The clinical nurse leader (CNL) specialty track prepares graduates to function as generalists, providing and managing comprehensive client care in acute care facilities. Knowledge and competencies for the CNL have been specified by the American Assoication for Colleges of Nursing.
In practice, CNLs oversee the care coordination of a distinct group of patients and actively provide direct and indirect patient care in complex situations. They put evidence-based practice into action to ensure that patients benefit from the latest innovations in care delivery. CNLs evaluate patient outcomes, assess cohort risk, and have decision-making authority to change care plans when necessary. CNLs work collaboratively with other staff caring for patients on a daily basis and have the ability and primary responsibility for providing the necessary coordination and communication with other intra- and interdisciplinary team members. Graduates are eligible for certification as clinical nurse leaders.
The primary goal of the clinical nurse leader (CNL) specialty track is to prepare graduates to function as generalists providing and managing comprehensive client care in hospitals. Students choose an acute care focus in medical-surgical nursing, pediatric nursing, obstetric nursing, or neonatal nursing. Graduates of the specialty are eligible for certification as clinical nurse leaders. Knowledge and competencies for the CNL have been specified by the American Association for Colleges of Nursing. See www.aacn.nche.edu/CNL/.
Essential skills
Graduates enter the workforce with the skills and competencies to:
- oversee the care and coordination of a distinct group of patients and actively provide direct patient care in complex situations.
- put evidence-based practice into action to ensure that patients benefit from the latest innovations in care delivery.
- evaluate patient outcomes, assess cohort risk, and modify care plans when necessary.
- delegate and oversee care delivery by other nursing staff on a daily basis and communicate with interdisciplinary team members to coordinate client care.
- ensure cost-effective care through the coordination of human, environmental, and material resources.
Core courses
Nursing 601 Scientific Thought in Nursing (3 credits): Study of the nature of scientific thought, critical thinking, and moral reasoning in the discipline of nursing
Nursing 603 Nursing within the American Health Care System (3 credits): Analysis of American health care delivery system and policy making process with an emphasis on social, political, and economic factors affecting delivery of nursing services
Nursing 702 Research for Evidence Based Clinical Practice (4 credits): Prepares students to use extant research and existing databases to provide quality care, initiate change, and plan and evaluate programs of care
Nursing 707 Reimbursement and Cost Methods for Advanced Practice Nurses (3 credits): Examination of reimbursement methods for health care services and the concepts of cost analysis necessary for program development/monitoring and management of an independent nursing practice
One of the following recommended graduate statistics courses:
Agricultural Education 887 Analysis and Interpretation of Data (3 credits): Application and interpretation of descriptive and inferential statistics for research in vocational-technical and extension education, including the use of the computer
The following course is a recommended lab taken concurrently:
Agricultural Education 795.05 Research and Evaluation (2 credits)
or
Educational Policy and Leadership 786 Introduction to Inquiry: Quantitative Methods (5 credits): An introduction to quantitative techniques, with emphasis on application in educational settings
Specialty courses
Nursing 606 Pharmacology for Clinical Nurse Leaders (3 credits): Pharmacology related to acutely ill, hospitalized clients. Emphasis on pharmacotherapeutics for CNL practice in a microsystem (client group within a clinical unit).
Nursing 703 Pathophysiology of Altered Health States I (5 credits): Analysis of theories and research regarding alterations of health states across the life span, with an emphasis on pathophysiological processes.
Nursing 713 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention across the Life Span in the Acute Care Setting (3 credits): Analyze strategies to encourage change in both individual’s and population’s health behaviors that influence risk reduction in acute care settings.
Nursing 733 Introduction to Clinical Nurse Leader Practice (10 credits): This clinical course is designed to introduce the graduate student to the role of the Clinical Nurse Leader. There will be classroom content and clinical experiences relative to the learning of the role.
Nursing 735 Comprehensive Health Assessment (3 credits): Comprehensive health assessment of acutely and chronically ill clients across the life span. Emphasis on specific skills for practice in a microsystem (client group within a clinical unit).
Nursing 833 Transition to Clinical Nurse Leader Practice (10 credits): This is the final course in the CNL specialty track. Emphasis is on clinical experience and application of theoretical material learned throughout the specialty.
Sample program for full-time study
Year 1
| Autumn |
Winter |
Spring |
Summer |
|
| Nursing 601 (3) |
Nursing 606 (3) |
Nursing 713 (3) |
Nursing 833 (10) |
| Nursing 603 (3) |
Nursing 702 (4) |
Nursing 733 (10) |
|
| Nursing 703 (5) |
Nursing 707 (3) |
|
|
| Graduate statistics (5) |
Nursing 735 (3) |
|
|
Sample program for part-time study
Year 1
| Autumn |
Winter |
Spring |
Summer |
|
| Nursing 703 (5) |
Nursing 606 (3) |
Nursing 601 (3) |
Nursing 603 (3) |
| Graduate statistics (5) |
Nursing 702 (4) |
Nursing 713 (3) |
|
Year 2
| Autumn |
Winter |
Spring |
Summer |
|
| Nursing 707 (3) |
Nursing 735 (3) |
Nursing 733 (10) |
Nursing 833 (10) |
This is a sample curriculum only. Your specific curriculum plan must be confirmed by your faculty advisor and entered into the college database.
FAQs
What is the educational preparation of a Clinical Nurse Leader?
The CNL is a generalist clinician with education at the master's degree level. Graduate education is necessary because the CNL must bring a high level of clinical competence and knowledge to the point of care and to serve as a resource for the nursing team. The master's degree with a major in nursing will prepare graduates for a generalist role.
Is the Clinical Nurse Leader needed in the health care system?
Patients deserve the best possible care. The health care system has changed and there is a need for more knowledgeable providers with enhanced skills. Reports released by the Institute of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the American Hospital Association all cite the need to make changes in health care delivery and the education of health professionals to improve patient outcomes. The CNL is one type of nurse that can provide a level of knowledge and skill that has not been present before. AACN has worked with other health care leaders and is taking the lead in implementation of this new nurse. Nurse executives have seen the CNL role emerge in the practice setting and it continues to be developed; CNLs are being employed in a variety of health care systems.
How is a Clinical Nurse Leader different from a Clinical Nurse Specialist or other advanced practice nurse?
The CNL is not prepared as an advanced practice nurse (APN) as currently defined. The CNL is a generalist in contrast with the specialized focus of the practice by clinical nurse specialists (CNS) and nurse practitioners. Advanced practice nurses are prepared with specialist education in a defined area of practice. The CNL and APN roles complement one another. For example, the CNL may call on the CNS to provide consultation when a specialist area of concern arises (i.e. when a patient does not respond to nursing care or therapeutics as expected). AACN, in consultation with a select group of CNSs, has developed a comparison document that is available at:
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/CNL/pdf/CNLCNSComparisonTable.pdf
Admissions & program information
Traditional Master of Science option
Graduate Entry option
Post-Master’s option
Applicants must apply directly to the College of Nursing for admission to the Post-Master's option.
For further information, contact:
The Ohio State University
College of Nursing
Graduate Outreach and Admissions
1585 Neil Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210-1289
Call (614) 688-8145
E-mail nursing@osu.edu
See Graduate Specialties Introduction
See Graduate Specialties Adult Health & Illness
See Graduate Specialties Family Nurse Practitioner
See Graduate Specialties Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
See Graduate Specialties Nurse Midwifery
See Graduate Specialties Nursing and Health Systems Management
See Graduate Specialties Nursing Science
See Graduate Specialties Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
See Graduate Specialties Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
See Graduate Specialties Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
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