Biomaterial Database

The CNS as a cost manager. 1992

D Gardner

The role of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) in a cost-conscious environment includes the need to be alert to opportunities for cost-containment. Efforts to improve the quality of nursing care need to be balanced with the ability to manage costs. The CNS is in a key position to guide and influence decision-making about cost savings. This article reviews costs in health care and the elements of total nursing costs. CNSs can affect costs in three areas: direct costs, indirect costs, and supplies/equipment. Practical examples in each of the three areas are given for actions that are potentially useful to the CNS who desires to reduce the costs to patients and document the cost savings generated by nursing.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009720	Nurse Clinicians	Registered nurses who hold Master's degrees in nursing with an emphasis in clinical nursing and who function independently in coordinating plans for patient care.	Clinical Nurse Specialists,Clinical Nurse Specialist,Nurse Specialist, Clinical,Nurse Specialists, Clinical,Specialist, Clinical Nurse,Specialists, Clinical Nurse,Clinician, Nurse,Clinicians, Nurse,Nurse Clinician
D003363	Cost Control	The containment, regulation, or restraint of costs. Costs are said to be contained when the value of resources committed to an activity is not considered excessive. This determination is frequently subjective and dependent upon the specific geographic area of the activity being measured. (From Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed)	Cost Containment,Containment, Cost,Containments, Cost,Control, Cost,Controls, Cost,Cost Containments,Cost Controls
D004180	Direct Service Costs	Costs which are directly identifiable with a particular service.	Costs, Direct Service,Service Costs, Direct,Cost, Direct Service,Direct Service Cost,Service Cost, Direct
D004282	Documentation	Systematic organization, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of specialized information, especially of a scientific or technical nature (From ALA Glossary of Library and Information Science, 1983). It often involves authenticating or validating information.	Documentations
D004864	Equipment and Supplies	Expendable and nonexpendable equipment, supplies, apparatus, and instruments that are used in diagnostic, surgical, therapeutic, scientific, and experimental procedures.	Apparatus and Instruments,Devices,Medical Devices,Device, Medical,Devices, Medical,Equipment,Inventories,Medical Device,Supplies,Device,Instruments and Apparatus,Inventory,Supplies and Equipment
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012380	Role	The expected and characteristic pattern of behavior exhibited by an individual as a member of a particular social group.	Role Concept,Concept, Role,Concepts, Role,Role Concepts,Roles
D017046	Cost Savings	Reductions in all or any portion of the costs of providing goods or services. Savings may be incurred by the provider or the consumer.	Cost Saving,Saving, Cost,Savings, Cost