Mar 17, 2026  
2026-2027 Graduate Catalog 
    
2026-2027 Graduate Catalog

Clinical Nurse Leader, PGC


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Post-Graduate Certificate •

The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) concentration is designed to prepare registered nurses for advanced nursing practice with a focus on care coordination, quality improvement, and patient-centered leadership. Students develop the skills to lead interdisciplinary teams, apply evidence-based practices, and improve outcomes through data-informed decision-making. CNLs serve a vital role in clinical micro systems, integrating clinical expertise with leadership to enhance care delivery. This program supports nurses in becoming effective change agents, advancing both individual and population health. Graduates are eligible to sit for the AACN Commission on Nurse Certification Clinical Nurse Leader exam and are well-prepared to lead care improvement initiatives in hospitals, clinics, community health centers, and public health organizations.

Learning Outcomes


1. Synthesize concepts and theories from nursing and related disciplines to deliver ethically based, person-centered care to individuals, families, and populations within an evolving health care environment.

2. Integrate scholarship and clinical judgment, based on best evidence, to design, coordinate, and evaluate the delivery of person-centered care to individuals, families, and populations.

3. Integrate current and emerging health and information technologies effectively into one’s practice to enhance health outcomes of individuals, families and populations in a complex healthcare environment.

4. Collaborate effectively within an inter-professional context to improve the delivery of care across the healthcare continuum.

5. Apply organizational and systems leadership strategies in an evolving healthcare system to promote scholarship that translates into high-quality and safe patient care environments.

6. Advocate for policies at the local, state, and national levels to impact social determinants of health, reduce health care disparities, and advance the profession of nursing.

7. Demonstrate beginning competency in an advanced nursing role, including ongoing professional development, reflective self-care, emotional intelligence and cognitive flexibility.

Capstone - 1 Credit


Total Credits: 27


Recommended Program Sequence(s):


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