What Is a Nurse Clinician? FAQ
A nurse clinician is a patient-facing LPN, RN, NP, or other nursing professional who cares for patients. This nonspecific term can apply to nurses in a range of specialties and work settings. Let’s explore what it means to be a clinician, what it takes, and the responsibilities of this role.
What Is a Clinician?
The term can apply to any professional who has a direct responsibility for patients or clients. These providers typically need to meet requirements for training, certification, or licensure. The following professionals may be called clinicians:
- Licensed practical and vocational nurses (LPNs/LVNs)
- Registered nurses (RNs)
- Nurse practitioners (NPs)
- Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs)
- Certified nurse midwives (CNMs)
- Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs)
- Medical doctors (MDs)
- Physician’s assistants (PAs)
- Occupational therapists (OTs)
- Physical therapists (PTs)
Just because someone has one of the titles above doesn’t necessarily mean they work clinically. For example, nurse informaticists may not be considered clinicians because they don’t typically see patients. Instead, they use their nursing judgment to improve data systems and care. In nursing, nonclinical roles are also sometimes called non-bedside roles.
Is a Nurse a Clinician?
If the nurse directly serves patients, then yes. Nurses are essential care providers, making up almost half of the world’s health workforce and delivering nearly 80% of hands-on care. Patients of all backgrounds need nurses, and adequate nurse staffing is directly linked to health outcomes.
Check out the following specialties where a nurse clinician might work:
- Ambulatory care
- Cardiac nurse
- Dialysis
- Emergency department nurse (ER)
- Home health
- Hospice
- Intensive care
- Labor and delivery
- Long-term care
- Med-surg
- Operating room nursing
- Pediatrics
- Wound care
What Does a Nurse Clinician Do?
Nurses in each of the areas above have different duties and areas of expertise, and even the same unit can carry different responsibilities from day to day. In general, below are some types of tasks that nurse clinicians tend to share:
- Assessments: Nurses regularly assess their patient’s health status to understand how their goals are progressing and to determine if action needs to be taken.
- Medication administration: Nurses may manage and give medication through different routes, including by mouth, intravenously, intramuscularly, dermally, and others.
- Patient communication and education: It’s the nurse’s job to help patients understand their diagnoses, treatment, and plan of care so that the patient can make health choices aligned with their values.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration: Nurses keep other professionals updated on the patient’s status and help coordinate care among team members.
- Documentation: Nurses accurately report assessment findings, interventions, communications, and medication administration in the electronic health record (EHR).
- Prioritize: Nurses use their clinical judgment to determine which tasks need to happen immediately, what can be delegated, and what can be done later.
Is It Hard to Become a Clinical Nurse?
Yes. Nursing school is notoriously competitive, with schools turning away thousands of qualified applicants every year. Classes and clinical training require study and dedication. The schooling to become a nurse takes at least a year, and typically more than that for more advanced degrees.
The shortest path to nursing is to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN). If you want a role with a broader scope of practice, becoming an RN takes two years for an associate’s degree (ADN) and four years if you pursue a BSN degree.
Despite this commitment, working as a clinical nurse can be very rewarding and worth the effort. You could help make someone’s day a little better while they’re going through a difficult illness or prevent them from getting sicker by noticing a subtle change in their condition. Becoming a nurse may not be easy, but the challenge can be worth it.
What Are Typical Clinician Nurse Salary Ranges?
Nurse salaries vary based on education, work setting, location, and more. Just because a nurse works with patients doesn’t mean that they’ll earn more or less than a non-bedside nurse. Here’s a breakdown of some salary averages for clinical and nonclinical nursing roles:
Examples of annual clinical nurse salaries:
- Average LPN salary: $64,150
- Average RN salary: $98,430
- Average NP salary: $132,000
- Average CNM salary: $128,110
- Average CRNA salary: $231,700
Examples of annual nonclinical nurse salaries:
- Nurse manager salary: $137,730
- Nurse educator salary: $87,090
- Informatics nurse salary: about $107,000
- Prior authorization nurse salary: about $86,000
Is a Clinical Nurse Higher Than an RN?
Not necessarily. Many RNs work clinically, and many clinical nurses are not RNs. Some RNs don’t work with patients directly, and the term “nurse” can refer to an LPN or advanced practice nurse (APRN), as well as a registered nurse.
Is There a Nurse Clinician Certification?
Since the term is so broad, there is not one specific certification to become a clinical nurse. But there are certifications for nurses working with patients in a variety of areas, including the following:
- Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC)
- Cardiovascular Registered Nurse – Board Certified (CVRN)
- Certified Case Manager (CCM)
- Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
- Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN)
- Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC)
- Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)
- Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (CWOCN)
- Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)
- Medical-Surgical Nursing Board Certification (MEDSURG-BC)
- Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN)
- Registered Nurse Certification in Maternal Newborn Nursing (RNC-MNN)
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