Clinical Nurse Specialist Jobs in Wisconsin
Clinical Nurse Specialist jobs in Wisconsin are concentrated in hospital systems, academic medical centers, and integrated health networks, with steady demand across inpatient, outpatient, and long-term care settings at staff, lead, and advanced practice levels. The strongest hiring activity is in Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay, where employers like UW Health, Froedtert Health, and Ascension Wisconsin consistently recruit clinical nurse specialists. Oncology, cardiology, and psychiatric mental health are among the most in-demand specialties statewide. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Description:
Work Schedule:
Join our team as a Clinical Nurse Specialist! This unique opportunity is a 100% FTE position scheduled to typically work Monday through Friday, day shift hours, however some off hours or weekends may be required. Hours may vary based on the operational needs of the department. You will work at University Hospital located in Madison, WI.
Be part of something remarkable
Join the #1 hospital in Wisconsin!
Advance your professional nursing career at the #1 hospital in the state of Wisconsin!
Join our team as a CNS or NS:
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS): An APRN with advanced education and specialized clinical expertise who integrates care across direct patient care, nursing practice, and organizational/system levels.
- Lead evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives for a new 16-bed Medical Intermediate Care Unit, helping shape care delivery and improve outcomes in a growing, high-acuity program opening in 2027.
- Serve as the clinical expert for adult intermediate care patients, mentoring nurses, advancing nursing practice, and supporting the integration of evidence-based care for patients requiring enhanced monitoring and complex medical management.
- Partner with interdisciplinary teams to optimize care for patients with sepsis, respiratory failure, cardiac conditions, infectious diseases, acute organ dysfunction, and other complex medical diagnoses requiring intermediate-level care.
- Drive practice innovation by identifying gaps in care delivery, implementing new technologies and best practices, removing barriers to care, and leading research and quality improvement initiatives.
- Support a dynamic care environment that bridges intensive and general care, providing expertise for patients requiring advanced respiratory support, specialized infusions, and frequent clinical assessment. Collaborate with nursing leadership, physicians, educators, and interdisciplinary teams to advance professional nursing practice, improve patient outcomes, and help establish a new model of intermediate care at UW Health.
At UW Health, you will have:
- An excellent benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid time off, retirement plans, two-week paid parental leave and adoption assistance.
- Options for a variety of schedules and shifts that offer flexibility and allow for work-life balance
- Access to great resources through the UW Health Employee Wellbeing Department that supports your emotional, financial, and physical well-being.
- Acuity based staffing ratios for optimal safety
- A strong shared governance structure which assures every nurse has a voice.
- A place where nursing excellence is recognized and celebrated in our inpatient and outpatient settings through several award programs
- Tuition benefits eligibility - UW Health invests in your professional growth as a nurse by helping pay for coursework associated with career advancement
- The opportunity to earn a referral bonus for referring friends, former colleagues or others to apply for open, posted positions
Pay :
Pay range is based on a full-time (100%) position.
Salary is prorated based on FTE.
Relocation assistance may be available for qualified applicants.
*Please note that qualifications have recently been updated.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Qualifications :
Education
Master’s Degree or doctoral degree in Nursing Required
Work Experience
3 years of relevant clinical nursing experience Required
Previous experience as a clinical nurse specialist or other nurse leadership role Preferred
Experience in an academic medical center Preferred
Licenses & Certifications
Licensed as Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in the state of Wisconsin Required
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) certification in areas of specialty or population focus Required
Basic Life Support CPR/BLS certification Required
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification Required
Certification in specialty area of practice Preferred
University Hospital in Madison is a Magnet®-designated facility that’s ranked Wisconsin’s #1 hospital and considered one of the nation's leading hospitals, teaching institutions and referral centers.
Description:
Work Schedule:
Join our team as a Clinical Nurse Specialist! This unique opportunity is a 100% FTE position scheduled to typically work Monday through Friday, day shift hours, however some off hours or weekends may be required. Hours may vary based on the operational needs of the department. You will work at University Hospital located in Madison, WI.
Be part of something remarkable
Join the #1 hospital in Wisconsin!
Advance your professional nursing career at the #1 hospital in the state of Wisconsin!
Join our team as a CNS or NS:
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS): An APRN with advanced education and specialized clinical expertise who integrates care across direct patient care, nursing practice, and organizational/system levels.
- Lead evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives for a new 16-bed Medical Intermediate Care Unit, helping shape care delivery and improve outcomes in a growing, high-acuity program opening in 2027.
- Serve as the clinical expert for adult intermediate care patients, mentoring nurses, advancing nursing practice, and supporting the integration of evidence-based care for patients requiring enhanced monitoring and complex medical management.
- Partner with interdisciplinary teams to optimize care for patients with sepsis, respiratory failure, cardiac conditions, infectious diseases, acute organ dysfunction, and other complex medical diagnoses requiring intermediate-level care.
- Drive practice innovation by identifying gaps in care delivery, implementing new technologies and best practices, removing barriers to care, and leading research and quality improvement initiatives.
