In light of the fact that Clinical Nurse Specialists are often called upon to address complex cases within a specialty; and in light of the fact that these complex cases often involve body systems and problems not immediately associated with an individual specialty, such as the multisystem effects of poor lifestyle choices, I would like to encourage the BON to continue to require a standard of completing the Adult CNS exam if there is  not an acceptable exam in the specialty.

As an Oncology nurse I successfully completed the Adult CNS exam after earning my Master's in Nursing and found it to be a good examination of the diverse knowledge that a caregiver of adult patients would need starting out as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in any specialty. One year later I also successfully  completed an oncology specific exam with the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation.

I feel that testing for initial certification as a new graduate is our best method for evaluating the basic knowledge needed to perform safe care of our public. Clinical time is important, but in my opinion is not a subsitute for evaluation of this important basic knowledge requirement by the state accrediting body.