Become a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Parent-Child Nurse

The job that parent-child nurses perform reduces the stress that can arise due to family conflicts, disorganization and other situations. Their duties might include delivering primary care to children or adolescents with complex health issues, working within school settings to develop health education programs and educating families on parent-child health services.

Parent-child CNSs can find job opportunities in clinical, community and school settings as health care practitioners, educators, researchers and consultants.

Clinical nurse specialists who focus on parent-child nursing typically hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and a post-master's certificate in this specialty area. Before you can begin a graduate nursing program, you will first need to have earned your undergraduate nursing degree and your registered nursing (RN) license.

Certification presents distinct advantages to clinical nurse specialists. While each state has its own requirements, earning certification as a CNS can broaden your career opportunities, increase your earning potential, and demonstrate your commitment to excellence and continuous learning in your field.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers certification for CNSs who meet specific eligibility requirements.

According to data collected in July 2010 at Payscale.com, the median annual income for entry-level clinical nurse specialists ranges from $51,000 to $70,000. Certified CNSs can anticipate a median salary range of $74,000 to $90,000.

States where clinical nurse specialists can expect to find top salaries include California, New York, Illinois and Texas.

As registered nurses, parent-child CNSs look forward to an exceptional career outlook, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 23 percent employment growth for RNs through 2016. The nursing shortage continues to increase the demand for qualified nurses across the country. And your specialized training will help you build a highly rewarding career in the setting of your choice.

CNSs can also anticipate expanding job opportunities as educators, because in addition to the usual duties of a practitioner a CNS is often involved with teaching as well. Along with teaching graduate and undergraduate nursing students, CNSs educate non-nursing staff members, patients and communities.

Parent-child clinical nurse specialists play a crucial role to families trying to manage both common and complex health situations, and also build healthy relationships between parents and children. The career of a parent-child CNS offers remarkable financial, personal and professional rewards, and the job market for qualified nurses could not be better, making now the perfect time to join the profession.

_{Sources:
Simmons College, 2009
California State University, 2007
NurseCredentialing.org, 2009
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009}