- Support a dynamic care environment that bridges intensive and general care, providing expertise for patients requiring advanced respiratory support, specialized infusions, and frequent clinical assessment. Collaborate with nursing leadership, physicians, educators, and interdisciplinary teams to advance professional nursing practice, improve patient outcomes, and help establish a new model of intermediate care at UW Health.
At UW Health, you will have:
- An excellent benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid time off, retirement plans, two-week paid parental leave and adoption assistance.
- Options for a variety of schedules and shifts that offer flexibility and allow for work-life balance
- Access to great resources through the UW Health Employee Wellbeing Department that supports your emotional, financial, and physical well-being.
- Acuity based staffing ratios for optimal safety
- A strong shared governance structure which assures every nurse has a voice.
- A place where nursing excellence is recognized and celebrated in our inpatient and outpatient settings through several award programs
- Tuition benefits eligibility - UW Health invests in your professional growth as a nurse by helping pay for coursework associated with career advancement
- The opportunity to earn a referral bonus for referring friends, former colleagues or others to apply for open, posted positions
Pay :
Pay range is based on a full-time (100%) position.
Salary is prorated based on FTE.
Relocation assistance may be available for qualified applicants.
*Please note that qualifications have recently been updated.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Qualifications :
Education
Master’s Degree or doctoral degree in Nursing Required
Work Experience
3 years of relevant clinical nursing experience Required
Previous experience as a clinical nurse specialist or other nurse leadership role Preferred
Experience in an academic medical center Preferred
Licenses & Certifications
Licensed as Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in the state of Wisconsin Required
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) certification in areas of specialty or population focus Required
Basic Life Support CPR/BLS certification Required
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification Required
Certification in specialty area of practice Preferred
University Hospital in Madison is a Magnet®-designated facility that’s ranked Wisconsin’s #1 hospital and considered one of the nation's leading hospitals, teaching institutions and referral centers.
See All 10 Clinical Nurse Specialist Jobs in Wisconsin
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Find JobsClinical Nurse Specialist Jobs by City in Wisconsin
Where Wisconsin roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Job Market in Wisconsin
A snapshot from current Wisconsin openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Wisconsin Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in clinical nurse specialist jobs across Wisconsin.
- Active Wisconsin APRN certification or eligibility through the Wisconsin Board of Nursing
- Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice in a clinical specialty
- National CNS certification from ANCC or AACN in a recognized specialty area
- Minimum two years of direct patient care experience in the relevant specialty
- Demonstrated ability to lead quality improvement initiatives and staff education programs
- Strong clinical assessment skills with experience using electronic health record systems
Clinical Nurse Specialist Jobs in Wisconsin: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a clinical nurse specialist in Wisconsin?
To become a clinical nurse specialist in Wisconsin, you must earn a Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice with a CNS concentration, pass a national certification exam through ANCC or AACN in your specialty area, and obtain advanced practice registered nurse licensure from the Wisconsin Board of Nursing. Wisconsin requires APRN licensure for CNS practice, and your application is submitted directly to the Board of Nursing after meeting education and certification requirements.
How much do clinical nurse specialists make in Wisconsin?
Clinical nurse specialists in Wisconsin earn a median of about $95,530 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $77,470 for the lowest 10% to over $119,860 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire clinical nurse specialists in Wisconsin?
Companies currently hiring clinical nurse specialists in Wisconsin include UW Health, Advocate Aurora Health, and Naven Health, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Wisconsin's largest health systems, including academic medical centers and regional integrated networks, account for most of the consistent CNS hiring across the state.
Which Wisconsin cities have the most clinical nurse specialist jobs?
Madison, Milwaukee, and Wauwatosa have the most clinical nurse specialist openings in Wisconsin. Milwaukee leads because of its concentration of large health systems and academic medical centers, while Madison benefits from UW Health and state government-affiliated institutions, and Green Bay draws on a growing regional hospital and specialty care network serving northeastern Wisconsin.
Are there remote clinical nurse specialist jobs in Wisconsin?
Yes, but they're rare. Clinical nurse specialist roles are fundamentally clinical and patient-facing, which limits remote work to a narrow subset of functions. About 0% of clinical nurse specialist openings tied to Wisconsin are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, typically in utilization review, care management, or telehealth consultation roles where direct bedside presence is not required.
How can I get hired as a clinical nurse specialist in Wisconsin with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is completing a CNS graduate program that includes clinical rotations at Wisconsin health systems, then applying to new-graduate APRN transition programs. UW Health and Froedtert Health offer structured advanced practice nurse residency or fellowship programs designed for new CNS graduates. Moving into a CNS role from a staff RN or charge nurse position in the same specialty is also common, particularly in units where you have already built clinical depth. Completing national CNS certification promptly after graduation gives your application a clear edge with Wisconsin hiring managers.
Where can I find and apply to clinical nurse specialist jobs in Wisconsin?
You can find and apply to clinical nurse specialist jobs in Wisconsin on Migrate Mate, which lists current Wisconsin openings across health systems, specialty practices, and care networks throughout the state. Search the listings for roles that match your specialty and experience level, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 10 Clinical Nurse Specialist Jobs in Wisconsin
Find roles in Wisconsin that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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