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Programs

Clinical Nurse Leader

Overview

The Clinical Nurse Leader program prepares nurses to better understand the challenges and opportunities faced by the broader patient base and health care system. Students learn how to put evidence-based practice into action and expand their role as a leader. Nurses who earn a master's degree as a CNL become clinical leaders who work at the complex intersection of clinical care, population health, and health care management to focus on safety and quality.

Program Learning Outcomes

Lead high-performance interprofessional clinical teams to improve patient outcomes at all organizational levels.

  1. Engage in continuous review of healthcare systems to ensure evidence-based clinical care delivery across the organization.
  2. Leverage information technology to analyze risk and implement strategies to optimize patient care across organizational levels.
  3. Collaborate with interprofessional teammates to ensure seamless continuity for patients as they move through the healthcare system.
  4. Evaluate population health and disease prevention services to improve the health of individuals, families, and communities.
  5. Demonstrate leadership skills to promote advocacy efforts that include principles of social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Program Goals

  1. Prepare healthcare leaders to provide strategic and sustained direction, clear and visible values, and organizational environments that foster continuous improvement and enable success.
  2. Prepare healthcare leaders to support evidence-based practice and inquiry relevant to improving health and complex healthcare systems.
  3. Prepare healthcare leaders to create environments that foster innovation and continuous learning.

Information about faculty and research can be found on the Clinical Nurse Leader website.

AdmissionsLink to section

ApplyingLink to section

The School of Nursing uses an online self-managed application process. Applicants are required to complete all portions of the online application and submit the following documents:

  • Current Resume or CV
  • Transcripts of all prior college-level work
  • Letters of recommendation from members of the academic community and/or workplace professionals who know your qualifications for graduate study. Preferably, at least one recommendation should be from a former professor. At least two letters are required for master's and advanced certificate applicants and three for doctoral applicants. Letters of recommendation are managed on the online application.
  • Current RN license
  • English proficiency scores for non-native English speakers
  • Application fee
  • Short answer responses and essay

After the application is reviewed, the candidate will be contacted to schedule an interview with a School of Nursing faculty member. Program faculty conduct a holistic review of each application.

ApplyingLink to section

Master's and Advanced Certificate Program Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited school or equivalent master's RN license-qualifying degree in nursing
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Minimum grade of C in undergraduate statistics
  • RN licensure from New York State
  • One year of clinical experience

AcademicsLink to section

RequirementsLink to section

Graduate study at the University of Rochester School of Nursing integrates nursing practice, education, and research. The curriculum for the master’s degree program includes professional advanced-practice nursing core courses and clinical specialty courses. The professional core courses provide common substantive areas of study for students. Clinical specialty courses provide specialty-specific, in-depth areas for study, including clinical and experiential learning experiences.

Graduate Course TitlesLink to section

  • NLX 421: Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology for Nurse Leaders and Educators
  • NLX 422: Health Assessment for Nurse Leaders and Educators
  • NUR 467: Population Health in Theory and Practice
  • NLX 470: Foundations of Health Care Leadership
  • NLX 473: Health Care Financial Management
  • NLX 475: Leadership in Clinical Nursing
  • NLX 476: Clinical Nurse Leader Immersion Experience
  • NLX 485: Clinical Nurse Leader Capstone
  • NLX 401: Foundations of Scholarly Writing for Healthcare Professionals
  • NLX 420: Theory and Evidence Based Practice for Nurse Educators and Nurse Leaders
  • NUR 564: Quality, Safety, and Informatics