MSN, Clinical Nurse Leader

Evolving health care needs have necessitated an increase of nurses prepared at the master's level, and the CNL degree is a nationally recognized and fast-growing role for nurses who want to be better clinicians. Lander's online CNL degree program prepares nurses for advanced integration of evidence-based and outcomes-based practice.

Clinical nurse leaders work to improve the quality of care in a variety of settings. They serve as advanced practitioners who are able to understand - and respond to - the complexity of patients and health care delivery.

Most importantly, clinical nurse leaders are able to coordinate direct care activities that have a positive impact upon patients and clients within a health care system.

The American Association of Colleges of Nurses (AACN) states that the CNL can also function in roles such as:

• Microsystems-Level Advocacy
• Centralized Care Coordinator
• Outcomes Management
• Risk Assessment
• Quality Improvement
• Interprofessional Communication

An online graduate application must be completed and all supporting documents should be returned to the Office of Admissions at least seven days prior to the term or semester in which admission is requested. Only after these credentials have been received can the Graduate Admissions Committee consider the application. No single criterion is decisive; each item is considered in relation to the applicant’s total qualifications. 

All graduate students are reviewed for initial admission based on the following:
Applicants for the CNL program are required to apply to Lander University and to the School of Nursing. Copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts are required. Other admission criteria include:

• Graduate of a baccalaureate nursing program accredited by National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) 
• Overall grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 on 4.0 scaled on baccalaureate course work 
• Current unencumbered South Carolina Registered Nurse or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse License 
• Satisfactory criminal background check, drug screen and physical examination certifying applicant’s ability to complete clinical requirements 
• Completion of undergraduate statistics course with a grade of C or higher

Applicant Forms

• Graduate Application
• Graduate Recommendation Form
• Update Application

For additional application and admission requirements, please contact the School of Nursing, 864-388-8337, or Office of Admissions, 1-888-4-LANDER.

Note: The information below provides convenient links to some of the courses required for this degree; however, it should not be used as a course registration guide. Please refer to the official Lander University Academic Catalog for the most accurate and up-to-date program requirements.

*A minimum of 500 hours of clinical practice are required in the Clinical Nurse Leader Program
+On-campus Immersion

Clinical Requirements:
A total of 500 clinical hours is required and is incorporated in two courses. A hallmark of CNL preparation is a clinical immersion experience that provides a large portion of the clinical requirements across a semester. Clinical placement will be coordinated to be convenient to a student's geographic location, if appropriate.

The master's level NEC is designed for nurses interested in teaching in an academic setting or the care delivery environment as a clinical educator. In addition to the CNL core courses, students in the NEC complete three education courses (NUR 631, 641, and 661) and faculty-designed practice experiences, which may include precepted experiences with faculty oversight and/or experiences with direct faculty supervision. In addition, according to the AACN Essentials, students must complete a minimum of 500 practice hours in the discipline of nursing as a demonstration of advanced-level sub-competencies.

Note: The information below provides convenient links to some of the courses required for this degree; however, it should not be used as a course registration guide. Please refer to the official Lander University Academic Catalog for the most accurate and up-to-date program requirements.

*A minimum of 500 hours of clinical practice are required in the Clinical Nurse Leader Program
+On-campus Immersion

Clinical Requirements:
A total of 500 clinical hours is required and is incorporated in two courses. A hallmark of CNL preparation is a clinical immersion experience that provides a large portion of the clinical requirements across a semester. Clinical placement will be coordinated to be convenient to a student's geographic location, if appropriate.

The master’s level NLAC extends the reach of the CNL and is designed for nurses interested in mesosystem and macrosystem level nursing administration. In addition to the CNL core courses, students in the NLAC complete four courses offered through Lander’s College of Business (COB) and nursing faculty-designed practice experiences, which may include precepted experiences with faculty oversight and/or experiences with direct faculty supervision. According to the AACN Essentials, students must complete a minimum of 500 practice hours in the discipline of nursing as a demonstration of advanced-level sub-competencies. 

Note: The information below provides convenient links to some of the courses required for this degree; however, it should not be used as a course registration guide. Please refer to the official Lander University Academic Catalog for the most accurate and up-to-date program requirements.

*A minimum of 500 hours of clinical practice are required in the Clinical Nurse Leader Program
+On-campus Immersion

Clinical Requirements:
A total of 500 clinical hours is required and is incorporated in two courses. A hallmark of CNL preparation is a clinical immersion experience that provides a large portion of the clinical requirements across a semester. Clinical placement will be coordinated to be convenient to a student's geographic location, if appropriate.

• MSN-CNL Policy and Procedure Manual (PDF)
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

For more information about the program or assistance with the application procedure, please submit a Request for Information.