Clinical Nursing Education Requirements
A clinical nurse or a clinical nurse specialist is an advanced practice nurse. The duties of a clinical nurse specialist includes developing aftercare plans, administering tests, observing patients and helping doctors interpret results to evaluate and treat patients. They focus on the health care needs of specific individuals, provide care in certain medical environments or provide care for patients with specific diseases.
Registered Nurse (RN) Degrees
Before becoming a clinical nurse specialist, an individual must become a registered nurse. One of three degree options must be pursued before an individual becomes a registered nurse; associate degree in nursing (ADN), bachelor's of science degree in nursing (BSN), or a diploma from an accredited nursing degree program. Nursing diplomas can take three years to finish. An ASN degree usually takes up to two to three years to complete, while a BSN degree can take up to four years to complete. Generally, successfully completing the bachelor's degree program for a registered nurse is often necessary to begin pursuing a career as a clinical nurse specialist. Once a degree is obtained, a graduate can take a national licensing examination to become a registered nurse.
Clinical Nursing Degree Programs
To become a clinical nurse specialist, an individual should enroll in an accredited master's program that offers clinical nursing courses. In a typical clinical nursing course, students will learn about a variety of health subjects including, pathophysiology, pharmacology, state and national health care policy, acute illness assessment and treatment theory. Clinical nursing courses usually focuses on specific specialties such as pediatric, diabetes, critical care, geriatric, emergency room care, rehabilitative care and psychiatric care. A local hospital clinical requirement will need to be completed.
Certifications
After completing a master's degree program for a clinical nursing specialty, a graduate can obtain certification for a specialty from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This type of certification validates the skills and knowledge of a clinical nurse.