accreditation Commission for may be required to possess a Every five years, both CNS and FNP
Education in Nursing (ACEN) Doctor of Nursing Practice must recertify with AANC.
accredits the degree (ACEN). To
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 become a CNS might take six to ten
years, however there are several
options for nurses to progress within
the healthcare. CNSs must reregister
through the ANCC every five years as
of 2018. To be qualified for
recertification, the CNS must
undertake at least 150 hours of
instruction, 51% of which must be in
the CNS's chosen specialty and 25%
in pharmacotherapeutics (Nurse
Practitioner Schools, 2021).
(DNP) degree in the future. Both the CNS and the FNP must be
certified by the American Nurses
NPs can further their careers Credentialing Center (ANCC).
by participating in a
fellowship or residency The distinction is that FNPs must
program offered by their also be certified by the American
healthcare company. Every Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
five years, NPs must recertify
with AANP. Recertification Another distinction between the CNS
necessitates at least 1000 and FNP is that the CNS needs 1,000
hours of clinical practice and clinical hours and 150 CEU hours
75 contact hours of continuous over the five-year certification
learning related to the function period, whereas the FNP requires
and emphasis of the NP. 1,000 clinical hours and 75 CEU
Recertification of the ANCC hours during the two-year
is also necessary every five certification period (Gaines, 2021).
years. As of 2018, the ANCC
mandates 150 continuing
education hours, of which at
least 51 percent must be
directly relevant to the NPs'
concentration on
pharmacotherapeutics, with a
minimum of 25 hours in
pharmacotherapeutics (Nurse
Practitioner Schools, 2021).

Leadership Clinical nurse specialists may study
the interactions between nurses and
other healthcare professionals to
ensure that each employee's
requirements are addressed, as well as
investigate healthcare laws and
procedures that may prevent nurses
As health-care leaders, NPs
have several roles, including
provider, mentor, instructor,
researcher, advocate, and
administrator. NPs are
accountable for their own
professional development,
Patients and staff are guided and
educated by both CNS and FNP.
They are both dedicated to improving
the healthcare system and providing
the best possible treatment to all
patients.

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 from reaching their full potential
(Nurse Theory, 2021). CNS serve as
mentors to other nurses, providing
leadership and training to boost
morale and overall performance. CNS
focuses on healthcare systems in order
to enhance care for nurses and
patients, establish better policies,
abolish laws and norms that are
harmful to nurses and patients, and
make the health care system more
efficient for both.
Public Health The CNS coordinates the care of the
vulnerable population and offers
preventative care to the community by
detecting predisposing disorders such
as diabetes and chronic conditions
early. To help the community, CNS
also diagnose and treat sickness,
disability, and injuries within their
field of practice.
Health Care CNSs are trained to identify flaws or
Administration deficiencies in health care. They may
offer consulting services, engage with
patients and their families, monitor
treatment, plan and execute initiatives,
and assess overall health-care delivery
membership in professional
organizations, and
involvement in health policy
initiatives at the local, state,
national, and international
levels (AANP, 2021). FNP is
dedicated to our society's
needs, the progress of
healthcare, and the changes in
health care.
By serving in rural regions
where there are insufficient
doctors, FNPs do jobs that
physicians normally manage.
They educate the community,
perform diagnoses, and even
prescribe drugs. FNPs form
long-term bonds with their
patients by caring with them
from infancy through
maturity.
FNPs are in charge of
assessing and documenting
patient history, ordering
diagnostic tests, completing
history examinations, and
performing other activities.
3
The distinction between a CNS and a
CRNP is somewhat subtle. NPs work
alone as well as jointly with other
health care practitioners. CNSs
frequently collaborate with other
clinicians, have less autonomy, but
typically collaborate closely with
staff to teach and support through the
use of evidence-based research
(Gaines, 2021).
The CNS and FNP both collaborate
in the community to offer
preventative care and education.
Both employ public health data to
detect early detection of patient
ailments and to identify solutions.
The CNS and NP differ in that the
NP provides much of the same
services as a provider and can
prescribe medicines. CNS, on the
other hand, serve as supervisors to
other nurses as well as physicians
and other specialists.
Because of the power they both have
in respective organizations, CNS and
FNP both play a role in health care
management.
The distinction is that a FNP does not
 (Brennan, 2021).
Informatics Clinical nurse specialists in
informatics play a significant part in
the advancement of technology in the
medical field. CNSs gives nursing
assistance and assists with the
management of health care
information systems.
Business/Finance The CNS involvement in the
healthcare delivery system will
increase access to cost-effective, high-
quality treatment for all patients
across all settings. Another purpose of
the CNS is to save money for the
hospital by executing, organizing, and
assessing a plan to decrease healthcare
costs and costly readmissions in order
to enhance patient care.
FNPs work as case managers
in their organization,
addressing the well-being of a
wide range of people. FNPs
do not play a big part in health
care administration due to
their expertise in nursing
management and leadership.
As telehealth becomes more
common, NPs are employing
informatics to work remotely.
They can offer care via video
calls. FNPs also employ
informatics to track trends in
health-care issues affecting
families and communities.
FNPs are well-known for their
dedication to providing high-
quality, risk-free treatment.
Learn how to monitor the
outcomes of treatment with
continuing analysis and
improvement led by your prior
performance, from the
Medicare Access and CHIP
Reauthorization Act of 2015
(MACRA) to value-based care
models (AANP, 2021).
Reimbursement assistance, job
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have the same job as a CNS because
there are other specializations that
deal with management and
leadership. The CNS serves mostly
as an administrator.
Both the CNS and the FNP employ
informatics to improve the quality of
treatment they provide to their
patients.
The distinction is that FNPs are more
concerned with direct patient care
than informatics, whereas CNSs are
more concerned with ensuring that
facilities adopt technology and
information management systems.
Both CNS and FNP are devoted to
providing patients with excellent and
safe treatment while also delivering a
cost-effective care plan. CNS and
FNP both require business and
finance skills to assess the cost-
effectiveness, investment decisions,
and economic implications of illness
burdens on patients.

