OVERVIEW
What is a Clinical Nurse Leader?
A Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) is a master’s educated nurse who focuses on improving patient care quality and coordinating care within healthcare settings.
Typical education steps and requirements to become a CNL include:
- Obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN).
- Pass the NCLEX-RN exam and become a licensed Registered Nurse (RN).
- Obtain a Master’s degree in Nursing (MSN) with CNL specialization.
- Pass the CNL Certification Exam offered by the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC).
In total, the process to become a CNL generally takes around 6-8 years of education and training, including time spent working as an RN if required by the program.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Clinical Nurse Leader Do?
The exact day-to-day responsibilities of a clinical nurse leader depend highly on where the individual is employed, but some of the common duties for someone in this role include:
- Care coordination. CNLs oversee and coordinate patient care, ensuring continuity and consistency of care.
- Quality improvement. They lead initiatives to improve patient safety, care quality, and clinical outcomes by evaluating patient data, identifying issues, and implementing evidence-based solutions.
- Risk assessment. CNLs assess potential risks to patient safety and work to mitigate these risks, creating safer healthcare environments.
- Patient advocacy and education. They advocate for patients' best interests and educate patients and families on managing their health, understanding treatment plans, and navigating the healthcare system.
- Direct patient care (as needed). While CNLs often work in leadership and supervisory roles, they may also provide direct patient care, especially in complex cases requiring specialized knowledge and skills.
- Staff education and mentorship. They often educate and mentor other nursing staff, promoting best practices and staying updated with the latest clinical standards.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Clinical Nurse Leader?
As mentioned above, prospective clinical nurse leaders will need to become a registered nurse, with a Master's in Nursing Leadership and Management with CNL specialization in order to practice in the field. There are options to obtain this degree for those who already have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, as well as options for those who need to obtain both their BSN and MSN degrees. For those who have already earned a master's degree, a post-master's certificate in nursing leadership & management can be beneficial.
Best Degrees for a Clinical Nurse Leader
Health & Nursing
Nursing (Prelicensure) – B.S.
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a...
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a baccalaureate-prepared nurse:
- Locations: Due to in-person clinical requirements, students must be full time residents of Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin to enroll in this program. The coursework in this program is offered online, but there are in-person requirements.
- Tuition: $8,755 per 6-month term for the first 4 terms of pre-nursing coursework and $8,755 per 6-month term for the remaining 4 terms of clinical nursing coursework.
- Time: This program has a set pace and an expected completion time of 4 years. Certain coursework may be accelerated to finish faster.
- WGU offers the prelicensure program in areas where we have partnerships with healthcare employers to provide practice sites and clinical coaches to help teach you and inspire you on your path to becoming a nurse.
- If you don't live in one of our prelicensure states or don't qualify to apply, consider getting our Bachelor's in Health and Human Services instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also working directly with patients who need help.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Community Health
- Women's and Children's Nursing
- Pathology
- Physiology
- Research
Health & Nursing
Nursing (RN-to-BSN Online) – B.S.
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added...
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added theoretical depth, employability, and respect that a bachelor's degree brings:
- Time: The program is designed to be completed in 1 year.
- Tuition: $5,325 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 23 total courses in this program.
- Transfers: Students can transfer up to 90 credits.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Healthcare Policy and Economics
- Information Technology in Nursing Practice
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Applied Healthcare Statistics
If you don't currently have an RN and don't qualify for your nursing prelicensure program, consider getting our Bachelor's in Health and Human Services instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry in a unique way.
Health & Nursing
Nursing – Leadership & Management (RN-to-MSN) – M.S.
This program for RNs includes a BSN component and is a substantial leap...
This program for RNs includes a BSN component and is a substantial leap toward becoming a nurse leader.
- Time: 62% of RN-to-MSN grads finish within 37 months.
- Tuition: $5,325 per 6-month term during undergraduate portion and $5,035 per 6-month term during graduate portion.
- Courses: 32 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program:
- Quality Outcomes in a Culture of Value-Based Nursing Care
- Nursing Leadership and Management
- Advanced Pathopharmacological Foundations
- Informatics for Transforming Nursing Care
If you're driven to lead, this online nursing degree will provide you everything needed to make that career a reality. This program is ideal for current RNs who are interested in earning both their BSN and MSN in an accelerated program.
Compare degrees
This program is not the only degree WGU offers designed to create leaders in the field of healthcare. Compare our health leadership degrees.
Health & Nursing
Nursing – Leadership & Management (BSN-to-MSN) – M.S.
For registered nurses with a bachelor's degree who are ready for...
For registered nurses with a bachelor's degree who are ready for additional career opportunities.
- Time: 61% of grads finish within 23 months
- Tuition: $5,035 per 6-month term
- Courses: 15 total courses in this program
This program is ideal for current RNs who have a BSN and are ready for the next step in their education.
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program:
- Quality Outcomes in a Culture of Value-Based Nursing Care
- Nursing Leadership and Management
- Advanced Pathopharmacological Foundations
- Informatics for Transforming Nursing Care
Compare degrees
This program is not the only degree WGU offers designed to create leaders in the field of healthcare. Compare our health leadership degrees.
Health & Nursing
Nursing Leadership Certificate – Leavitt School of Health
Enhance your résumé and take a step in your educational journey with the...
Enhance your résumé and take a step in your educational journey with the help of a nursing leadership certificate from the Leavitt School of Health.
- Time: 3 months from start to finish.
- Cost: $2,000 for the certificate.
- Courses: 3 courses total in this program.
This program is for emerging nursing leaders, however this program does not require a bachelor’s degree, and provides transferable credit towards a WGU degree program. The three courses are:
- Interprofessional Communication and Leadership in Healthcare
- Intrapersonal Leadership and Professional Growth
- Nursing Leadership Capstone
How Much Does a Clinical Nurse Leader Make?
$96,249
According to Salary.com, the average clinical nurse leader salary is $96,249 annually with a low of $86,682 and a high of $106,915. Additionally, where you are located geographically, your level of education, your amount of experience, and the type of facility that you work in can influence your income as a clinical nurse leader.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
6%
Since the clinical nurse leader role is relatively new, there are no job outlook statistics available as of yet. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the general RN job outlook will see a 6% increase by 2032—faster than the national average.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Clinical Nurse Leader Need?
There are certain skills that current and prospective clinical nurse leaders needs for success within the role. Some examples of critical skills include:
- Analytical. Clinical nurse leaders will need to analyze various processes and patient outcomes to determine what areas need to be addressed.
- Leadership. Clinical nurse leaders help direct/manage other nurses, so it is important to be comfortable giving direction and being in a position of authority.
- Educational. Clinical nurse leaders often have educational aspects to their roles, so you must be comfortable developing curriculum and facilitating training.
- Collaboration. Clinical nurse leaders generally work with a number of different healthcare workers and other nurses. It can be hard to analyze everything with a granular view of the day-to-day, so it is important to have good collaboration and communication skills to ensure that you get insight into any issues that need to be addressed.
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