REPORT: June 2006

Letters to the Editor

No more nursing titles

I was interested in an article in the March issue of Report about Clinical Nurse Leaders. We don’t need any more titles for nurses.

I don’t see where a Clinical Nurse Leader will improve the quality of patient care and it will certainly overlap with Clinical Nurse Specialist positions.

As a specialist in OB-Child, now retired, I was able to coordinate direct care in complex situations using innovative interventions and provided leadership and education of other nurses — the very same things they claim a Clinical Nurse Leader will be trained to do. Experienced RNs who work their way up the ladder to be certified is all that is needed for managing and leadership in the healthcare system.

We need to concentrate on baccalaureate entry-level training and master’s for advanced training that includes leadership along with a specialty. RN and Nurse Practitioner should be the only two titles to prevent confusion among the public. There are already nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives.

I’m glad the NYSNA Delegate Assembly and UAN feel that the two positions overlap – that’s my opinion too!

— Barbara Rose, RN, Sackets Harbor, NY