Current status of clinical nursing specialists and the demands of osteoporosis specialized nurses in Mainland China

The clinical nursing specialist (CNS) is an expert who applies an expanded range of practical, theoretical, and research-based competencies to the care of patients within in a specialty clinical area within the larger discipline of nursing. A large number of studies consistently conclude that the CNS is a valuable healthcare resource that provides high-quality clinical and evidence-based nursing practice and improves patient outcome. The CNS has been involved in healthcare practices for many years, with an increasingly diverse role. However, the training for the CNS in China is only in a preliminary developmental stage. The aim of this article is to review the history and development of the CNS role. Furthermore, the epidemiologic status of osteoporosis, as well as the feasibility and necessity of developing training programs in China for the osteoporosis CNS, will be discussed.