September 1-7, 2024, is National CNS Week!
For decades, the Indiana University School of Nursing (IUSON) has influenced CNS education and practice nationally. Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) with clinical expertise in a specialty area who diagnose, prescribe, and treat patients across the continuum of care. They improve patient outcomes by leading nursing and interprofessional teams, supporting evidence-based practices, optimizing organizational systems for high-quality, cost-effective care, and advance nursing practice assuring that care delivered by nurses reflects best-practices.
IUSON has a unique and distinguished legacy in establishing contemporary CNS practice and education through the leadership of faculty, students, and alumni(ae). Here are some examples.
Elected Leaders
Over the years, seven faculty and alumni(ae) have served as presidents of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS), including Brenda Lyon, Jo Ellen Rust, Jan Fulton, Theresa Murray, Peggy Barksdale, Vince Holly, and Jan Powers. By advancing the CNS role, these leaders have contributed significantly to the nursing profession.
Book Editors
Drs. Jan Fulton and Brenda Lyon, IUSON faculty emeritae are two of the three co-editors for the inaugural edition of Foundations of Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice. The textbook, initially published in 2010, was the first CNS textbook in 20 years to address contemporary CNS practice. This textbook, now in its soon-to-be-released 4th edition, is the only comprehensive resource for CNS education and practice. The second edition received the prestigious American Journal of Nursing “Book of the Year” award, underscoring its impact on the field.
Drs. Amy Shay, Jan Powers, and Terry Doescher, IUSON graduates and current faculty members, are editors of the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Certification Review, the first-ever adult-gerontology CNS certification examination review text authored entirely by highly qualified CNS practitioners and educators.
Dr. Jan Fulton and IUSON alumnus Vince Holly co-edited Clinical Nurse Specialist Role and Practice: An International Perspective, the first text to provide a global view of the CNS role in different healthcare systems worldwide.
Journal Editors
Since 2002, Dr. Jan Fulton has also served as the Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Nurse Specialist: The Journal for Advanced Nursing Practice, the official journal of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). This journal serves as a critical resource for CNS practitioners, educators, and researchers.
Dr. Amy Shay serves on the journal's editorial board and is the editor for the feature column “Educator’s Corner," while IUSON alumna Erica Newkirk co-edits the feature column "Reporting Outcomes" column, highlighting the significant outcomes of CNS practice.
Supporting Foundations
The local NACNS affiliate, the Indiana Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, formerly Central Indiana Organization of Clinical Nurse Specialists, through the Indiana University Foundation, established a graduate fellowship for IUSON CNS students. Faculty, alumni, and fellow affiliate members contribute to the fund regularly by “passing the hat” at meetings and though annual directed giving.
Dr. Sue Storey, current faculty member and alumna, serves as a trustee on the board for the Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute. Founded as an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS), the Institute serves to develop and promote the charitable, educational, innovative clinical practice, and scientific purposes of NACNS.
IUSON CNS Program Leadership
The faculty at IUSON is deeply committed to advancing the CNS role. Dr. Amy Shay, the Clinical Nurse Specialist Program Coordinator for the Adult-Gerontology and Pediatric programs, is an expert in critical care and pulmonary nursing. She is also a key contributor to military research on moral distress and moral injury among healthcare providers. Dr. Jan Powers, adjunct professor at IUSON, is an internationally recognized CNS clinician and researcher and Director of Nursing Research and Professional Practice at Parkview Health Systems.
And the work continues...
The IU School of Nursing’s dedication to CNS education is further demonstrated by its full-time faculty who are also CNSs, including Jonell Allen, Adele Crouch, Kim Decker, Terry Doescher, Rebecca Bartlett Ellis, Jennifer Embree, Bethany Murray, Wendy Trueblood Miller, Tonya Padgett, Deanna Reising, Amy Shay, Susan Storey, and Jane von Gaudecker. Their combined expertise and commitment ensure that the CNS program at the IU School of Nursing remains at the forefront of clinical nurse specialist education, preparing graduates to lead and innovate in healthcare systems worldwide.