Clinical Nurse Specialists

The Clinical Nurse Specialist | Mixed Media 2025

As Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs), we are advanced practice providers who diagnose, prescribe, and treat patients across diverse patient populations and care settings. Our work is multifaceted—balancing direct patient care, leading evidence-based practice, optimizing organizational systems, and advancing nursing practice to improve outcomes at every level.

This collaborative art piece, created by CNSs across The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center enterprise, visually represents the depth and breadth of our role. The background—a collage of our scholarly contributions and professional portraits—symbolizes the knowledge, expertise, and research that ground our practice. Over this, the acronym CNS emerges, filled with images that capture the real-world impact of our work. These pictures showcase our presence across different patient populations, care areas, and specialties, highlighting the complexity and reach of our contributions.

The CNS role is often misunderstood—its boundaries blurred, its influence widespread. Yet, within this ambiguity lies a dynamic, interconnected profession that thrives on collaboration. The chaos of our daily work is not disorder; it is a beautifully orchestrated effort that enhances patient care and safety. This piece illuminates the unseen, celebrates our collective efforts, and sheds light on the critical, yet often overlooked, role of the CNS in transforming healthcare.