Clinical Nurse Specialist Jobs in Michigan
Clinical Nurse Specialist jobs in Michigan are in strong and steady demand, concentrated in large academic medical centers, integrated health systems, and specialty care programs, with openings at every level from new-graduate CNS residents through senior clinical leads. Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor anchor most of the hiring, with major systems such as Henry Ford Health, Spectrum Health, and Michigan Medicine consistently seeking CNSs across oncology, critical care, and psychiatric-mental health specialties. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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See related jobsGENERAL SUMMARY:
Under general supervision of the Nursing Administrator(s)/Leadership, the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) provides leadership and clinical expertise within the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) spheres of impact. A CNS is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse who has advanced education (at the master’s or doctorate level) to provide expert comprehensive nursing care directly to patients, support and develop registered nurses at the point of care and serve as leaders in redesigning systems to improve access, quality, and safety in a cost-effective manner. The CNS improves patient care by utilizing the best evidence and innovations in practice. The CNS functions as a leadership team member as a partner with the Nurse Manager/Director to assure competence, practice standards, orientation, and education. The CNS serves as a clinical expert providing teaching, mentoring, consulting, research, management, and systems improvement in a specific practice area or with a patient population.
PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Duties and responsibilities of the CNS are based on core competencies from NACNS.
Patient Direct Care Sphere
The CNS:
1. Performs evidence-based assessment and treatment of illness including symptoms, functional problems, and risk behaviors.
2. Is educated and skilled in comprehensive assessment, differential diagnosis, and interventions to prevent or treat illness.
3. Identify and prescribe pharmacologic agents and non-pharmacologic therapies, diagnostic studies, equipment, and appropriate consults to manage the health issues of patients within the CNSs scope of practice and consistent with CNSs skill, training, competency, professional judgment, and policy of Henry Ford Health.
4. Uses advanced communication skills in complex situations and conversations that might be unpredictable while caring for patients throughout the health continuum.
5. Intervenes to educate, guide, and coach the patient in modifying risk behaviors, and emphasizing health-promoting lifestyles.
6. Leads discovery of innovations in patient care using nursing science, theory, and knowledge generated by nursing and related disciplines.
- Master’s Degree in Nursing.
- Three to five (3-5) years of progressively more responsible experiences as a registered nurse in a clinical setting with expertise substantiated through education, experience, and credentials.
- Evidence of expertise in clinical knowledge, skill and judgment directly linked to specialty area of expertise.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective inter-personnel and inter-departmental relationships.
- Ability to apply the concepts of learning theory in planning and implementing educational activities.
- Excellent leadership and teaching abilities.
- Current Michigan Registered Nurse license and Michigan Clinical Nurse Specialist license.
- Certification: Advanced Practice CNS Certification (ANCC or AACN) in respective specialty population (Adult-Gerontology, Adult, Neonatal, Pediatric) or certification by portfolio per State of Michigan.
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) required. Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and/or Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS/NRP) as required specific to position.
- Organization: Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital
- Department: HFWB Nursing Education
- Shift: Day Job
- Union Code: Not Applicable
Additional Details
This posting represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. It should be understood, therefore, that incumbents may be asked to perform job-related duties beyond those explicitly described above.
Overview
Henry Ford Health partners with millions of people on their health journey, across Michigan and around the world. We offer a full continuum of services – from primary and preventative care to complex and specialty care, health insurance, a full suite of home health offerings, virtual care, pharmacy, eye care and other health care retail. With former Ascension southeast Michigan and Flint region locations now part of our team, Henry Ford’s care is available in 13 hospitals and hundreds of ambulatory care locations. Based in Detroit, Henry Ford is one of the nation’s most respected academic medical centers and is leading the Future of Health: Detroit, a $3 billion investment anchored by a reimagined Henry Ford academic healthcare campus. Learn more at henryford.com/careers.
Benefits
The health and overall well-being of our team members is our priority. That’s why we offer support in the various components of our team’s well-being: physical, emotional, social, financial and spiritual. Our Total Rewards program includes competitive health plan options, with three consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs), a PPO plan and an HMO plan. Our team members enjoy a number of additional benefits, ranging from dental and eye care coverage to tuition assistance, family forming benefits, discounts to dozens of businesses and more. Employees classified as contingent status are not eligible for benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer Henry Ford Health is
committed to the hiring, advancement and fair treatment of all individuals without regard to
race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, size, height,
weight, marital status, family status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and genetic information,
or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.
GENERAL SUMMARY:
Under general supervision of the Nursing Administrator(s)/Leadership, the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) provides leadership and clinical expertise within the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) spheres of impact. A CNS is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse who has advanced education (at the master’s or doctorate level) to provide expert comprehensive nursing care directly to patients, support and develop registered nurses at the point of care and serve as leaders in redesigning systems to improve access, quality, and safety in a cost-effective manner. The CNS improves patient care by utilizing the best evidence and innovations in practice. The CNS functions as a leadership team member as a partner with the Nurse Manager/Director to assure competence, practice standards, orientation, and education. The CNS serves as a clinical expert providing teaching, mentoring, consulting, research, management, and systems improvement in a specific practice area or with a patient population.
PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Duties and responsibilities of the CNS are based on core competencies from NACNS.
Patient Direct Care Sphere
The CNS:
1. Performs evidence-based assessment and treatment of illness including symptoms, functional problems, and risk behaviors.
2. Is educated and skilled in comprehensive assessment, differential diagnosis, and interventions to prevent or treat illness.
3. Identify and prescribe pharmacologic agents and non-pharmacologic therapies, diagnostic studies, equipment, and appropriate consults to manage the health issues of patients within the CNSs scope of practice and consistent with CNSs skill, training, competency, professional judgment, and policy of Henry Ford Health.
