Informing and Supporting the New Clinical Nurse Specialist Prescriber

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in the United States are trained to diagnose and treat disease and illness, hence, to prescribe. Of the APRN roles, the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is the least likely to prescribe. Prescribing is one of many advanced care interventions performed by CNSs, but the statutes regarding prescriptive authority are constantly changing. The purpose of this article is to inform and support the new CNS prescriber. The article reviews CNS prescribing, credentialing and privileging, safety strategies, and educational considerations that influence CNS prescribing and offers current recommendations for new CNS prescribers. Clinical nurse specialist prescribing can enhance the patient care experience and fill unmet prescriptive needs for patients. Overall, more reports on the outcomes of CNS prescribing are urgently needed, specifically, publications on CNS prescribing in acute care, where most CNSs practice.