Degrees and Requirements
Master of Science in Nursing - Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program builds on the knowledge and competencies of baccalaureate education. Graduate courses focus on the development of scholarly, critical thinkers and leaders who develop the skills necessary to transform knowledge into advanced practice.
The Master of Science in Nursing program (MSN) is accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
MSN Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)
The 42-credit on-line graduate program* prepares students for an advanced practice role across the continuum of care within any healthcare setting. The program requires 400 practicum hours in the healthcare setting. The CNL was developed by AACN in collaboration with leaders from healthcare practice and education to address the critical need to improve the quality of patient care outcomes.
The CNL is a Master’s prepared nurse and an advanced generalist who provides care at the point of care to patients, families, and communities. CNLs are responsible for management and coordination of comprehensive client care and function primarily in the microsystem.
The CNL is a leader in the healthcare delivery system in all settings in which healthcare is delivered. CNL practice will vary across settings. The CNL is not one of administration or management. The CNL assumes accountability for patient-care outcomes through the assimilation and application of evidence-based information to design, implement, and evaluate patient-care processes and models of care delivery. The CNL is a provider and manager of care at the point of care to individuals and cohorts of patients anywhere healthcare is delivered.
* International students must meet the on-campus component for this program.
Summary of Requirements
YEAR ONE - FALL SEMESTER: 9 credits
NURG5002RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE BASED
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course is designed to provide the student with knowledge about the interaction of theory and research for the acquisition of knowledge and advancing nursing practice. The course will focus on the value of scientific evidence and nursing as a discipline as the basis for providing quality care and improving nursing practice. This course provides the opportunity for the student to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to critically evaluate nursing reasearch and evidence-based practice. Emphasis is on exploring the entire research process.
PREREQUISITES:
Graduate Nursing Students Only
NURG5004THEORY AND ROLE DEVELOPMENT
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course provides the foundation for advanced nursing practice. Students are introduced to theories from nursing, natural, social, biological, and organizational sciences to frame their future practice. Key concepts are presented regarding leadership, adult learning, communication, professionalism, human diversity, and transition of the nurse to the nursing practice role.
PREREQUISITES:
Graduate Nursing Students Only
NURG5006HEALTHCARE DELIVERY SYSTEMS
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course focuses on three main areas of the healthcare delivery system: healthcare economics (payers, providers, consumers, value based purchasing), health informatics (management of health data to improve aspects of health outcomes such as cost, quality, safety and satisfaction), and quality care and patient outcomes (as defined by various agencies and regulatory bodies such as NDNQI, AHRQ, CSM and private payers). The synthesis of these three important concepts will provide a foundation for the advanced practice nurse to make clinical decisions and to improve patient care and outcomes.
PREREQUISITES:
Graduate Nursing Students Only
YEAR ONE - SPRING SEMESTER: 10 credits
NURG5007ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course provides the opportunity for students to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in the pharmacologic treatment of commonly encountered health problems. The role of the advanced practice nurse in collaboration with health team members in providing safe and effective drug therapy will be explored. Principle of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenetics, and pharmacogenomics as well as adverse drug reactions will be incorporated in the decision-making process to assess and monitor drug therapy and to teach patients safe and effective medication administration. The effects of culture, ethnicity, age, pregnancy, gender and economics on pharmacologic therapy will be emphasized. Assessment of the use of herbal and nutritional supplements, nutraceutical, and over-the-counter drugs on prescribed therapies will be addressed. In addition, current issues in drug therapy will be discussed such as the role of the advanced practice nurse in the current opioid epidemic and the use of medical marijuana.
PREREQUISITES:
Graduate Nursing Students Only
NURG5009ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course focuses on the analysis of pathophysiologic and psychologic processes and concepts that serve as the foundation for clinical assessment and pharmacological management of patients with common disease states across the lifespan. The advanced practice nurse will interpret the results of diagnostic and laboratory tests used to diagnose and to monitor changes in selected pathophysiologic and psychologic conditions. The student is guided in assessing the influence of genetics, lifestyle, culture, gender, age, and economic status on the etiology and progression of selected pathophysiologic and psychologic alterations. In addition, current issues related to selected pathophysiologic and psychologic conditions are explored.
