Clinical Nurse Leader

Are you contemplating graduate studies and trying to decide on the right specialty track to match your interests? Our Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) track could be right for you. 

Our CNL specialty track will prepare you to:

  • Function as an advanced generalist, providing and managing comprehensive client care across a variety of settings.
  • Oversee the care coordination of a distinct group of patients and lead the direct and indirect patient care in complex situations.
  • Put evidence-based practice into action to ensure that patients benefit from the latest innovations in care delivery.
  • Evaluate patient outcomes, assess cohort and system risk, and have decision-making authority to change plans of care and care protocols when necessary.
  • Work collaboratively at the point of care with interdisciplinary care teams on a daily basis and have the ability and primary responsibility for coordination of care.
  • Communicate effectively with other intra- and interdisciplinary team members to ensure positive patient outcomes are achieved.

Graduates of the specialty are eligible for certification as Clinical Nurse Leaders. Our track follows the knowledge and competencies specified by the American Association for Colleges of Nursing. CNL roles have traditionally been in acute care organizations, but this trend is changing with greater emphasis being placed on coordination of care in ambulatory care settings. Learn more about becoming a CNL from our specialty track director, Dr. Janice Wilcox.

Janice Wilcox
Director, Clinical Nurse Leader Specialty Track
wilcox.159@osu.edu

Message from the Director

Clinical Nurse Leaders are the answer to the many problems facing healthcare. It is this advanced generalist nurse who has the knowledge and skills to improve the quality of care and care processes by overseeing and coordinating care.

Faculty

Ann Deerhake
DNP, RN, CNL, CCRN
deerhake.13@osu.edu

Available Degree Programs

This specialty can be completed at a distance through the following programs:

This specialty can be completed on campus through the following programs:

Skills

Upon graduation, you'll enter the workforce with the skills to:

  • Delegate and oversee care delivery by other nursing staff on a daily basis and communicate with interdisciplinary team members to coordinate client care
  • Ensure cost-effective care through the coordination of human, environmental and material resources
  • Achieve all of the actions listed above in a work environment after completion of program

Specialty Curriculum

  • Nursing 7410 Advanced Health Assessment
  • Nursing 7450 Pathophysiology of Altered Health States
  • Nursing 7231 Advanced Pharmacology for the Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Nursing 7238.01 Introduction to CNL Practice
  • Nursing 7238.02 Transition to CNL Practice
Sample Full-Time Traditional MS Curriculum
Year 1
  
Autumn Credit Hours
N7450 Pathophysiology of Altered Health States 5
N7483 Quality Improvement and Informatics 3
N7500 Health Policy and Advocacy 2
Total credit hours 10
   
Spring  
N7230 CNL Roles and Responsibilities 2
N7410 Advanced Health Assessment 3
N7403 Innovation Leadership in Advanced Nursing Practice 3
N7780 Evidence Based Nursing Scholarship 3
Total credit hours 11
   
Summer  
N7491 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 3
N7231 Advanced Pharmacology for the CNL 3
Total credit hours 6
   
Year 2
  
Autumn  
N7238.01 Introduction Clinical Nurse Leader Practice 7
Total credit hours 7
   
Spring  
N7238.02 Transition to Clinical Nurse Leader Practice 8
Total credit hours 8
This is a sample curriculum only. Your specific curriculum plan can be found at portal.nursing.osu.edu. Please follow the personalized plan on the portal.
Sample Part-Time Traditional MS Curriculum
Year 1
  
Autumn Credit Hours
N7450 Pathophysiology of Altered Health States 5
Total credit hours 5
   
Spring  
N7403 Innovation Leadership in Advanced Nursing Practice 3
N7230 CNL Roles and Responsibilities 2
Total credit hours 5
   
Summer  
N7491 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 3
N7231 Advanced Pharmacology for the CNL 3
Total credit hours 6
   
Year 2
  
Autumn  
N7780 Evidence Based Nursing Scholarship 3
N7500 Health Policy and Advocacy 2
Total credit hours 5
   
Spring  
N7410 Advanced Health Assessment 3
N7483 Quality Improvement and Informatics 3
Total credit hours 6
   
Year 3
  
Autumn  
N7238.01 Introduction Clinical Nurse Leader Practice 7
Total credit hours 7
   
Spring  
N7238.02 Transition to Clinical Nurse Leader Practice 8
Total credit hours 8
This is a sample curriculum only. Your specific curriculum plan can be found at portal.nursing.osu.edu. Please follow the personalized plan on the portal.
Sample Full-Time Graduate Entry Curriculum
Year 1
  
Summer Credit Hours
N6100 Introduction to Professional Nursing Practice 2
N6410 Introduction to Health Assessment 3
N6420 A Nursing Perspective: Life span Development of Individuals Within a Family Context 3
Total credit hours 8
   
Autumn  
N6270 Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults I 7
N6430 Cultural Competence in Health Care: US and Global Contexts 3
N7450 Pathophysiology of Altered Health States 5
Total credit hours 15
   
Spring  
N6260 Nursing Care of Children and Their Families 4
N6280 Nursing Care of Women and Their Families During Reproductive Transitions 4
N7230 CNL Roles and Responsibilities 2
N7780 Evidence Based Nursing Scholarship2 3
Total credit hours 13
   
Year 2
  
Summer (Summer + May)  
N6240(S) Concepts in Community Health Nursing 4
N6340 Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 4
Total credit hours 8
   
Autumn  
N6271 Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults II 8
N6480 Quality Safety Initiatives in Clinical Practice1 1
N7500 Health Policy and Advocacy 2
Total credit hours 11
   
Spring  
N7410 Advanced Health Assessment 3
N7483 Quality Improvement and Informatics 3
N7403 Innovation Leadership in Advanced Nursing Practice 3
Total credit hours 9
   
Year 3
  
Summer (Summer + May)  
N7231 Advanced Pharmacology in for the CNL 3
N7491 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 3
Total credit hours 6
   
Autumn  
N7238.01 Introduction Clinical Nurse Leader Practice 7
Total credit hours 7
   
Spring  
N7238.02 Transition to Clinical Nurse Leader Practice 8
Total credit hours 8
This is a sample curriculum only. Your specific curriculum plan can be found at portal.nursing.osu.edu. Please follow the personalized plan on the portal.
1 Students must take N6480 prior to N7483
2 Students must take N7780 prior to NCLEX

FAQs

Julie Rogers
Julie Rodgers, graduate

“Being a CNL gives you the unique position to effectively coordinate care between disciplines and provide the patient with a seamless transition throughout their hospitalization.”