Clinical Nurse Leader???

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Has anyone done a CNL program after already being an RN (not a direct entry program)? I dont want to be an NP and can't see myself doing education or management and I like the thought of being near the bedside, but not being the bedside nurse.

Any thoughts? :redpinkhe

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I'm still a bit confused about the whole CNL thing. My take? It seems to be a CNS re-do. Just like CNS's in the past, the problem won't be getting the degree, it will be finding a job afterward in which to use your new skills & knowledge. I would assume that is what you want, right?

Most healthcare organizations are not jumping up and down to create positions for nurses with advanced degrees. Educator positions are not commonly upgraded to require MSNs yet. I think that Nursing continues to create 'things' (job functions, models of care, theories, etc) that are unrealistic/impractical. Then they blame providers for not 'advancing' as they should.

Reality? I know lots of MSNs as well as NPs & nurse PhDs who are working in staff positions. I am sure they bring a lot of value to their employers, but they certainly cannot fulfill the potential that was supposed to be associated with investing that much time in their education. The jobs are just not there.

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I also am baffled by the whole CNL thing. I am not aware of any great outcry from the real world for a Master's-prepared bedside nurse that stimulated the development of the role -- academia invented it and is now trying to sell it to the rest of healthcare, but the larger healthcare community doesn't seem to be buying. I do know there is zero demand for CNLs in my region -- I follow all the nursing openings pretty closely, and I have seen exactly one posting for a CNL position in the last few years. From what I've read of the CNL role and how those persons are expected to function clinically, it sounds v. much like what any experienced, expert-level bedside nurse could (and, I expect, should) be doing as a normal matter of course.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

There are several threads about the CNL role here.

That said, I had lunch recently with a former co-worker who is doing the CNS but who also works work some CNLs. Our hospital-affiliated college of nursing has a CNL program that isn't a direct entry program. The hospital is using them as sort of bedside case managers.

My advice is that you want the broadest scope of practice you can do. Believe me, you might want to stay at the bedside now, but in 20-30 years you might change your mind.

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