The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) is an advanced generalist who focuses on the improvement of quality and safety outcomes for patients or patient populations. The role differs from that of a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in that the CNL is a masters prepared registered nurse with a focus on clinical and leadership skills and training in health care systems management at the clinical unit level while the CNS has master's-level preparation in an advanced practice specialty. The CNL is a registered nurse, with a Master's Degree in the Science of Nursing. Required core advanced nursing courses in pathophysiology, clinical assessment and pharmacology. The Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC) provides certification for the Clinical Nurse Leader, in addition to the required board certification for RN licensure.
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A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse who has completed specific advanced nursing education (generally a master's degree or doctoral degree) and training in the diagnosis and management of common as well as a few complex medical conditions. Nurse Practitioners provide a broad range of health care services.
Nurse Practitioners treat both acute and chronic conditions through comprehensive history taking, physical exams, physical therapy, ordering tests and therapies for patients, within their scope of practice. NPs can serve as a patient's "point of entry" health care provider, and see patients of all ages depending on their designated scope of practice.
Because the profession is state regulated, care provided by NPs varies widely. In many states, nurse practitioners work completely independently and autonomously of physicians while, in other states, a collaborative agreement with a physician is required for practice; the extent of this collaborative agreement, and the role, duties, tasks, medical treatments, pharmacologic prescriptions, et al it affords a Nurse Practitioner to perform and prescribe again varies amongst states of licensure. A nurse practitioner's job may include the following:
Diagnosing, treating, evaluating and managing acute and chronic illness and disease (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure)
Obtaining medical histories and conducting physical examinations
Ordering, performing, and interpreting diagnostic studies (e.g., routine lab tests, bone x-rays, EKGs)
Prescribing physical therapy and other rehabilitation treatments
Prescribing pharmacologic treatments and therapies for acute and chronic illness (extent of prescriptive authority varies by state regulations)
Providing prenatal care and family planning services
Providing well-child care, including screening and immunizations
Providing primary and specialty care services, health-maintenance care for adults, including annual physicals
Providing care for patients in acute and critical care settings
Performing minor surgeries and procedures (with additional training and usually under supervision) (e.g., dermatological biopsies, suturing, casting)
Counseling and educating patients on health behaviors, self-care skills, and treatment options
Not formally trained for surgical assisting
NP may require more training. Yes, you can be a Doctor of nursing, and many are.
With overtime, both can make a 6 figure salary. You need to work your way up the nursing salary foodchain. Most RN's graduate at about 80k a year, and up.
Answered By: Artemis - 9/13/2009 |