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Valdosta State University

College of Nursing

Master of Science in Nursing Program

Clinical Nurse Leader Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)?

The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), prepared at the Master of Science in Nursing level, is an advanced nurse generalist and leader in the health care delivery system in all settings in which health care is delivered. The CNL assumes accountability for patient care coordination and outcomes through the application of evidence-based information to design, implement, and evaluate patient plans of care to ensure patients benefit from the latest innovations in care delivery. The CNL is a provider and manager of care at the point of care (micro-system level) to patients and cohorts of patients within a health care setting in complex situations. The CNL assesses individual patient and cohort risk, uses decision-making authority to change plans of care when necessary, and evaluates patient and cohort outcomes.

The role includes the design, implementation, and evaluation of patient care outcomes by coordinating, delegating, and supervising the care provided by the health care team, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, technicians, and other health professionals. CNL master’s students are eligible to sit for national board certification through the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) by its autonomous certification branch, the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC), during the last semester of study in the CNL clinical practicum and residency course. The CNL, created by AACN and clinical partners over the United States, has been and continues to be a fast emerging advanced nursing role.

Where are CNLs employed, and what do they actually do?

CNLs are employed in acute care, long-term care, rehabilitation, and community agencies and settings. As advanced nurse generalists, CNLs focus their practice at the unit or micro-system level with emphasis on leadership, patient and staff safety, quality outcomes, a highly productive care environment, quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and management of care. Role functions of the CNL include clinician, educator, advocate, team manager, information manager, systems analyst, risk anticipator, and outcomes manager.

What are the classroom and clinical requirements for the CNL track in the MSN program?

Total credit hours: 36

Didactic credit hours: 27; Clinical credit hours: 9; Clinical to class ratio used for contact hours: 4:1, meaning four clinical contact hours are equivalent to one credit hour

Total CNL clinical hours: 540 contact hours

Courses are offered in hybrid methods with monthly face-to-face classes in weekend college (WEC) format and online through BlazeView technology. Clinical work must occur in settings and agencies within the VSU College of Nursing service area where clinical contracts are in place between VSU and the agencies. Clinical work is completed under the instruction, guidance, and supervision of College of Nursing CNL faculty, as well as approved clinical preceptors.

Who may serve as a preceptor for me in clinical work during the program?

A clinical preceptor may be a registered nurse or other health care professional with graduate or doctoral education approved by the College of Nursing faculty. Students may select an approved clinical preceptor, or course faculty may suggest preceptors for students. Students are provided information about selecting preceptors and guidelines for working with them from faculty.

Faculty members are always available to students during clinical experiences and hold the final responsibility of assigning course grades. CNL certified nurses are preferred clinical preceptors, but other examples of registered nurses as preceptors include clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), nursing administrators, and other graduate nursing educators.

How many semesters are required for full-time study in the CNL track? Is part-time study available?

Full-time study in the CNL track is four (4) semesters and typically begins in the summer semester. Part-time study is also available and can start during any of the three semesters in an academic year where the courses are offered. Completion of the program with part-time study varies according to the number of courses taken each semester and students meeting required prerequisites. Part-time students will usually complete the program in six (6) or more semesters.

May I specialize further as a CNL?

Because CNLs are advanced generalist nurses, they are not educated specifically as specialists or for advanced practice nursing. CNL graduate students may take graduate level nursing electives within their program of study to develop additional expertise, if desired, beyond the required program of study. Because the core curriculum is the same for M.S.N. students, students may also transition from one role to another or add on additional roles by successfully completing required course work and clinical experiences.

When will I take the national board certification examination to become a certified CNL?

Students in the CNL track will take the CNC national board certification examination to become a certified CNL during the final semester of study in the program in the clinical practicum and residency course for CNLs (NURS 7420 – 6 credit hours). To pass this course and complete degree requirements for the MSN degree as a CNL, students must achieve national board certification.

What is the program of study for the CNL track?

The following chart shows the full-time program of study for the CNL track:

Course Number/Title Semester One: Core NURS 7100 Advanced Pathophysiology 7110 Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice 7150 Nursing and Health Care Information Systems 7160 Health Care Delivery Systems, Economics, and Policy	Credits (3-0-3) (2-0-2) (2-0-2) (2-0-2)	Course Number/Title Semester Two: Core NURS 7200 Advanced Health Assessment 7200L Advanced Health Assessment Practicum 7220 Advanced Evidence-Based Practice 7230 Advanced Pharmacology	Credits (3-0-3) (0-4-1) (3-0-3) (3-0-3)
Total Credits for Semester	9	Total Credits for Semester	10
Total CNL Clinical Hours	0	Total CNL Clinical Hours	60
Semester Three: Clinical Nurse Leader NURS 7300 Population-Based Care Management 7310 Leadership for Quality Nursing Environments and Clinical Outcomes Management 7320 Clinical Nurse Leader Role Development in Practice	Credits (3-0-3) (3-0-3) (2-4-3)	Semester Four: Clinical Nurse Leader NURS 7410 Clinical Nurse Leader Synthesis and Best Practices 7420 Clinical Practicum and Residency for Clinical Nurse Leaders	Credits (1-4-2) (0-24-6)
Total Credits for Semester	9	Total Credits for Semester	8
Total CNL Clinical Hours	60	Total CNL Clinical Hours	420

		Total Credits for Program	36
		Total Program CNL Clinical Hours	540

Note: A prerequisite for REGULAR ADMISSION to the MSN program includes successful completion of a graduate course in statistics.

Students who have not submitted one or more of the application materials may be eligible for IRREGULAR ADMISSION. In addition, students who have submitted all of the required documents for admission but fail to meet one of more of the criteria for regular admission may be considered for PROBATIONARY ADMISSION.

Where can I get more information on the CNL track in the MSN program?

General information about the application process to the graduate program:

The Graduate School

Web site: http://www.valdosta.edu/gradschool

Phone: (800) 618-1878

Address: The Graduate School, Valdosta State University, 1500 N. Patterson Street

Valdosta, GA 31698-0005

Information specifically about the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) track:

VSU Internet Web site: http://www.valdosta.edu/nursing

Dr. James P. Humphrey, MSN, PhD, RN, CNS, CNL

CNL Track Coordinator

E-mail: jphumphr@valdosta.edu