Which role is described as providing direct patient care and expert consultations in a nursing specialty; master’s degree training required?

• A. Certified Midwives
• B. Clinical Nurse Specialists
• C. Certified Nurse Midwives
• D. Nurse Practitioners

Answer: (B)

Clinical Nurse Specialists are advanced practice nurses who focus on a specific clinical area and provide both direct patient care and expert consultation to other clinicians within that specialty. They work to improve care in their specialty through leadership, education, and evidence-based practice, often guiding care plans and protocols across a team. A master’s degree in nursing (often an MSN) and specialty certification are typical requirements, which aligns with the description of combining hands-on care with high-level consultation.

Nurse practitioners primarily deliver direct patient care and manage patient treatment, which is why they aren’t described primarily as consultants within a specialty. Certified Nurse Midwives specialize in obstetric and newborn care; while they have master’s training, their role centers on maternity and birth-related care rather than serving as across-the-board specialty consultants.