Clinical Nurse Specialist Recognition Week 2020


The 11th annual National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) CNS Week starts September 1-7! The entire week will be dedicated to the theme, Resurgence of the CNS. If you are proud to be a CNS, join the celebration and spread the word!

Clinical Nurse Specialist Recognition Week

Tuesday, September 1 – History of CNS Week

  • Celebrating the birthday of Hildegard Peplau and the 11th anniversary of CNS week

Wednesday, September 2 – The Story of the CNS

  • Communicating the story and history behind the CNS role and what makes it unique

Thursday, September 3 – Continuing to Advance the Unique Expertise of the CNS

  • Sharing available resources that contribute to enhancing CNS education

Friday, September 4 – CNS Fact Friday

  • Explaining the differences between CNSs and other healthcare workers and setting the record straight on common misconceptions

Saturday, September 5 – Working Together to Achieve the Resurgence of the CNS

  • Encouraging engagement in the CNS community and highlighting available networking opportunities

Sunday, September 6 – Honoring Those Keeping the Role Alive

  • Commemorating NACNS membership anniversaries and recognizing those who have raised the profile of the CNS role, research, practice, education, and service.

Monday, September 7 – Looking Towards the Future of the CNS

  • Sharing ideas and resources that help with increasing the number of CNSs and educating the public on the role of the CNS.

About CNS Week

CNS week is an annual event that acknowledges the contributions of the 89,000 Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) in North America. CNSs are an elite and unique group of advanced practice nurses (APRN) that are the only APRNs qualified to integrate care across the three spheres of influence in health care: patient, nurse, and system. NACNS established National CNS Recognition Week (CNS week) in 2009 to commemorate and celebrate the birth of Hildegard Peplau, who was born on September 1, 1909. Dr. Peplau was a prominent nursing theorist whose landmark book, Interpersonal Relations in Nursing, emphasized the nurse-client relationship as the foundation for nursing practice and today serves as the basis of the CNS role in health care.

This year’s CNS Week is scheduled for September 1-7, 2020 and is dedicated to the theme of the NACNS 2021 Annual Conference, “Resurgence of the CNS.” CNS Week is a perfect time for CNSs to celebrate and bring attention to the role, and for hospitals and health care systems to pay tribute to the valuable part CNSs play in health care and health care delivery.