Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nursing Leadership Program: Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) for RNs

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The master’s prepared clinical nurse leader (CNL) is responsible for clinical management of comprehensive client care, for individuals and clinical populations across the continuum of care and in multiple settings. The CNL assumes leadership and accountability for health outcomes for a specific group of clients within a unit or setting through the assimilation and application of research-based information to design, implement and evaluate plans of care. The clinical nurse leader is also responsible for the coordination and planning of health care team activities and functions. Health promotion, risk reduction and improvement in point-of-care outcomes are critical elements in the role of the clinical nurse leader.

Applicants to the post-licensure Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) program must have earned a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited university. The program is six terms in length and offered as a part-time program of study. The majority of the CNL program is offered online, but students are required to come to campus for NSG-625L Advanced Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Nursing Across the Life Span: Lab. This is a course that requires students to be on-campus two days (dates available at time of registration). There is a clinical residency requirement that may be completed at the student’s place of employment.

All MSN students are expected to complete their degree requirements in no more than five years.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Both the prelicensure and post-licensure MSN programs comprehensively prepare students to be graduate nurse clinicians with a focus in clinical leadership.

To achieve quality patient (client/population/cohort of clients) outcomes, the Clinical Nurse Leader will meet the following objectives:

Use communication techniques that reflect an understanding of the dignity and respect afforded to all persons
Deliver competent, holistic, and contextually appropriate patient-family-population-centered nursing care
Synthesize the knowledge of nursing science, social science and humanities in the promotion of health, prevention of disease, and delivery of care across diverse populations and health care environments
Demonstrate the ability to work with interdisciplinary teams to optimize nursing care delivery
Demonstrate leadership behaviors within and across systems at all levels of prevention
Recognize the impact of the micro and macro system environments on health care delivery
Demonstrate professional values in nursing practice

Graduation Requirements

MSN for RNs: Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) requires a minimum of 37 credit hours and 500 clock hours of clinical instruction. Graduates are eligible to sit for CNL certification.

Academic Program Curricula (Summer/Fall Admission)

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Area of Focus: Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)-Part Time

Term 1

NSG - 522 Applied Epidemiology Biostats Nursing Credit(s): 3
NSG - 602 Health Care Economics, Policy and Finance Credit(s): 3

Subtotal: 6

Term 2

NSG - 524 Health Promotion in Individuals and Clinical Populations Credit(s): 3
NSG - 533 Advanced Pathophysiology Credit(s): 3

Subtotal: 6

Term 3

NSG - 531 Advanced Pharmacology Credit(s): 3
NSG - 523 Research for Evidence Based Practice Credit(s): 3

Subtotal: 6

Term 4

NSG - 521 Antiracism in Organizational Leadership Credit(s): 3
NSG - 625 Advanced Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Nursing Across the Life Span Credit(s): 2
NSG - 625L Advanced Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Nursing Across the Life Span: Lab Credit(s): 1 *

Subtotal: 6

Term 5

NSG - 517 Immersion: CNL Role Practicum Credit(s): 5
NSG - 519 Clinical Leadership and Project Development for Post-Licensure Students Credit(s): 3

Subtotal: 8

Term 6

NSG - 515 Clinical Project Implementation Credit(s): 5

Subtotal: 5

Total: 37

* This course requires students to attend two live, on-campus days of lab. Dates for the on-campus days will be provided at registration time.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Both the prelicensure and post-licensure MSN programs comprehensively prepare students to be graduate nurse clinicians with a focus in clinical leadership.

To achieve quality patient (client/population/cohort of clients) outcomes, the Clinical Nurse Leader will meet the following objectives:

Use communication techniques that reflect an understanding of the dignity and respect afforded to all persons
Deliver competent, holistic, and contextually appropriate patient-family-population-centered nursing care
Synthesize the knowledge of nursing science, social science and humanities in the promotion of health, prevention of disease, and delivery of care across diverse populations and health care environments
Demonstrate the ability to work with interdisciplinary teams to optimize nursing care delivery
Demonstrate leadership behaviors within and across systems at all levels of prevention
Recognize the impact of the micro and macro system environments on health care delivery
Demonstrate professional values in nursing practice

Graduation Requirements

MSN for RNs: Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) requires a minimum of 37 credit hours and 500 clock hours of clinical instruction. Graduates are eligible to sit for CNL certification.