Clinical Nurse Leader, what is it exactly?

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]Hi everyone,

Can anyone tell me what exactly a Clinical Nurse Leader does?

I am working on getting into nursing but am completely stumped on what to do as I get closer to finishing prereqs. I hold a non-nursing B.S. and know I want to eventually complete an MSN program. Problem is I don't know too much about what Masters-level types of nursing there is out there. I'm familiar with NP and CRNAs but not sure what a Clinical Nurse Leader does on a daily basis.

Basically, should I go ABSN-->MSN?

or

Direct-entry MSN (clinical nurse leader)-->Potentially other MSN (if Clinical nurse Leader is not for me?)

Advice? Experience? Insight? ANYTHING?? :confused:

Thanks for any and all comments!

Although the CNL role isn't something I run into in the area where I work, I can speak to a financial reason that a direct-entry MSN might not necessarily make the most sense for everyone.

Think of your initial licensure program as the one that you get to pay for. It's pretty standard, at least in my area, for hospitals to offer tuition reimbursement to their nurses. Even with hospital belt-tightening in poor economic conditions, many nurses are able to have their graduate educations entirely paid for by their employers.

For some, it makes sense to become a nurse in the most economic and efficient manner possible, to begin working and then to allow the hospital to pay for any further academic pursuits. This might also allow you to determine whether any additional educational investment would be worth it. (Not uncommonly, nurses decide to defer admission to grad programs to avoid a five-figure cut in pay when transitioning from experienced nurse to new APN.)

I think the situation really depends on the cost and accessibility of each initial licensure program in your area. You might even decide that an ADN is the way to go. I'm an experienced ADN with a psych BA. I'm in the process of applying to an MSN program that will admit me without requiring any BSN coursework. Several of these programs exist.

Just as you notice the common opinion here that nurses should have experience prior to leadership or advanced roles, there is sometimes a noticeable belief (on AN and beyond) among pre-nursing students with a previous BA/BS that the MSN is logically the only answer. It's easy to fall into that line of thinking without thoroughly checking out each option, but it sounds like you are doing a good job of looking at multiple routes of entry.

Good luck to you!

Can you forsee an advantage of a non-nursing BA student going into AcceleratedBSN-->Advanced practice MSN?

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Can you forsee an advantage of a non-nursing BA student going into AcceleratedBSN-->Advanced practice MSN?

*** I only see disadvantages of a non-nurse going directly into an advanced practice role without significant experience as an RN in an acute care environment.

I am a big fan of the accelerated BSN programs. Graduates from such programs I have worked with bring a lot of life and work experience to nursing.

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Specializes in Psych Nursing.

I realize this is an old thread but I had 2 BS (Math & Biology) and chose to go the ADN route (for economic reasons). I had 12 years critical care transport/prehospital experience prior to entering nursing school. All of these things were very helpful while going to ADN school full time while working full time.

I never considered doing a direct entry MSN because of the input I received from nurse friends I trusted. I would have been hired as a "new grad" and at base pay regardless. Our practice ladder is set up such that I wouldn't have received any significant professional advantages over similarly experienced RNs until I advanced to the Clinical level IV, which also has an hours worked component, in addition to requiring an MSN.

Just my $0.02.

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I am in the process of going to scholl for my RN at this time. I have worked up from a CNA to CMT to LPN. There is a definite benefit from working your way up. The difference I have seen in all nurses that have never worked in the health field and started as a nurse, from one that has worked in some way with patients, is very noticable. There seems to be more genuine caring and understanding of the patients views and feelings from someone with even the barest experience. The same also seems true in leadership. If you have been the one being lead, you understand how to get more out of your team.

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As a CNL can you diagnose patients and prescribe medicine as an NP can?

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As a CNL can you diagnose patients and prescribe medicine as an NP can?

No. The CNL is not an advanced practice role.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
As a CNL can you diagnose patients and prescribe medicine as an NP can?

*** Certainly not. Every clinical nurse leader I have ever met was a new grad nurse who didn't know anything more about patient care than any other new grad does. CNL is not an advanced practice roll. In fact in 18 years in nursing in 4 different states in a number of hospitals I have never met a clinical nurse leader doing any roll other than bedside staff RN getting the exact same pay as their fellow ADN, BSN and MSN prepared RNs.

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Specializes in progressive care, med-surge.

