skip to Main Content

Clinical Nurse Specialist Job Description

What does a Clinical Nurse Specialist do?

A Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is a highly trained and experienced registered nurse who specialises in a specific area of healthcare. As the title suggests, they provide specialised care to patients in clinical settings, using their advanced knowledge and skills to diagnose, treat and manage complex medical conditions. CNSs also play a key role in educating and training other healthcare professionals, developing policies and procedures, and conducting research to improve patient outcomes. They work closely with doctors, pharmacists, and other members of the healthcare team to ensure that patients receive the highest quality of care.

Our Clinical Nurse Specialist job description includes the Clinical Nurse Specialist responsibilities, duties, skills, education, qualifications, and experience.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Example


Our Job Advertising Packages

Choose the best package, edit the advert and post your job!

 StarterPremiumCorporateNationalBrandedResourcer
Reed
Indeed Sponsored
Monster
Google Jobs
Glassdoor
LinkedIn Jobs
Totaljobs
Jobsite
Guardian Jobs
CV-Library
Industry boards
CV Targeting*
many more
£99£199£329£349£399£599
Job Advert Package + Flat Fee Recruitment Services
CV Filtering
Video Interviewing
Interview Scheduling
£799£799£929£949£999£1199

If you need an example job description for a Clinical Nurse Specialist download the one below, alternatively we have many other Nurse job description samples and a job description library with over 3000 job descriptions templates that you can download for free.

What does a Clinical Nurse Specialist do?

A Clinical Nurse Specialist is a highly specialised nurse who has advanced qualifications and experience in a specific area of patient care. They are responsible for providing expert advice and care for patients, as well as assessing and monitoring their health. Clinical Nurse Specialists also provide education to patients and their families, support staff, and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to ensure the highest quality of care. They use their knowledge and skills to improve patient outcomes and support the delivery of excellent healthcare services.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Role Purpose

The purpose of a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is to provide expert support, advice and care to individuals, families and carers, as well as to other healthcare professionals. The CNS uses their specialist knowledge, advanced clinical skills and evidence-based practice to assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate complex care. They work in partnership with other healthcare professionals to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients and their families, whilst ensuring that the highest standards of care are maintained.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Role

A Clinical Nurse Specialist is a highly skilled nurse who provides expert advice and care to patients, families and healthcare professionals. They use their advanced knowledge and skills to assess, develop and evaluate healthcare services, and to promote health and well-being.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Duties

  • Provide clinical expertise and advice to healthcare professionals, service users and carers
  • Develop, implement and evaluate care plans to ensure high standards of care are provided to service users
  • Design, develop and deliver clinical education and training programs
  • Provide clinical supervision and support to nurses and other healthcare professionals
  • Lead research projects and evidence-based practice initiatives
  • Keep up to date with changes in clinical practice and professional standards

Clinical Nurse Specialist Requirements

  • Registered Nurse with active NMC registration
  • Postgraduate qualification in a relevant specialism
  • Substantial experience in a relevant specialism
  • Advanced clinical skills and knowledge
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to lead, motivate and manage a team

Clinical Nurse Specialist Skills

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team
  • Knowledge of clinical assessment
  • Ability to provide advanced level clinical advice
  • Ability to plan and evaluate clinical interventions
  • Ability to develop and teach evidence-based practice
  • Ability to develop and maintain clinical networks

Clinical Nurse Specialist Personal Traits

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Compassionate and patient-focused
  • Good organisational skills
  • Knowledge of safe nursing practices

How to write a Clinical Nurse Specialist Job Advert

Use our job advert template to write a job advert for posting on job sites and job boards. Our job advertising templates are carefully created to help you reach your audience and beat the competition to the best talent.

A job description informs the reader about a job, whereas a job advert’s main objective is to sell the job opportunity to attract as many suitable applicants possible. A job advert maybe the first touch-point a candidate has with your company so it is important to create a great impression.

Job Advertisements should enticing, so considering using short, exciting language which get the reader’s attention.

How to write a Clinical Nurse Specialist Job Description

To write a job description, we recommend starting with a job description template from our job description library, which contains examples for 800+ positions and professions. Our job description examples include a job summary with duties and responsibilities and skills and requirements, which can be personalised for your job vacancy.

Job Description Advice - Guidance on How to Personalise a Clinical Nurse Specialist Job Specification

The hiring process and recruiting new employees to fill your key roles requires a degree of personalisation if you are to attract the best employees in a competitive employment market. The right person for a crucial role or more senior roles will likely have other employers targeting them. As your job description will be the first point of contact, you need to nail your pitch and provide the best possible service.

Job Description Tips - Help on formatting a Clinical Nurse Specialist Job Specification

When creating your bespoke description and advert, you should cover and promote these points:

Job title: This should accurately reflect the role and include keywords that top talent might be using to search for jobs.

Job duties: The day to day duties, such as administrative tasks, which vary depending on the company and inform the candidate if they can complete the role.

Technical skills: These are the hard skills required through training, such as proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Soft skills: These include the interpersonal skills and general abilities the right candidates will possess. For example, the competency to prioritise multiple tasks, handle customer queries and customer complaints, work alone, or build a good relationship with coworkers.

The company's culture: Highlighting your company culture and values ensures employees thrive and find outstanding job satisfaction. Candidates that are not the right fit won’t waste their time completing the application process, meaning you can focus on qualified individuals and hire in a more timely manner.

Career progression: Including the career path will entice candidates looking for career growth. 

Training and development programs: Smaller companies may need employees with previous experience or provide educational assistance over internal training offered by larger organisations with more significant resources. 

Employee benefits: Compensation and benefits often fail to appear in job ads and while you may want to hold your cards close to your chest, failing to include them is a mistake. Consider answering common questions, such as working hours and paid leave. Researching the average salary for the role in these early stages will ensure you don’t waste your interviewer’s and the candidate’s time.

Skill gaps: Your company may need to bring in new skills beyond those required to complete the key role and duties. Thinking on an organisational level can be beneficial when contemplating skills diversity.

Legal requirements: Ensure your job advert and description does not ask for inappropriate or discriminatory personal details, such as age, marital status, or religion.

How to Hire a Clinical Nurse Specialist

Once you have selected your Job Description download it or convert it to a Job Advert. From here you can post/advertise your job across our network of job boards. If you wish to use the job description for a CV Template click through for advice and Convert to a CV

Back To Top