title: Advanced practice: the clinical nurse specialist.
abstract: Historically, the clinically expert nurse who wanted to continue in direct patient care had few career options. That dilemma is changing in response to the recognised need for greater knowledge and clinical expertise in the domain of patient care. The clinical nurse specialist role is an answer to this concern. The clinical nurse specialist practices within a framework of theoretically-based knowledge and combines that knowledge with clinical expertise. The role is also pivotal in the promotion of patient care focused scientific inquiry and in the generation and refinement of nursing theories. Career options are more versatile than for the educator, researcher, or administrator. While the clinical nurse specialist is an essential person in influencing quality care in the traditional practice settings, there are now opportunities with clientele and practice settings which have expanded beyond the conventional boundaries.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sparacino
mesh_terms: D002322:Career Mobility; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D006801:Humans; D009720:Nurse Clinicians