Clinical Nurse Specialist Role and Practice in Mainland, China

Clinical nurse specialist has been introduced to China in the early 1990s and has developed rapidly in recent decades. But in comparison with other countries, the connotation of CNS is different in China; it is more likely to be the specialty nurse rather than the CNS in consideration of the nursing development in China. The training program, certificate issuing, registration, and management of SN are conducted by various institutions at different level; until now there is no existing law to regulate the conduct of SN in the clinic. In conclusion, we are still in the initial stage of development of CNS; in the future, more emphasis will be placed on the constructing a consistent definition and index of core competencies, improving training programs, and developing a national organization to manage the CNS, thereby promoting the development of CNS more efficiently.