1. Subspecialization in geropsychiatric nursing builds on the specialist preparation obtained in graduate level psychiatric/mental health or gerontologic nursing education. 2. Development of a subspecialty requires a base of substantive knowledge gained in the classroom, supplemented by a series of supervised clinical experiences. 3. Clinical practicum experiences with specific role options for the geropsychiatric clinical nurse specialist and experiences with special populations are essential to the further development of geropsychiatric nursing as a subspecialty.