Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist

Provide specialized advanced practice nursing care to adult patient populations

The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) role. CNSs use theory and research to diagnose, treat, and manage patients and specialty populations from wellness to acute illness. The CNS improves outcomes by providing direct patient care, leading evidence-based practice, optimizing organizational systems, and advancing the practice of nursing.

Learn More About the CNS Role

As a CNS, you’ll provide clinical leadership by:

  • Providing expert nursing care to complex patients in various healthcare settings
  • Leading the transition of individual patient care across settings such as from hospital to home or rehabilitation facility
  • Developing, implementing, and evaluating programs of care for groups of patients with similar care needs
  • Developing and evaluating innovative cost-effective interventions to improve patient/clinical outcomes
  • Leading multidisciplinary teams to coordinate healthcare services and to implement best practice models
  • Mentoring nursing staff in solving patient care problems and delivering high quality, safe care

When you graduate, you’ll find potential employment opportunities in:

  • Hospitals and acute care
  • Rehabilitation care
  • Long-term care
  • Accountable care organizations
  • Assisted living
  • Community health agencies and clinics
  • Corporate industry/occupational health
  • Private practice settings

 

Program Format

Courses are taught in online, distance-accessible formats. There are some required on-campus lab days, and all clinical hours must be completed within the state of Indiana due to supervision requirements.

The degree can be completed in a three-year, part-time plan of study, or—if space in the program allows—a two-year, full-time plan of study.

Certification

When you graduate, you will be eligible for certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) as an Adult-Gerontology CNS. As an advanced practice nurse, you will also qualify to apply for prescriptive authority from the Indiana Licensure Board.

MSN Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Track - Full Time

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Track - Full Time - Fall
Fall
Description Course Credits
Nursing Theory I NURS-N502 3
Advanced Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan NURS-Y515 3
Advanced Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan NURS-Y625 4
Total   10
Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Track - Full Time - Spring
Spring
Description Course Credits
Clinical Hours 150
Clinical Nurse Specialist I: Scientific Basis of Practice - Developing the Expert Nurse NURS-M570 4
Nursing Research Methods I NURS-R500 3
Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan NURS-Y612 3
Total   10
Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Track - Full Time - Summer I and II
Summer I and II
Description Course Credits
Measurement and Data Analysis NURS-R505 3
Advanced Concepts in Gerontology NURS-Y512 3
Total   6

Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Track - Full Time - Fall
Fall
Description Course Credits
Clinical Hours 150
Improving Population Health: Application of Evidence for Individual‐Level Behavior Change NURS-D660 3
Clinical Nurse Specialist II: Symptom and Functional Enhancement - Developing Problem Solver NURS-M580 5
Total   8
Table lists courses and credit hours required for the MSN Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Track - Full Time - Spring
Spring
Description Course Credits
Clinical Hours 225
Clinical Nurse Specialist III: System Leadership for Innovation in Nursing Practice NURS-M590 5
Leadership for Advanced Nursing Practice NURS-N504 3
Total   8