Why is AACN developing new role " Clinical Nurse Leader"????

[NRSKarenRN]

the clinical nurse leader

| download pdf version |

the clinical nurse leader or cnl

is a new nursing role being developed by the american association of colleges of nursing (aacn) in collaboration with leaders from the education and practice arenas. aacn is advancing the cnl to improve the quality of patient care and to better prepare nurses to thrive in the health care system. the cnl role emerged following research and discussion with stakeholder groups as a way to engage highly skilled clinicians in outcomes-based practice and quality improvement.

in practice, the cnl oversees the care coordination of a distinct group of patients and actively provides direct patient care in complex situations. this master's degree-prepared clinician puts evidence-based practice into action to ensure that patients benefit from the latest innovations in care delivery. the cnl evaluates patient outcomes, assesses cohort risk, and has the decision-making authority to change care plans when necessary. the cnl is a leader in the health care delivery system, and the implementation of this role will vary across settings.

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/cnl/about.htm

gee, i thought this was the cns role in a hospital facility...why the need for another practioner.....i must be getting old.

[blueheaven]

Once again, another set of initials that someone can put out there. It is the CNS role, just glossed up by the AACN. We have a CNS, we don't need another person with a "better" set of initials.

AACN also gets more moola because of testing etc. "required" to get this additional designation I'm sure. Much of what goes on is truly money oriented.

[Franjcamp]

I agree with what you are saying about the nurses who are there when their expertise is needed. They are throughout the hospitals. I do not think that the clinical nurse leader positions will diminish your role in the least bit. I worked at the same hospital for 20 years helped mentor probably half of the existing staff there. The nursing students, who do they come to? The older experienced nurses when they have questions because half of the time their professors are so highly educated and so out of touch with working in the hospital, the students feel more comfortable with the staff then their professors As I said I do see where you are coming from, but none the less the reality of the situation is that it is a shame that a nurse cannot use her expertise to help younger inexperienced nurses without doing 12 hour shifts at least that is the way is where I live.