Perioperative Clinical Nurse Specialist Role Delineation: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT • A CLEARLY DEFINED ROLE for the perioperative clinical nurse specialist (CNS) has not been identified or established. • USING ROLE THEORY as a framework, a systematic review of the literature was conducted to provide recommendations for a delineated CNS role and to compare this role with other nursing roles. • SEVERAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTE to CNS role confusion, including the versatility of the position, lack of certification examinations, and variance of state recognition. • FUTURE RESEARCH should investigate merging of CNS and nurse practitioner titles, perioperative CNS functions, spheres of influence, and patient outcomes. AORN J 84 (December 2006) 1017-1030. © AORN, Inc, 2006.