RN (Registered Nurse), CS (Clinical Specialist), PC (Prescribing Clinician)

Psychiatric Nurse Clinical Specialists practicing in the expanded role in Massachusetts may be listed with slight variations in credentials following their names (MS, CS, CNS, PC;  RN, CS;  MSN, PC; APRN;   etc). The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has currently certified 58,000 advanced practice nurses and recently changed its credentials for advanced practice nurses in 2001. Clinical Nurse Specialists and Nurse Practitioners now receive the APRN, BC credential.(APRN - Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.) It is important to note that training requirements for Nurse Practitioners differ from Clinical Specialists. 

The Clinical Specialist has often been a consumer's provider of choice. CS's, known for advanced education and training in psychotherapy and psychopharmacology, provide expertise in treating those with both psychiatric and physical problems.  They are knowledgeable about the course of illnesses and can offer expert guidance in accessing available resources.

CS's are dedicated to patient and family education, function in a broad range of settings, provide a wide variety of services, work collaboratively with the patient's significant others and approach care using a holistic and compassionate model. 

 Credentialing News, ANCC, Fall/Winter Vol 5, Number 3

Adapted from "Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in Psychiatric and Mental Health Care", publication of American Psychiatric Nurses Association.  www.apna.org