Going from Clinical Nurse Leader to a NP?

Nursing Students NP Students

Published

If I were to get a MSN to become a Clinical Nurse Leader, how would I become a gerontological nurse practitioner? I have read that you can complete certificates, but I have not been able to find any information on this. I think that I am not searching the right phrase, because I'm stuck on how to go from a CNL to a gerontological NP. (There are many programs that offer the CNL in my area, so I am planning to get this MSN degree, but then switching to NP.) I feel that having a MSN would give me an advantage. Also, I am not sure if I would have to complete another MSN (in order to get the NP) if I am already a CNL.

Thanks for any help!

Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.

I have recently enrolled in an inaugural Masters degree CNL program that allows ADN's and BSN's alike to merge in during the last year of the program. Being an established university that primarily educated Doctors and Pharmacists, it has now opened its educational doors to nurses in my home state. I couldn't turn down the cash prize of $770 per credit hour for the first graduates, as I freely admit I am very stingy with money, so I have found myself embarking upon an unknown journey into an educational quandary. (The $ goes up for future students.)

I had always thought that I would be a Nurse Practitioner because I just couldn't stand the thought of having a desk full of quarterly reports on budgets, and this-employee-pulled-that-employees-hair-and-called-them-a-bad-name-so-now-I-have-to-go-do-something- about-it....blah, blah, blah. Just let me come to work and take care of my patients and we will ALL be happy, M'Kay?

The idea of being able to remain patient focused rather than staff focused intrigues me greatly, and was the main pull of getting my purse strings apart.

I am VERY curious as to how the CNL operates in practice. I am a very seasoned nurse and keep reading posts about the "Horror" of a "new" nurse starting out with a Masters/CNL, but precious little about how the CNL works for someone like me.

I am also interested in hearing about those who have gone the post MSN route of obtaining their NP via a certificate.

+ Add a Comment