Clinical Nurse Leader

The Master of Science in Nursing Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) track is designed to prepare nurses for an evolving advanced generalist role which incorporates advanced knowledge, skill, and clinical expertise in an evidence-and-quality-driven context. The CNL oversees care coordination of a distinct group of patients, is a resource for clinical decision-making, and serves as a lateral integrator of care. This clinical leader puts evidence-based practice into action to ensure that patients benefit from the latest innovations in care delivery. The CNL collects and evaluates patient outcomes, assesses cohort risk, and has the decision-making authority to change care plans when necessary. This clinician functions as part of an interdisciplinary team by communicating, planning, and implementing care directly with other health care professionals including physicians, pharmacists, social workers, therapists, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse practitioners. The CNL is a leader in the health care delivery system across all settings in which health care is delivered. The program emphasizes the development of competencies related to the use of technology, evidence-based practice, customization of care, health team and interdisciplinary leadership, and outcome and risk assessment.

This online master's program prepares nurses to function effectively in a quickly changing, increasingly complex clinical care environment. Students have the opportunity to develop advanced competencies and depth of knowledge as clinical nurse leaders. The program emphasizes evidence-based approaches to solving clinical problems, assessment and evaluation of nursing and health care outcomes, clinical decision-making, lateral care integration, clinically based leadership and the design of nursing care for clinical populations at the clinical unit or similar small-system level.

The program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Students in this Post-Master's Certificate Program have the opportunity to learn about health care management, policy, and quality improvement at the point of care with individuals seeking health care, while obtaining knowledge of health care systems, finance, and economics. In addition, students will be given the opportunity to learn about advanced clinical assessment, pathophysiology, and advanced pharmacology if not taken as part of their original MSN.

This program is not currently admitting new students.

This program is not currently admitting new students.