Specialty (e.g., Adult Health, Adult Psychiatric and
Family, Acute Mental Health, Child/Adolescent
Care) Psychological and Mental Health,
Diabetes Management, Gerontology
are just a few of the areas in which
CNS focuses.
Regulatory The American Nurses Credentialing
Bodies or Center offers certification in a range
Certification of specializations (ANCC). Not every
Agencies That specialty has its own certification test
Provide Guidance (Nurse Practitioner School, 2021). The
or Parameters on American Nurses Credentialing
How These Roles Center (ANCC) conducts national
Incorporate tests for the CNS Core and nine
Concepts Into specialist areas (Gaines, 2021). Every
Practice five years, the ANCC demands
certification renewal. During the five-
year certification period, 1,000 clinical
hours must be completed, as well as
150 CEU hours, 25 of which must be
searches, ongoing education,
and negotiating skills are all
valuable resources for the
business side of FNP. A FNP
must grasp the business of
health care and how it affects
their patients and their
profession.
FNPs are experts in a variety
of fields, including: Pediatric
– Primary or Acute, Family –
Primary or Acute, Neonatal
Adult-Gerontology – Acute or
Primary Trauma Care in an
Emergency, Gender-Related
Psychiatric/Mental
Health/Health Women's
Every two years, the ANCC
demands certification renewal.
During the two-year
certification period, 1,000
clinical hours must be
completed, as well as 75 CEU
hours, 25 of which must be in
pharmacology (Gaines, 2021).
5
Both CNS and FNP have comparable
areas of specialization that they use
to deliver the best treatment to their
respective populations. Although the
CNS and FNP have some of the same
expertise, the distinction is in the role
each has for the post.
FNPs must also be certified by the
American Academy of Nurse
Practitioners. Another difference
between the CNS and FNP is that the
CNS needs 1,000 clinical hours and
150 CEU hours over the five-year
certification period, whereas the FNP
requires 1,000 clinical hours and 75
CEU hours during the two-year
certification period (Gaines, 2021).
in pharmacology (Gaines, 2021).

References
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Nurse Theory. (2021). What is a Clinical Nurse Specialist? https://www.nursetheory.com/clinical-nurse-specialist/

American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2021). Scope of Practice for Nurse Practitioners.

https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/advocacy-resource/position-statements/scope-of-practice-fornurse-practitioners

Gaines, K. (2021). Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) or Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP)? https://nurse.org/articles/cns-

vs-cnp-which-career-path-is-right-for-you/

Brennan, D. MD. (2021). What is a Clinical Nurse Specialist? https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-a-clinical-nurse-

specialist