A Compendium of Clinical Nurse Specialist Roles in a Canadian Health Authority

Nurs Leadersh (Tor Ont). 2024 Jan;36(3):56-69. doi: 10.12927/cjnl.2024.27288.

Abstract

Interior Health in British Columbia advocates for and supports advanced practice nurses, inclusive of regional clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). CNSs develop evidence-informed programs, education, policies and practice standards. The article uses an advanced practice nursing framework to anchor two case studies: (1) the operationalization and implementation of a regional CNS role in primary care and (2) the use of a knowledge translation strategy to build clinical capacity in serious illness conversations. These case studies embody the CNS role and provide a voice for CNSs to communicate the ways in which their advanced practice nursing role is pivotal in healthcare system transformation and for providing quality patient care.

MeSH terms

  • British Columbia
  • Communication
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Humans
  • Nurse Clinicians* / education