title: The clinical nurse specialist in an Irish hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was set in an acute Irish health care setting and aimed to explore the activity of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) in this setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative methodology, using a valid and reliable questionnaire, provided descriptive statistics that gave accurate data on the total population of CNSs in the health care setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was set in an acute-care 750-bed hospital that had 25 CNSs in practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of all 25 CNSs who are the total population of CNSs working in the acute health care institution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings show the CNS to be active in the roles of researcher, educator, communicator, change agent, leader, and clinical specialist, but the level of activity varies between different roles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is variety in the activity of CNSs in the various roles and to what extent they enact the role.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings merit further study on CNS role activity and possible variables that influence role activity.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Ireland. Sheelagh.Wickham@dcu.ie
authors.forename: Sheelagh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wickham
mesh_terms: D007494:Ireland; D013041:Specialties, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires