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The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Clinical Nurse Specialist Association of Canada (CNS-C). The MOU unites North America’s two Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) associations with the joint objective of promoting activities that increase the visibility of the 89,000 US CNSs and over 3,000 Canadian CNSs in North America.
CNSs are highly educated and unique among the four Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) roles as they are the only APRNs qualified to integrate care across the three spheres of impact in health care: patient care, nurses and nursing, and organizations and systems.
The collaboration includes joint legislative and regulatory advocacy as well as marketing activities. Each CNS association will appoint liaisons to meet quarterly with the responsibility for coordinating efforts between the two organizations in North America.
“Both organizations have similar opportunities and legislative objectives such as advocating for CNSs to operate as licensed independent providers,” said Sean M. Reed, PhD, APRN, ACNS-BC, ACHPN, president, NACNS. “There is strength in numbers and working together we will both be stronger organizations with a powerful voice. This MOU signals the start of a collaboration between the associations allowing us to combine efforts and present a united North American strategy with the goal of increasing the visibility and value of the CNS while promoting growth and attracting membership engagement for all CNSs.”
“We have implemented our strategic alliance through a memo of understanding so that we may strengthen the networks and advocacy of the associations, and achieve greater impact than either organization could achieve on its own” said Mary-Lou Martin, RN, CNS-APN, MScN, MEd, president, CNS-C. “We shared information about our organizations and explored the potential for partnerships, and we found that we have a lot of common ground regarding strengths, challenges and future plans that can be enhanced by promoting collaboration and jointly orchestrated strategies. To develop and promote working relations between our two national associations will build awareness of the CNS role and encourage creative innovation in the CNS’ spheres of practice and health systems approach: direct complex care; consultation; education; research; policy and leadership. CNSs are uniquely positioned to bring focus and contribute to change in complex health care systems and improve patient and system level outcomes.”
About The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) is the only national association representing the clinical nurse specialists (CNS) in the USA. CNSs are the most versatile advanced practice registered nurses and work in a variety of health care specialties to ensure delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered care. As leaders in the acute, post-acute, and ambulatory health care settings, CNSs impact direct patient care, nurses and nursing practice, and organizations and systems to optimize care and drive outstanding clinical outcomes. NACNS is dedicated to advancing CNS practice and education and removing unnecessary and limiting regulatory barriers, while assuring public access to quality CNS services. For more information or to join NACNS, click here.
About The Clinical Nurse Specialist Association of Canada
The Clinical Nurse Specialist Association of Canada (CNS-C) / Association des infirmières et infirmiers cliniciens spécialisés du Canada (ICS-C) is the only national association representing the clinical nurse specialists (CNS) in Canada. CNS-C officially incorporated in January 2016 and have representatives across the provinces and territories of Canada. CNSs have advanced education and specialized clinical expertise within nursing practice. CNSs provide a leadership platform through which they can impact and influence cost-effective health care system change to support safe, quality care and superior outcomes. In Canada, there is a need to develop more CNS Master in Nursing programs and achieve CNS title protection to ultimately improve patient/client outcomes. For more information or to join CNS-C, please refer to their website.
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