Featured Publication

Success by Design: Senior Leadership Perspectives on Optimising the Role of Clinical Nurse Specialists

This recent publication springs from the research of Dr. Sandra B. Lauck; Dr. Leah K. Lambert; Dr. Natasha Prodan‐Bhalla; Dr. Farinaz Havaei, Dr. Denise Bryant‐Lukosius, Ms. Jagbir Kaur, CNS, Mr. Kevin Hare, Ms. Sherri Lynn Kensall, Dr. Becky Palmer and Dr. Sally Thorne, and was published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing on February 4, 2026.

AIM: To report on the unique perspectives of senior nursing leaders on the value proposition of the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) role, their organizational experience and the barriers and facilitators to optimize and promote the long-term sustainability.

CONCLUSION: Senior leaders reported a common understanding of the value-add of the CNS workforce and had a shared experience of barriers to optimization. Contemporary policy guidance is needed to equip health systems to address this gap.

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The featured publication formed the basis of a presentation Dr. Lauck gave at the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI) scientific meetings of the European Society of Cardiology on the importance of a dedicated role for a Clinical Valve Coordinator. Through their recent publication and simultaneous presentation, Dr. Lauck and her team have helped bring clarity and consensus to this and other critical nursing roles. Their work provides evidence that clinical nurse specialists such as the clinical valve coordinator, are essential to optimize patient care, and barriers must be removed to ensure these roles are widely "defined, funded, implemented and evaluated."

Coordinating the Heart of Care:

Clinical Nurse Specialists in Cardiovascular Nursing

Clinical Valve Coordinator - Visual Abstract

When a patient is told they need treatment for heart valve disease, the news can be overwhelming. Appointments multiply. Tests are scheduled. Specialists weigh in. Decisions between surgical and less invasive procedures must be made; often quickly, and often with life-altering implications.

Behind the scenes of this increasingly complex journey, one role is quietly becoming essential: the Clinical Valve Coordinator.

At its core, the role is about clinical safety and continuity. Valve coordinators are not simply schedulers or administrators. They are clinicians with specialized knowledge of valve disease and treatment options. They review referrals and diagnostic imaging, prepare cases for heart team discussions, support shared decision-making, and serve as a consistent point of contact for patients navigating a highly technical system.

They may also help monitor quality metrics, track procedural outcomes, and identify gaps in care processes to ensure that programs meet evolving standards and that patients are not lost in transition between assessment, intervention, and follow-up. This type of clinical nurse specialist illustrates that innovation in healthcare is not only about new technologies, but also about the people who make those technologies work, together.

For patients, the presence of a Clinical Valve Coordinator often translates into something simple but powerful: reassurance. A single knowledgeable contact. A clearer understanding of next steps. A sense that someone is overseeing the whole journey.

For clinicians and health systems, the role strengthens program quality, supports adherence to best practices, and improves workflow across disciplines.

For our school, this work reflects something deeper: leadership in defining emerging roles that improve care at scale. By bringing evidence and consensus to areas that have been evolving organically, Dr. Lauck and her team are helping shape how specialized medical programs function—not just locally, but across diverse healthcare settings.

In a multitude of treatments, in a variety of healthcare specialties, the clinical nurse specialist ensures that expertise translates into action, and that patients move through the system with clarity, safety, and confidence.