title: Specialty nursing council: a peer support group for nurses in independent roles.
abstract: As nurses move into more nontraditional, expanded roles, they sometimes lack a social and professional support group within the work setting. Feeling isolated and lacking support, several clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) at a large county institution began the Specialty Nursing Council. The Specialty Nursing Council provides a means of networking and support for nurses in specialty roles in a three institution health care campus. Monthly meetings are conducted to bring members together and for continuing education programs. The keys to success in forming this type of council are: 1) a dedicated group that plans, organizes, and distributes informational material; 2) common goals and objectives; 3) direct benefits to members.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gilliland
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tosch
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hussey
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hines
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Loftis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Svetlik
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Mancini
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D009720:Nurse Clinicians; D010379:Peer Group; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*