Specialist practice in nursing and midwifery
The clinical career pathway for specialist roles in nursing and midwifery is clinical nurse/midwife specialist (CNS/CMS).
You could pursue a specialist role if you:
- have a particular interest in a certain area of nursing or midwifery
- wish to become a clinical expert within a specific area (either a clinical area or in relation to a clinical condition)
About the role of CNS/CMS
The role of CNS/CMS offers practitioners a career pathway incorporating professional development within an inter-professional team structure.
The speciality area is a defined area of nursing and midwifery practice. This specialist practice encompasses a major clinical focus of care to patients or clients and their families in hospital, community and outpatient settings. The specialist nurse or midwife will work with medical and para-medical colleagues.
The CNS/CMS role centres on 5 core competencies:
- clinical focus (direct care and indirect care)
- patient/client advocate
- education and training
- audit and research
- consultant including leadership in clinical practice
CNS/CMS clinical specialisms
There is a wide range of clinical specialisms in Ireland across different settings. Some examples include:
- chronic disease: respiratory, diabetes and cardiology
- midwifery: ultrasonography, bereavement and loss and foetal assessment
- child and adolescent mental health
- community: mental health and tissue viability
- paediatrics: paediatric diabetes
- ID Services: positive behaviour support and acute hospital liaison
- Older Persons Services: memory assessment and support
Career Pathways for Clinical Nurse Specialist/Clinical Midwife Specialist (CNS/CMS)
The CNS/CMS career pathways were developed in line with the DoH (2019) A Policy on the Development of Graduate to Advanced Nursing and Midwifery Practice.
Please see eligibility criteria below:
- Candidate Clinical Nurse Specialist (cCNS) / Candidate Midwife Specialist (cCMS) (PDF, size 307 KB, 3 pages)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) / Clinical Midwife Specialist (CMS) (PDF, size 262 KB, 3 pages)
Updated Job Descriptions:
- Candidate CNS CMS job description (PDF, size 1.10 MB KB, 14 pages)
- CNS CMS job description (Word, size 146 KB, 9 pages)
CNS/CMS application process
- Talk to your local line manager.
- Contact your local CNS/CMS NMPDU support contacts (see below).
- Request copies of CNS/CMS post descriptions and post-holder application forms.
- Request details of process for approval.
ONMSD Clinical Nurse/Midwife Specialist Webinar Series Recordings now available on HSeLanD
- Webinar 1. Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland/Nursing and Midwifery Medicinal Product Prescribing. Dr. Ray Healy Dr Director of Registration NMBI and Ms. Clare MacGabhann National Lead and Director of Nursing and Midwifery (Prescribing) ONMSD.
- Webinar 2. Practice based evidence and evidence based practice (Research). Dr. Owen Doody, Senior Lecturer Department of Nursing and Midwifery University of Limerick.
- Webinar 3. CNS/CMS Roles, Responsibility, Authority, Accountability. Ms. Liz Early, Consultant Management & Leadership.
- Webinar 4. Clinical Indemnity, Claims management, enhancing documentation and clinical risk / patient safety. Ms. Cliodhna Grady, Ms. Marie Hutton and Ms. Sheila King.
- Webinar 5. “Owning the Leadership aspect of the CNS/CMS role” Ms. Marie Kilduff and Ms. Mags Williams. National Clinical Leadership Centre.
- Webinar 6. “Negotiating and Influencing in the CNS/CMS role” Mr. Michael Comyn, Leadership Coach and Trainer.
- Webinar 7. “CNS/CMS role in Digital/E-Health” Ms. Loretto Grogan, National Chief Nursing and Midwifery Information Officer HSE.
- Webinar 8. “Workplace Health and Wellbeing/Self Care” Ms. Sibeal Carolan, Projects Lead, Workplace Health and Wellbeing Unit HSE.
- Webinar 9. “National Policy Direction an overview - Sláintecare, RHAs, Enhanced Community Care (CDM and ICPOP) and Expert Review” Ms. Georgina Bassett Deputy Chief Nursing Officer DOH.
