
Health Dame With Robin Strongin
Clinical Nurse Specialists: In Conversation with Dr. Jackie Iseler
What does a clinical nurse specialist do, and how is the role different from that of a nurse practitioner? Robin Strongin talks with Dr. Jackie Iseler , an adult health clinical nurse specialist, associate professor and program director of the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Concentration at Grand Valley State University Kirkhof College of Nursing . She also serves as president of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists . Dr. Iseler explains how clinical nurse specialists improve care across three areas: patients, nursing practice and health care systems. She shares how asking “why” as a young nurse led her to the profession and discusses her work with heart and lung transplant patients, people using left ventricular assist devices and nurses implementing evidence-based practices. The conversation also examines why many patients and health care leaders are unfamiliar with clinical nurse specialists, how state practice laws affect their work and why CNSs must communicate their impact on patient safety, quality and health system costs.