4. Uses advanced communication skills in complex situations and conversations that might be unpredictable while caring for patients throughout the health continuum.
5. Intervenes to educate, guide, and coach the patient in modifying risk behaviors, and emphasizing health-promoting lifestyles.
6. Leads discovery of innovations in patient care using nursing science, theory, and knowledge generated by nursing and related disciplines.
- Master’s Degree in Nursing.
- Three to five (3-5) years of progressively more responsible experiences as a registered nurse in a clinical setting with expertise substantiated through education, experience, and credentials.
- Evidence of expertise in clinical knowledge, skill and judgment directly linked to specialty area of expertise.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective inter-personnel and inter-departmental relationships.
- Ability to apply the concepts of learning theory in planning and implementing educational activities.
- Excellent leadership and teaching abilities.
- Current Michigan Registered Nurse license and Michigan Clinical Nurse Specialist license.
- Certification: Advanced Practice CNS Certification (ANCC or AACN) in respective specialty population (Adult-Gerontology, Adult, Neonatal, Pediatric) or certification by portfolio per State of Michigan.
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) required. Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and/or Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS/NRP) as required specific to position.
- Organization: Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital
- Department: HFWB Nursing Education
- Shift: Day Job
- Union Code: Not Applicable
Additional Details
This posting represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. It should be understood, therefore, that incumbents may be asked to perform job-related duties beyond those explicitly described above.
Overview
Henry Ford Health partners with millions of people on their health journey, across Michigan and around the world. We offer a full continuum of services – from primary and preventative care to complex and specialty care, health insurance, a full suite of home health offerings, virtual care, pharmacy, eye care and other health care retail. With former Ascension southeast Michigan and Flint region locations now part of our team, Henry Ford’s care is available in 13 hospitals and hundreds of ambulatory care locations. Based in Detroit, Henry Ford is one of the nation’s most respected academic medical centers and is leading the Future of Health: Detroit, a $3 billion investment anchored by a reimagined Henry Ford academic healthcare campus. Learn more at henryford.com/careers.
Benefits
The health and overall well-being of our team members is our priority. That’s why we offer support in the various components of our team’s well-being: physical, emotional, social, financial and spiritual. Our Total Rewards program includes competitive health plan options, with three consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs), a PPO plan and an HMO plan. Our team members enjoy a number of additional benefits, ranging from dental and eye care coverage to tuition assistance, family forming benefits, discounts to dozens of businesses and more. Employees classified as contingent status are not eligible for benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer Henry Ford Health is
committed to the hiring, advancement and fair treatment of all individuals without regard to
race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, size, height,
weight, marital status, family status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and genetic information,
or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.
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Where Michigan roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Job Market in Michigan
A snapshot from current Michigan openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Michigan Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in clinical nurse specialist jobs across Michigan.
- Active Michigan RN license and CNS recognition from the Michigan Board of Nursing
- Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice in a CNS specialty
- National CNS certification such as AACN CCNS, ANCC, or equivalent specialty board credential
- Minimum two years of clinical nursing experience in the designated patient population
- Demonstrated ability to lead quality improvement initiatives and evidence-based practice projects
- Strong collaboration skills working with interdisciplinary teams in acute or specialty care settings
Clinical Nurse Specialist Jobs in Michigan: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a clinical nurse specialist in Michigan?
To practice as a clinical nurse specialist in Michigan, you must first hold an active Michigan RN license, then complete a graduate-level CNS program at the master's or doctoral level, and obtain national specialty certification through a recognized body such as ANCC or AACN. After that, you apply to the Michigan Board of Nursing for CNS recognition, which is required before you can practice under that advanced title in the state.
How much do clinical nurse specialists make in Michigan?
Clinical nurse specialists in Michigan earn a median of about $94,300 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $77,260 for the lowest 10% to over $116,710 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire clinical nurse specialists in Michigan?
Employers hiring clinical nurse specialists in Michigan right now include Henry Ford Health, Bronson Healthcare, and McLaren Health Care, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Michigan's large integrated health systems and academic medical centers account for most consistent CNS openings, particularly in specialty care and inpatient units.
Which Michigan cities have the most clinical nurse specialist jobs?
Kalamazoo, Detroit, and Grand Blanc have the most clinical nurse specialist openings in Michigan. Detroit leads because of the concentration of large hospital systems such as Henry Ford Health and Detroit Medical Center, while Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor draw significant demand from Spectrum Health and Michigan Medicine, both of which run extensive specialty and teaching programs that rely heavily on CNS expertise.
Are there remote clinical nurse specialist jobs in Michigan?
Yes, but they're rare. The CNS role is fundamentally patient-facing and unit-based, so fully remote positions are uncommon. About 0% of clinical nurse specialist openings tied to Michigan are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those positions tend to involve telephonic case management, utilization review, or population health consulting rather than direct bedside care.
How can I get hired as a clinical nurse specialist in Michigan with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a CNS residency or new-graduate advanced practice program, which Henry Ford Health and Michigan Medicine both offer to recent CNS graduates in specialties such as critical care and oncology. Lateral moves from roles like staff RN, charge nurse, or clinical educator are common and give you a strong foundation. Securing your Michigan CNS recognition and a relevant national certification before applying gives you a meaningful edge over candidates who are still awaiting credentials.
Where can I find and apply to clinical nurse specialist jobs in Michigan?
You can find and apply to clinical nurse specialist jobs in Michigan on Migrate Mate, which lists current Michigan openings across health systems, specialty practices, and academic medical centers. Find roles that fit your specialty and experience level and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 5 Clinical Nurse Specialist Jobs in Michigan
Find roles in Michigan that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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