Rule 410-11-.06 - Rules for Clinical Nurse Specialists(1) Definition: A clinical nurse specialist ("CNS") is a registered professional nurse who has graduated from a program of graduate study and supervised practice; who holds a master's degree or other graduate degree from an approved nursing education program; who holds national board certification in his or her area of specialty; and is authorized to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse by the Board.
(2) Scope and Standards of Practice for the Clinical Nurse Specialist. The clinical nurse specialist ("CNS") is an advanced practice registered nurse who provides a full range of nursing services from health promotion to illness rehabilitation. The clinical nurse specialist provides clinical supervision, consultation, and liaison services to nurses, patients and healthcare systems. The clinical nurse specialist must practice in accordance with the current standards of the national certifying organizations listed in Rule 410-11-.12 by which clinical nurse specialists are currently certified.
(3) Requirements to Practice as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. (a) Beginning January 1, 2012, all applicants seeking initial authorization as an advance practice registered nurse to practice as a clinical nurse specialist ("CNS") shall meet the following requirements:1.Evidence of current licensure as a registered professional nurse in Georgia;2.Completed Board authorization application with required fee;3.Official transcript which verifies a master's or higher degree in nursing or a post-masters certificate from an approved nursing education program with specialization as a Clinical Nurse Specialist that includes evidence of advanced pharmacology, advanced physical assessment, and advanced pathophysiology within the curriculum or as a separate course.4.Verification of current national certification as a clinical nurse specialist from the American Nurses Credentialing Center or approved national certifying body listed in Rule 410-12-.12. (b) All applicants must document one of the following within four (4) years immediately preceding the date of the current authorization application: 1.500 hours of practice as a CNS;2.An official transcript which verifies a masters or higher degree in nursing or a post master's certificate from an approved nursing education program with a specialization as a Clinical Nurse Specialist; or3.Completion of a Board approved advanced practice registered nurse reentry/refresher program consisting of forty (40) hours of study and one hundred and sixty hours (160) hours of supervised clinical practice within the four (4) years immediately preceding the date of application.(c) Biennial renewal of board authorization to practice as a clinical nurse specialist: 1.The date for renewal of board authorization as a clinical nurse specialist will coincide with the renewal of the registered professional nurse license.2.Authorization to practice as a clinical nurse specialist shall be administratively revoked if not renewed prior to the date of expiration.3.For renewal of APRN-CNS authority to practice, the clinical nurse specialist must submit: (i) A completed authorization renewal application for advanced nursing practice;(ii) Maintain current national certification as a clinical nurse specialist;(iii) Upon notification of Board audit, submit proof of current national certification as a clinical nurse specialist which bears the certification expiration date; and(iv) Payment of the authorization renewal fee.4.A renewal application, received with a postmark date after the date of authorization expiration, will not be accepted by the Board for renewal purposes. Thereafter, the applicant must apply to reinstate the authorization.5.Renewal of a license to practice as a registered professional nurse shall not constitute renewal of authorization to practice as a CNS.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 410-11-.06
O.C.G.A. §§ 43-1-4, 43-1-25, 43-26-2, 43-26-3 and 43-26-5.
Original Rule entitled "Rules for Clinical Nurse Specialists" adopted. F. Aug. 24, 2015; eff. Sept. 13, 2015.