(1) Definition:
A clinical nurse specialist ("CNS") is a registered
professional nurse who has graduated from a program of graduate study and
supervised practice; who holds a master's degree or other graduate degree from
an approved nursing education program; who holds national board certification
in his or her area of specialty; and is authorized to practice as an advanced
practice registered nurse by the Board.
(2) Scope and Standards of Practice for the
Clinical Nurse Specialist.
The clinical nurse specialist ("CNS") is an advanced practice
registered nurse who provides a full range of nursing services from health
promotion to illness rehabilitation. The clinical nurse specialist provides
clinical supervision, consultation, and liaison services to nurses, patients
and healthcare systems. The clinical nurse specialist must practice in
accordance with the current standards of the national certifying organizations
listed in Rule
410-11-.12 by which clinical nurse
specialists are currently certified.
(3) Requirements to Practice as a Clinical
Nurse Specialist.
(a) Beginning January 1,
2012, all applicants seeking initial authorization as an advance practice
registered nurse to practice as a clinical nurse specialist ("CNS") shall meet
the following requirements:
1.Evidence of
current licensure as a registered professional nurse in Georgia;
2.Completed Board authorization application
with required fee;
3.Official
transcript which verifies a master's or higher degree in nursing or a
post-masters certificate from an approved nursing education program with
specialization as a Clinical Nurse Specialist that includes evidence of
advanced pharmacology, advanced physical assessment, and advanced
pathophysiology within the curriculum or as a separate course.
4.Verification of current national
certification as a clinical nurse specialist from the American Nurses
Credentialing Center or approved national certifying body listed in Rule
410-12-.12.
(b) All applicants must document one of the
following within four (4) years immediately preceding the date of the current
authorization application:
1.500 hours of
practice as a CNS;
2.An official
transcript which verifies a masters or higher degree in nursing or a post
master's certificate from an approved nursing education program with a
specialization as a Clinical Nurse Specialist; or
3.Completion of a Board approved advanced
practice registered nurse reentry/refresher program consisting of forty (40)
hours of study and one hundred and sixty hours (160) hours of supervised
clinical practice within the four (4) years immediately preceding the date of
application.
(c)
Biennial renewal of board authorization to practice as a clinical nurse
specialist:
1.The date for renewal of board
authorization as a clinical nurse specialist will coincide with the renewal of
the registered professional nurse license.
2.Authorization to practice as a clinical
nurse specialist shall be administratively revoked if not renewed prior to the
date of expiration.
3.For renewal
of APRN-CNS authority to practice, the clinical nurse specialist must submit:
(i) A completed authorization renewal
application for advanced nursing practice;
(ii) Maintain current national certification
as a clinical nurse specialist;
(iii) Upon notification of Board audit,
submit proof of current national certification as a clinical nurse specialist
which bears the certification expiration date; and
(iv) Payment of the authorization renewal
fee.
4.A renewal
application, received with a postmark date after the date of authorization
expiration, will not be accepted by the Board for renewal purposes. Thereafter,
the applicant must apply to reinstate the authorization.
5.Renewal of a license to practice as a
registered professional nurse shall not constitute renewal of authorization to
practice as a CNS.
Notes
Ga. Comp. R.
& Regs. R. 410-11-.06
O.C.G.A. ยงยง
43-1-4, 43-1-25, 43-26-2, 43-26-3 and
43-26-5.
Original Rule
entitled "Rules for Clinical Nurse Specialists" adopted. F.
Aug. 24, 2015; eff.
Sept. 13,
2015.