I graduated from a master's entry CNL program. I chose to get a master's because I:

-already had my bachelor's

-wanted a master's

-it was a shorter program

Hospitals want RNs who have their bachelor's or master's. (At least where I live) And this will obviously offend people but it's true. It's easier to get a job as a new grad with a master's or bachelor's than an ADN, unless you know someone or are really awesome.

I passed the CNL exam and I'm proud to be a CNL! I am a floor nurse but I'm using my CNL degree and am working on a project on our unit with another CNL/floor nurse to improve morale by organizing our unit, improving the Omnicell, creating unit sweatshirts, organizing potlucks. I think part of it is my personality/passion for positive change and part of it is my CNL degree.

Happy to hear you went for the Masters degree.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I graduated from a master's entry CNL program. I chose to get a master's because I:

-already had my bachelor's

-wanted a master's

-it was a shorter program

Hospitals want RNs who have their bachelor's or master's. (At least where I live) And this will obviously offend people but it's true. It's easier to get a job as a new grad with a master's or bachelor's than an ADN, unless you know someone or are really awesome. .

*** One of the large health systems I work for, after some experience with them, no longer considers direct entry masters grads for employment as new grads. They are not hired into the nurse residency program anymore. I know of one other smaller regional health system that also will not hire them as new grads. I suppose a direct entry masters grad who was an experienced RN would be considered but so far as I know that hasn't come up yet.

As you probaly know there are several types of direct entry masters programs. Some of them involve getting the basic RN education and then working for a year or so then entering an advanced practice program. Those grads who took jobs and accepted training knowing full well they would be leaving just as soon as they were starting to be useful to the unit (one year) left some very bad impressions with some nurse managers. I know that there are other programs, like yours that do not mean automatic enrollment in an advanced practice program. However, at least in some places, all grads of direct entry masters are being painted with a broad brush.

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Hey I feel you - I had an alumni connection that could make me a CNL in just under two years - and declined.

I am chomping at the bit for my NP really, but I believe in taking the time to do it the right way.

True that that's not the case with other majors and masters like social work or psychology where you can have a change of heart after undergrad and do something a little different.

I think the proliferation of so0o0o0o many accelerated nursing programs for non-experiences nurses is outrageous and insulting and demeaning - and that's coming from someone who isn't even a nurse yet! But I am an artist and a teacher who loves science and takes my education seriously. Seriously, why rush through this kind of education? Traditional nursing programs dont take that long compared to med school! It's really important to be thorough in this work. I don't want to forget everything right after finals because 6 courses are crammed into one summer term. No, I don't want to rush through my medical education just to get some quickie fast food degree. I don't think you will get hired without a summer student nurse job in between the traditional years anyway, and definitely not at the master's level.

Totally don't mean to come across as so bossy or opinionated :) I am just passionate about this because I have been researching my new career choice like crazy and I also really love learning new things :) and I am not romanced when (always the overpriced private) universities try to swindle young people which is what I believe they are doing with this direct-entry jam.

Hi newmusic,

I'm new to allnurses and was looking through to ask about MSN education and saw your post. I am an endoscopy nurse for 7 years with my BSN and some masters classes under my belt, and would like to get my np, I think, but dont know much about the choices. Ay input. Thanks suesue

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I am a CNL. I graduated 2 years ago and have been functioning in the role for nearly 5 years. I love my role. I function close to the white paper ideals.

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/CNL/index.htm

is a great site to get you started. I've been to/presented at two different national conferences and the CNL varies a lot, depending on the institutions expectations of you. A lot of CNLs I meet are not as fortunate as I am.

A lot of your education is similar to APRN. If I ever wanted to be an APRN it would be another year of education. I've never wanted to be an APRN, the CNL role is a great fit for me.

http://www.amazon.com/Initiating-Sustaining-Clinical-Nurse-Leader/dp/0763776319 This is the first text on the CNL. James Harris is part of the VA system, who has been a big supporter of the CNL. Linda is also fabulous and has been a great advocate. There is a chapter in there that features different CNLs across the country. I haven't read the whole book, just that section. Otherwise, I skimmed the content and it all looked really great. This book came out about a year ago or so.

Hi 38866,

I just read an old post of yours on CNL and APRN. I have a couple of master classes I completed a couple of years ago, but I want to finish and dont know what direction I need to go in. My goal is to work for the hospital I am at, only as a NP I thnk, like a hospitalist, bedside work. Can you help me with info. Thanks. suesue

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