CNL or my job

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I have been accepted for Master of science Clinical Nurse leader program at UMD-Baltimore.I am not sure if its worth going to this program as a second degree student since its a new program.I finished my bachelor of science degree last year and currently working as a Quality Engineer in a blood- plasma resourse center making $5500 per year.I am not sure because I have done some research and found no information in regards to salary or jobs for Clinical nurse leader graduates.I want to be in the medical field and apply Quality metholodies in improving patient care and apply quality and continous improvement activities in the nursing field.I need advice from people in the nursing field or clinical nusrse leader graduates.Please help!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Hi and welcome. I think you are right to question the CNL direct-entry programs. They are very new and at least in my area (central IL), no one is really sure what to do with them. Can the school put yainlou in touch with some CNL grads to see what kinds of jobs they have? You don't mention nursing as your goal but rather more of a hands-off type of career. Would you be willing to do bedside nursing? Doubt few people would hire you into your CQI job goal without some nursing experience.

I certainly could be wrong though and hope there are some CNL grads that can shed some light on this. Good luck.

Oh, BTW - did you mean you earn $55,000/year?

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I'm unclear.

Are you wondering about going into nursing at all or are you wondering if a direct-entry CNL program is the right means for you to become a nurse?

I'm in a direct-entry CNL program. As far as I know, all of the graduates from the prior years were hired into regular new-grad positions. All of my group are expecting the same -- to just be regular, old new-graduate nurses. Sure, we bring some knowledge that some other new grads don't have but that knowledge is immaterial at the beginning of ones nursing career. For the first few years one must learn to be a nurse and is in no position to lead much of anything.

That said, most of us are 2nd-career types and our prior experiences do prepare us to support some non-bedside projects. For example, one of my predecessors has an IT background and is working with an HMO group developing online educational materials for patients. It's got nothing to do with the CNL classes, though.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Soccer12,

Have you considered pursuing a degree in biomedical informatics instead? This is a new career field - wide open possiblities. Most large healthcare systems and medical schools as well as 'ancillary' industries such as pharmaceuticals & Healthcare Information Systems are employing them. The positions pay quite well.

I know of quite a few nurses who have chosen this route for grad school because of their interest in qualaity improvement. They are involved in improving underlying systems as well as analyzing clinical information for quality/research studies.

Just a thought

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