Compare 32 clinical nurse specialists in Washington, DC. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
32
Clinical Nurse Specialists
100%
Accepting patients
34%
Most common: CNS
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
DC's healthcare system reflects the city itself: politically connected, resource-rich, and deeply unequal. Three medical schools and a roster of nationally ranked hospitals coexist with some of the widest health disparity gaps in the country between Wards. The NIH Clinical Center in nearby Bethesda and Walter Reed add a federal layer that no other US city can match. If you know how to navigate the system, the depth of specialty care here is remarkable.
Washington has 32 clinical nurse specialists. The most common credential is CNS (34%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
GW University Hospital is in Foggy Bottom near the Metro. MedStar Georgetown is in Georgetown (limited transit access, plan for parking or rideshare). MedStar Washington Hospital Center, the city's largest hospital, is in the northeast along Irving Street. Children's National is nearby on Michigan Avenue. The Metro Red Line connects to the Bethesda medical corridor (NIH, Walter Reed, Suburban Hospital). Most specialist offices cluster in Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, and along Connecticut Avenue NW.
Providers practice throughout Washington. Georgetown is medStar Georgetown University Hospital anchors healthcare in this historic neighborhood. Specialty practices line M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Dupont Circle is a central neighborhood with a high density of private practices, particularly in behavioral health and primary care. Whitman-Walker Health provides LGBTQ+ affirming care. Capitol Hill is near MedStar Washington Hospital Center and several congressional health offices. Providence Health serves the eastern neighborhoods. Adams Morgan is a diverse neighborhood with bilingual healthcare options and community health centers. Short commute to Dupont Circle medical offices.
Nearby hospitals include MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, George Washington University Hospital, and MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Local training programs run through Georgetown University School of Medicine and George Washington University School of Medicine. Washington, DC has one of the highest concentrations of physicians per capita in the United States, driven by its medical schools, research institutions, and federal agencies like the NIH and FDA.
An appointment with a CNS depends on the specialty. For a diabetes management visit, expect a thorough review of your blood sugar logs, medication adjustment, and education on diet and self-management (30 to 60 minutes). For wound care, the CNS will assess the wound, develop a treatment plan, and teach you or your caregivers how to perform dressing changes. For psychiatric CNS visits, expect therapy sessions similar to those with other mental health providers. CNSs take time to educate and empower patients to manage their conditions. They coordinate with your other healthcare providers.
You may work with a CNS in a hospital or clinic setting without specifically seeking one out. CNSs manage complex chronic conditions (wound care, diabetes, heart failure), lead specialized programs (pain management, oncology symptom management, critical care recovery), and provide expert consultations for difficult cases. In outpatient settings, CNSs may run specialized clinics for diabetes education, wound care, or heart failure management. In psychiatric settings, CNSs provide therapy and medication management. If you are referred to a specialized program or clinic within a healthcare system, a CNS may be leading your care.
Outpatient visit copay: $20-50 · Wound care visit: $30-75 copay · Diabetes education program: covered by most plans · Inpatient CNS care: included in hospital charges
Washington, DC has 32 licensed clinical nurse specialists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of clinical nurse specialists in Washington, DC are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
DC Health Link is the District's ACA marketplace, with plans from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare. DC Medicaid covers a broader population than most states, with eligibility up to 210 percent of the federal poverty level for adults. If you live in DC but work in Maryland or Virginia (or vice versa), your employer plan may have different network rules than a DC-based marketplace plan.
An outpatient visit copay is $20 to $50. A wound care visit copay is $30 to $75. A diabetes education program is covered by most plans. Inpatient CNS care is included in hospital charges. Actual costs in Washington, DC depend on the provider and your insurance plan. CNS services are billed similarly to NP services. Most patients encounter CNSs through hospital or clinic programs rather than independent practice. Specialized CNS clinics (wound care, diabetes) are covered under your medical benefit.
DC healthcare is organized around MedStar Health (Georgetown and Washington Hospital Center), GW Health, and Children's National. Sibley Memorial Hospital in northwest DC is a Johns Hopkins affiliate. The NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda accepts patients through research protocols, not standard insurance. Because the metro area spans DC, Maryland, and Virginia, always check whether your provider is in-network for your specific plan and jurisdiction.
13% of clinical nurse specialists in Washington, DC accept Medicare. Medicare covers CNS services at 85% of the physician fee schedule. Standard Part B cost-sharing applies. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Depends on the specialty. Wound care CNS visits may be weekly until healed. Diabetes CNS visits every two to four weeks during education. Psychiatric CNS visits weekly during active treatment. Most patients see a CNS as part of their broader care team, not as a standalone provider. With 32 clinical nurse specialists in Washington, DC, you can search on FindClarity to find a provider who fits your schedule.
Yes. Insurance networks often differ across the three jurisdictions. A DC-based plan may not cover a provider in Bethesda or Arlington at in-network rates, even if they are only a few miles away. MedStar and Kaiser operate across all three jurisdictions, which simplifies things. Always verify your provider's network status for your specific plan.
The NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda accepts patients who qualify for specific research studies, not through standard insurance referrals. If you have a condition that is being actively studied at NIH, your doctor can refer you for a screening. ClinicalTrials.gov lists active NIH studies. There is no cost to patients accepted into NIH studies.
GW Hospital (Foggy Bottom), MedStar Georgetown (Georgetown), and MedStar Washington Hospital Center (northeast DC) are the three main adult emergency departments in the District. Children's National handles pediatric emergencies. MedStar Washington Hospital Center is the region's only Level I adult trauma center.
Top accepted carriers in Washington, DC include medicare, unitedhealthcare, anthem, and qhp-56707.
CNS services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance. Medicare reimburses at 85% of the physician fee schedule for CNS services. Most patients encounter CNSs as part of their care team in hospitals and clinics, where billing is handled by the facility. For outpatient CNS-led clinics (wound care, diabetes education), verify the CNS is credentialed with your insurance plan. Specialized programs led by CNSs (diabetes self-management education, cardiac rehabilitation) are often covered as a medical benefit with standard copays.