Graduate Program
Master of Science in Nursing, Clinical Nurse Leader Track

The purpose of the MSN Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) track is to prepare nurses at the graduate level to be leaders across all settings in which healthcare is delivered. The CNL is a provider and manager of care at the point of care to individuals and cohorts or populations. The CNL designs, implements, and evaluates care by coordinating, delegating, and supervising the care provided by the healthcare team.

What is a Clinical Nurse Leader?

The CNL is a generalist in contrast with the specialized focus of the practice by clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners. The CNL oversees the care coordination of a distinct group of patients and actively provides direct patient care in complex situations. This clinician 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 healthcare professionals, including physicians, pharmacists, social workers, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse practitioners.

The School of Nursing offers a Full-time (2-year) and a Part-time (3-year) track, as listed below.

Full-Time Program of Study