What does a Nurse Clinician do?
Published 3 min read
A nurse clinician is a registered nurse who has specialized training in a particular area of nursing. They provide direct patient care and may also teach patients and their families about their condition.
Nurse Clinician job duties include:
- Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records
- Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients
- May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management
- Collaborate with physicians and other health care professionals to plan, provide, and coordinate medical care, counseling, or health education
- Supervise licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and nurse aides
- Perform administrative duties such as supervising staff, coordinating patient admissions and discharge, budgeting, and recordkeeping
- Research treatments, medications, or new technologies to keep up with latest developments
- Evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions and revise care plans as needed
- Instruct patients and their families in proper home healthcare techniques
Nurse Clinician Job Requirements
A nurse clinician is a registered nurse who has advanced education and training in a specialty area. They may have a master's or doctorate degree in nursing, and must be certified by a national board in their specialty area. Nurse clinicians typically have several years of experience working in their specialty area before becoming a nurse clinician.
Nurse Clinician Skills
- Assessing
- Diagnosing
- Counseling
- Treating
- Coordinating
- Monitoring
- Supervising
- Teaching
- Delegating
- Referring
- Documentation
- Evaluation
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How to become a Nurse Clinician
A Nurse Clinician is a registered nurse who has advanced education and training in a specialty area of nursing. Nurse Clinicians work in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings to provide direct patient care and coordinate care among a team of healthcare providers.
To become a Nurse Clinician, one must first earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited nursing program. Once the BSN is obtained, the nurse must then pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). After passing the NCLEX-RN, the nurse can then apply for a position as a Nurse Clinician. Some employers may require that the nurse have a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) before being considered for a position as a Nurse Clinician.
The American Nurses Association offers certification for Nurse Clinicians in various specialty areas, such as adult health, gerontological nursing, pediatric nursing, and psychiatric mental health nursing. To be eligible for certification, the nurse must have at least two years of full-time clinical experience as a registered nurse and must pass an examination. Certification as a Nurse Clinician demonstrates that the nurse has the knowledge and skills necessary to provide high-quality care to patients in their specialty area.
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