Mentoring the Nurse of the Future: Clinical Nurse Specialist Students in the Radiology Setting

Interventional radiology is a new and rapidly emerging specialty. Evolution of image guidance technology has fostered the discovery of multiple minimally invasive techniques and procedures that allow patients the opportunity to avoid an operative visit. Interventional radiology is now a robust specialty for practitioners at every level of practice. Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), now considered advanced practice nurses, have a vast knowledge base and a unique skill set; however, until the recent passage of the advanced practice nurses' uniform consensus model and title protection, CNSs were thought to be indistinguishable from clinical instructors and clinical educators. This article will describe the role of the CNS in the radiology setting, and how the radiology CNS in a complex organization practices across the three spheres of influence, demonstrating the core competencies outlined by the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.The role of the CNS as a clinical mentor is discussed, the structure and process of creating student projects are described in the context of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists core competencies, and some key strategies for success will be shared with the reader, which could be used as a reference point for preceptors of CNS students in a radiology setting.