Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) are Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs), and are recognized as such in many states. I work in Illinois, where CNSs are integral treatment providers in our health care system. As a Psychiatric CNS, I provide both psychotherapy and medication management to the chronic mentally ill.  I strongly urge the VA Board of Nursing to adopt the Consensus Model,  to ensure uniformity in licensure, accreditation, and certification. Such a move will facilitate the regulation of safe and competent APNs in their delivery of health care to the public, and will allow CNSs to fully practice within the scope of their training.