Master of Science Program - Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Program - Online

The Master of Science Program in Nursing builds on previous nursing education and clinical experience to prepare students for an advanced-education nurse generalist role in a variety of healthcare settings and to lay a foundation for doctoral education.

The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) master’s concentration prepares nurse leaders who design, provide, manage, and coordinate health promotion, risk reduction, disease prevention, and illness management services to individuals and clinical populations.

The CNL is accountable for the application of research-based information and the efficient and cost-effective use of resources to improve clinical and environmental care outcomes and effect change in health care organizations.

The graduate is prepared to lead both interdisciplinary and interdisciplinary health care teams, and to function across all clinical settings in order to meet the demands of a complex care delivery system.

This program addresses the competencies and knowledge specified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) for Master’s Education and for the specific Clinical Nurse Leader focus. The College of Nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The graduate is prepared to take the CNL certification examination prepared by the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC) through AACN.

The CNL program is a distance-accessible program offered with coursework predominantly online. All coursework is offered through Continuing and Professional Education (CPE): www.umassulearn.net.

Program Objectives

At the completion of the program the graduate will be prepared to:

1. Implement the CNL role in a variety of clinical settings.

2. Apply advanced knowledge (pharmacology, patho-physiology, health assessment) and core competencies (critical thinking, communication, nursing technology/resources) to the development and evaluation of a plan of care for individuals or populations at the point of care.

3. Assume accountability for the efficient and cost effective use of human, environmental, and national resources by applying principles of healthcare policy, finance, economics, and ethics to care delivery.

4. Integrate knowledge of informatics, human diversity, and ethics to address and manage variation in population outcomes and ensure culturally relevant care.

5. Implement evidence-based practices and professional standards of care to effect change in healthcare organizations and improve outcomes of care.

6. Apply principles of leadership and collaboration to improve the health outcomes of individuals and clinical populations.

7. Improve clinical practice and optimize healthcare outcomes through use of information systems and other technologies.

8. Advocate for the client, interdisciplinary care team, and profession in legislative and regulatory arenas.

Admission Criteria

Applicants to the CNL program must meet the entrance requirements of the University of Massachusetts Graduate School. Each applicant must be a graduate of a nationally accredited school of nursing and hold a current professional license.

Applicants must present evidence of the following: Official transcripts from colleges/universities attended, Baccalaureate or master’s degree in nursing, or an associate degree in nursing and a non-nursing baccalaureate degree, GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher, two letters of recommendation, scholarly writing sample, Statement of professional goals, current Resume or CV, documentation of professional licensure and certifications, evidence of completion of undergraduate statistics and health assessment course or equivalent if required by specialty, and TOEFL scores (if needed).

Application Deadline is December 15th each year however; applications will be reviewed until program reaches set capacity.  Apply online through the University Graduate School at www.umass.edu/gradschool.

Course Requirements

The M.S./C.N.L. concentration requires completion of 37 credit hours of coursework. Selected courses include practicum/project hours. The curriculum consists of 27 didactic credit hours, 10 practicum credit hours (4:1 ratio; 56 contact hours per one credit hour totals 560 contact hours).

Credit Transfer

Students who have taken non-degree courses at the University of Massachusetts Amherst may transfer a maximum of six credits hours from these courses. Up to six additional credits may be transferred from institutions other than the University of Massachusetts Amherst. These courses must have been taken within the last three years and a grade of B or better achieved. The completion of graduate courses taken as a non-degree student does not guarantee admission into the program. Students admitted and matriculated into the program may enroll in all courses; non-degree students may enroll on a space-available basis and by consent of the instructor. Only matriculated students may enroll in the clinical practicum.

Further information may be obtained from: Cynthia Mendoza, CNL Program Office, College of Nursing, 026 Skinner Hall, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-0420, tel. (413) 577-2322 or cmendoza@nursing.umass.edu.