- Webinar 10. “National HSE Programmes Including: Quality and Patient Safety, Engagement and Culture and HSE Change Guide” Ms. Marie O’Haire, Organisation Development and Change Practitioner, HSE Organisation Development & Design Improving Change Capacity and Ms. Vera Kelly General Manager Organisation Design & Development National HR Lead for Engagement & Culture.
- Webinar 11. “An overview of CNS/CMS pathways and approval processes” Ms. Carmel Buckley Area NMPD Director HSE South, Ms. Carmel Hoey NMPD Director HSE West Mid West.
To access the recordings:
1. Login to hseland.ie
2. Select ‘course catalogue’
3. Select ‘ONMSD’ and then ‘National Programmes’
Alternatively you can access the recordings by:
1. Login to hseland.ie
2. Search for “Clinical Nurse/Midwife Specialist Continuous Professional Development Summer Series”
Related topic
Contact Details for ONMSD Specialist and Advanced Practice Group
ONMSD National Lead/Group Chair
Carmel Hoey - Director NMPD
NMPDU
Clinical & Administrative Block A (2nd floor - red corridor),
Merlin Park University Hospital,
Galway.
Eircode: H91 N973
Phone 091 775 839 / 087 790 3569
Email: carmel.hoey@hse.ie
HSE West North West (Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, West Cavan, Galway, Mayo & Roscommon)
Liz Breslin - NMPDU Officer
NMPDU,
An Clochar,
College Street,
Ballyshannon,
Co Donegal.
Phone: 071 982 2106 / 087 943 5500
Email: liz.breslin@hse.ie
Tina Vaughan - NMPD Officer
NMPDU,
Clinical & Administrative Block A (2nd floor - red corridor),
Merlin Park University Hospital,
Galway.
Eircode: H91 N973
Phone: 087 604 5831
Email: martina.vaughan1@hse.ie
HSE Mid West (Limerick, Clare, North Tipperary)
Annette Connolly - NMPD Officer
NMPDU,
31/33 Catherine Street,
Limerick.
Eircode: V94 AY27
Phone: 086 047 0863
Email: annette.connolly@hse.ie
HSE Dublin and North East (Dublin North City and West, Dublin North County, Louth, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan)
Sarah Jane Roche - NMPD Officer
NMPDU,
Unit 7, Swords Business Campus,
Balheary Road,
Swords,
Co Dublin.
Phone: 087 067 1623
Email: sarah.roche@hse.ie
Ann Lister - NMPD Officer
NMPDU
Mellifont Unit,
St Brigid’s Training Complex,
Ardee,
Co Louth.
Phone: 087 925 7710
Email: ann.lister@hse.ie
HSE Dublin and Midlands (Dublin South City and West and Dublin South West, Kildare, West Wicklow, Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath)
Anne Bursnell - NMPD Officer,
NMPDU,
Stewarts Hospital,
Mill Lane,
Palmerstown,
Dublin 20.
Phone: 087 956 0303
Email: anne.bursnell@hse.ie
Grainne Keena - NMPDU Officer
NMPDU,
Scott Building, 1st floor,
Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore Campus,
Arden Road,
Tullamore,
Co Offaly.
Phone: 087 458 0405
Email: grainne.keena@hse.ie
HSE Dublin and South East (Dublin South, East Wicklow, Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford, South Tipperary)
Charmaine Scallan - NMPD Officer,
NMPDU,
Office Complex Kilcreene Hospital,
Kilkenny.
Phone: 056 778 5628 / 087 188 1774
Email: charmaine.scallan@hse.ie
Michelle Waldron - NMPD Officer
NMPDU,
Office Complex Kilcreene Hospital,
Kilkenny,
Phone: 056 778 5620 / 087 758 5024
Email: michelle.waldron@hse.ie
HSE South West (Cork, Kerry)
Breeda Kelly - NMPDU Officer
NMPDU,
Administration Building,
St. Mary’s Health Campus,
Gurranabraher,
Cork.
Phone: 021 492 1261 / 087 451 8387
Email: breeda.kelly2@hse.ie