Which role is a registered nurse with specialized knowledge in a particular field?

• A. Nurse Practitioners
• B. Clinical Nurse Specialists
• C. Physician Assistants
• D. Patient Preference

Answer: (B)

Clinical Nurse Specialists are registered nurses who have advanced, specialized knowledge in a particular field of care. They bring expert clinical practice to a defined area, often holding an advanced degree and board certification in that specialty, and they apply their expertise to direct patient care, mentor staff, develop care protocols, and lead quality-improvement efforts. This focused expertise in a specific clinical domain is what sets CNS apart from other roles.

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice RNs who diagnose and treat a broad range of conditions and often have prescriptive authority; physician assistants are non-nurse clinicians who work under a physician’s supervision; and “patient preference” isn’t a professional role.