Impact of Clinical Nurse Specialist Roles on COVID-19 Pandemic Care

Abstract

Advanced practice nurses including nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists (CNS), certified registered nurse anesthetists, and certified nurse midwives contribute in many ways to improve care in the intensive care unit. This article reports on the roles of the CNS at an academic medical center and how they contribute to improving patient outcomes and support critical care nursing practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Current Practice and Practice Competencies of Clinical Nurse Specialists Working in US Emergency Care Settings

“…Although this function of the clinical nurse specialist is critical during times that require rapid adaptation, there is not a lot of literature that specifically describes their work in EDs. Lucciola et al 19 and Posa-Kearney et al 20 specifically describe the role of the clinical nurse specialist in facilitating care during the COVID-19 pandemic in military hospitals and intensive care units. They report that a lack of strong evidence-based interventions to mitigate transmission required the implementation of innovative solutions while also supporting staff—a function that our participants reported as very important and one that they engaged in frequently.…”