title: The future of the clinical nurse specialist role in Finland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify and examine the expert panelists' visions on the future implementation of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) role in Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  A policy Delphi design was conducted in 2013. A purposive sampling method was used to recognize expert panelists in the areas of advanced practice nursing (APN), healthcare management, and advanced practice nurse education. Three iterative Web-based survey rounds were conducted (n = 25, n = 22, n = 19). Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expert panelists envisioned the future of the CNS role in Finland. This study portrayed the CNS role in Finland as generally consistent with the international role. CNS have comprehensive skills and knowledge that they use to guide and develop nursing practice; however, several threats may affect their role achievement. The existing national consensus, contradiction, and ambivalence related to CNS roles were revealed through the examination of the results, thus pointing out the areas for consideration when further developing these roles and role policies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first national study to examine the implementation of the CNS role in Finland. Expert panelists' views regarding the CNS role will be valuable in the forthcoming national policy formulation process. Although the policy Delphi design is not often utilized, this study reveals that it is very well suited to guide and inform national and international APN policy development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study contributes to CNS role development and describes the methods facilitating the essential policy formulation process.
authors.affiliation: Doctoral student, University of Eastern Finland, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing Science, and Assistant Head Nurse, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jokiniemi
authors.forename: Kaisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Haatainen
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meretoja
authors.forename: Anna-Maija
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pietilä
mesh_terms: D057179:Advanced Practice Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends; D005387:Finland; D005544:Forecasting; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000639:trends*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011050:Policy Making
keywords: Clinical nurse specialist; advanced practice nurse; advanced practice nursing; expert panel; policy Delphi design