Clinical Nurse Leader, Master of Science in Nursing

 

School of Nursing 3008 Human Health Building  (map) (248) 370-4253 • Fax (248) 364-8740 www.oakland.edu/nursing    Program Contact: Claudia Grobbel 3038 Human Health Building (248) 364-8722 cgrobbel@oakland.edu

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Program description

The Master of Science in Nursing: Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) degree prepares professional nurses for advanced nursing practice, leadership, and quality care outcomes in the nursing profession and future doctoral study.

 The OU School of Nursing’s CNL prepares the professional nurse to be a clinical leader at the point of care with a focus on care coordination, risk assessment, quality improvement, outcomes evaluation, communication and leadership, interprofessional, team, and evidence-based practice.  Graduates of the CNL program are able to practice across the continuum of care in any healthcare setting. A CNL nurse is prepared to be a leader in evidence-based practice, clinical outcomes, and quality management. CNLs are prepared with knowledge and skills that drive change at any level of care.   The focus of the CNL role is to improve care wherever care is provided.  CNLs are leaders demonstrating significant improvement in quality outcomes, patient satisfaction, and financial improvement. 

This 36-credit online program includes 19 credits of core graduate classes and 17 credits of CNL specialty courses. Students will take courses in Leadership and Systems Health Policy, Economics & Finance for the Nurse Leader, and Organizational Theory & Quality Management. Students also complete 400 hours of clinical practice in their final practicum. This program is designed to be completed in 5 semesters.

Master’s program outcomes

Building on the foundation of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program will prepare graduates as transformational leaders with advanced nursing knowledge and practice expertise for optimizing health outcomes. (Essential IX)

The MSN program prepares graduates to:

1. Integrate theories and scientific findings from nursing, biopsychosocial fields, genetics, public health, and organizational sciences using translational processes to improve evidence-based nursing practice across diverse settings. (Essentials I & IV, VIII, IX)
2. Describe concepts from organizational leadership, systems leadership, and information technology in the promotion of quality improvement and safety. (Essentials II, III, V, IX)
3. Synthesize requisite knowledge of legal and regulatory processes, health policy, ethics, and advocacy to improve health outcomes of diverse populations at the organizational, local, state, and federal level. (Essentials IV, VI, VIII, IX)
4. Formulate intra/interprofessional collaborative strategies integral to the design and delivery of evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention interventions to improve health outcomes in individuals, families, communities, and populations. (Essentials IV, VII, VIII, IX)
5. Integrate professional standards and guidelines in the provision of nursing practice in a specialty area. (Essentials IX)

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in NursingCAS by the deadline listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

All applicants to this program are admitted for the fall semester only. The application deadlines are:

• Fall Semester - February 15th (early): April 15th (regular): July 15th (late). All applications completed by July 15th will be considered for admission to the following Fall Semester.
• International students: April 15th for admission to the following Fall Semester (see additional requirements below)

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines.

Applicants do not submit an online Oakland University Graduate Application.  A completed application and required materials must be submitted through the Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS). 

Additional Department Application Requirements Submitted through NursingCAS

• Applicants for admission to the Master of Science in Nursing program must have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with an overall undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above from an institution accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
• Proof of a current unrestricted Registered Nurse license in the United States or its territories.
• A minimum of one year of clinical experience as an R.N. (at the start of the program) is preferred during which time the applicant must have functioned as an independent decision-maker and demonstrated advanced psychomotor skills.
• Two (2) Recommendations must be completed by healthcare professionals in clinical nursing, leadership, administration/management, or education and are able to attest to the applicant’s nursing skills and/or abilities. One reference must be from a colleague who is familiar with the applicant’s work.
• Professional statement of 500 to 1,000 words. The professional statement should focus on the applicant’s reason for seeking formal nursing education, how recent clinical experience has prepared them for clinical leadership nursing practice, and career goals after program completion. The professional statement will be evaluated on content and appropriate use of grammar, style, spelling, and rhetoric.

International Students

• International students are encouraged to contact The Graduate School (www.oakland.edu/grad) to determine what additional documentation is required for admission eligibility.

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate school at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Oakland University Graduate School, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, professional statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses, and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

Qualified applicants may be selected for an individual interview with a School of Nursing faculty. The interview will be scheduled after all application materials have been submitted.

Related links

• Readmission (not enrolled for two years)     
• Transferring to Oakland University    
• Transferring to a new program