The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is a professional nurse who is licensed to practice pursuant to the Nurse Practice Act of the Colorado Board of Nursing (BON). An APRN must have specialized education or training at the graduate level from an accredited academic institution and shall obtain national certification from a nationally recognized accrediting agency. Must designate a specific role and population focus. Must be included on the advanced practice registry for the State of Colorado. APRN Roles recognized by the Colorado BON are nurse practitioner (NP), certified nurse anesthetist (CRNA), certified nurse midwife (CNM), and clinical nurse specialist (CNS). A nurse seeking recognition as an APRN must be academically prepared for the expanded scope of practice described as Advanced Practice Nursing.

The APRN Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) influences patient outcomes and promotes evidence-based nursing care by applying specialty knowledge and expert clinical practice across the client, nurse, and system spheres of influence. Has clinical expertise in a specialty area and leads system wide changes which continuously improve outcomes at the client, nursing practice, and organizational level. Empowers nursing through creating and supporting environments which embrace continuous quality improvement and are hallmarked by collaboration, ethical-decision making, caring, alleviation of suffering, and implementation of evidence-based practices.

education requirements

Masters degree from a nationally accredited graduate degree program or a nationally accredited postgraduate certificate program (as of January 01, 2012/ or reference APRN Guidelines).

work experience requirements

Two years clinical nursing experience in designated specialty area preferred

License/certifications

Current Colorado Registered Nurse License; Board certified as an APN in a population foci and listed on the Colorado Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) registry

Position duties (essential functions)

Patient and family centered care-30%: Interacts at the level of patients, families, and groups of patients, nurses and organizational systems to promote health or well-being and improve quality of life.

v Conducts a comprehensive, holistic assessment, Synthesizes assessment data, identifies potential risks, and formulates or revises diagnoses

v Implements or prescribes nursing therapeutics, pharmacologic or other interventions to select patients

v Provides leadership for Evidence Based Practice and collaborative or development of standards of care, programs of care, policies, procedures and protocols

v Evaluates nursing practice against evidence based practice standards and modifies interventions to achieve optimal outcomes

Leadership/Collaboration-10%: Demonstrates the ability to manage change and empower others to influence practice and processes of care at the patient and families, nurses and organizational s