PREREQUISITES:
Graduate Nursing Students Only
NURG5023FOUNDATIONS FOR CLINICAL NURSE
Credits (Min/Max): 4/4
PREREQUISITE: NURG5002, NURG5004, NURG5006 (ALL WITH GRADE OF B OR BETTER) As the first of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) specialization courses, this course provides the student with foundational knowledge of the CNL role and core competencies. Principles of population health management are applied to cohorts of patients, while simultaneously addressing individual needs. This course requires 30 hours in the practicum setting.
PREREQUISITES:
Graduate Nursing Students Only
YEAR ONE - SUMMER SEMESTER: 8 credits
NURG5012HEALTH CARE POLICY AND GLOBAL
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course focuses on healthcare policy in the United States. Students critically examine the national health care agenda and nursing’s role in relation to the health of the nation, global health, and global health policy. Federal, state, and local political structure and function are examined along with the hierarchy of political involvement, interest groups and lobbyists, advocacy strategies and ethical issues and the public policy process. An overview of health care finance as it relates to health care systems/services is presented and strategies for influencing the regulatory process will be explored.
PREREQUISITES:
Graduate Nursing Students Only
NURG5025CLINICAL NURSE LEADER
Credits (Min/Max): 5/5
PREREQUISITE: NURG5002, NURG5006, NURG5004, NURG5023 (ALL WITH GRADE OF B OR BETTER) This course provides the student the opportunity to apply theory in a practicum setting. Faculty and preceptor(s) provide guidance to the student for Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) role identification through experiences within a healthcare setting, where concepts from Foundations of the CNL Role are integrated in real-world opportunities. This course requires 150 hours in a practicum setting.
PREREQUISITES:
Graduate Nursing Students Only & NURG5023
YEAR TWO - FALL SEMESTER: 7 credits
NURG5017COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course focuses on performing a comprehensive health assessment on patients throughout the lifespan and communicating the assessment findings to members of the multi-disciplinary health care team. The course builds on knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment skills previously attained in undergraduate nursing education. Emphasis is placed on the collection, interpretation, and synthesis of relevant historical, genetic, biological, cultural, psychosocial and physical data for the development of a comprehensive and holistic health assessment. Evidence based practice concepts related to health promotion/disease prevention are applied. Diagnostic reasoning skills are developed to determine health and risk status, develop health promotion/disease prevention strategies, and establish priorities of care. This course will incorporate 30 hours of clinical experience with a preceptor focusing on health assessment.
PREREQUISITES:
Graduate Nursing Students Only
NURG5027ROLE OF THE CLINICAL NURSE
Credits (Min/Max): 4/4
PREREQUISITE: NURG5023, GRADE OF B OR BETTER This course provides a comprehensive analysis of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) as the advanced generalist within the healthcare microsystem. The course focuses on integration of the Clinical Nurse Leader competencies. Application of evidence-based practice and effective management of quality data to optimize outcomes will be discussed. This course requires 45 hours in a practicum setting.
PREREQUISITES:
Graduate Nursing Students Only
YEAR TWO - SPRING SEMESTER: 8 credits
NURG5029CLINICAL NURSE LEADER PRACTICUM
Credits (Min/Max): 5/5
PREREQUISITE: NURG5025 ( WITH GRADE OF B OR BETTER) This course provides the student the opportunity to integrate competencies of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) in a practice setting. The student assumes responsibility for the delivery of cost-effective quality care through evidence based practice to design, implement, and evaluate patient-care processes. apply theory in a practicum setting. In addition, preparation for the CNL certification exam will be emphasized. This course requires 150 hours in a practicum setting.
PREREQUISITES:
Graduate Nursing Students Only & NURG5025
NURG6000CAPSTONE SCHOLARLY EXPERIENCE
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: NURG5002 (WITH GRADE OF B OR BETTER) This course provides an opportunity for students to apply theoretical concepts and skills gained from the MSN program to develop a capstone project or paper specific to their advanced nursing practice focus. Students demonstrate competence through writing and presentation of an evidence based or scholarly project. The student is assisted in the preparation of a project specific to nursing practice, administration or education.
PREREQUISITES:
Graduate Students Only & NURG5002