Clinical Nurse Leader Post-Master’s Certificate

***While we reimagine this program, we are not currently accepting applications. We encourage you to explore similar programs, including the MSN: Nursing Education, MS: Quality, Safety and Risk Management, MSN: Quality, Safety, and Risk Management, MSN: Undeclared, and Certificate in Healthcare Simulation.***

Drexel’s accredited online Clinical Nurse Leader Post-Master's Certificate is for nurses who already have their MSN but want to prepare for this evolving specialist role. Clinical Nurse Leaders practice across the continuum of care within any healthcare setting. They are accountable for outcomes of care and integration of healthcare services, and function as a resource for a nursing team.

This Post-Master's Clinical Nurse Leader Certificate focuses on building key competencies so that graduates may pursue Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) certification through the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). It offers a holistic curriculum that explores the use of technology, customization of care, measurement of outcomes, and more.

Clinical Nurse Leader Post-Master’s Certificate Program at a Glance

• 25.5 quarter credits (the equivalent of 17 semester credits)
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited program
• Flexible scheduling of clinical practicum in a variety of settings
• Prepares you to sit for the national CNL exam through the Commission on Nurse Certification
• Drexel’s Clinical Nurse Leader Post-Master’s Certificate is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
• You will learn from experienced and board-certified faculty from Drexel's acclaimed College of Nursing and Health Professions
• A highly interactive online learning method that challenges and engages
• The format is convenient for working nurses
• Flexible scheduling of clinical practicum in a variety of settings

What is CNL Certification?

CNL certification is a credential for graduates of master's and post-master's Clinical Nurse Leader programs.

It is a type of rubber stamp awarded by a non-governmental agency to CNLs who meet pre-defined standards. These include showing the skills and knowledge to apply best practices in a quality-driven and safety-focused context.

The Clinical Nurse Leader Certification Exam is managed by the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC), a branch of the AACN. Per the AACN, the credential inspires credibility and confidence.

Will Drexel’s Clinical Nurse Leader Program Prepare Me For CNL Certification?

Drexel University is proud to be listed as an eligible CNL education program by the Commission on Nurse Certification. The curriculum in the online Clinical Nurse Leader Post-Master’s Certificate is designed to prepare you to sit for the National CNL exam.

Throughout the Program, You Will Learn To:

• Use tools to assess risk
• Apply evidence-based knowledge and analysis of outcomes to design and redesign client care
• Develop and monitor disease management programs that promote healthy lifestyles
• Manage and build partnerships with other healthcare professionals
• Understand healthcare reimbursement
• Navigate issues in planning care across the lifespan as well as understand financial and economic concerns
• Utilize epidemiological methodology to collect data and gain the knowledge necessary to plan community health promotion programs

Residency On-Campus Requirement

To help you prepare for your clinical practicum experience, you’ll participate in an exciting short two day on-campus residency. Utilizing Drexel’s state-of-the-art simulation lab, you’ll have the opportunity to build proficiency, develop hands-on experience, and practice your recently acquired quality, safety, and risk management skills during case studies designed specifically for your potential new roles.

Given the current pandemic, we are temporarily conducting the on-campus experience virtually via Zoom. We will continually monitor the situation to determine when we can bring students to campus again.

Clinical Practicum

A key component of the clinical nurse leader online certificate program is the required clinical practicum. The practicum requires a total of 400 hours and is divided between three quarters. Each practicum quarter is offered once per year and each practicum quarter requires a specific number of hours. These experiences provide the opportunity to deepen your clinical skills. At the same time, you will able to develop extra competencies relating to the management of clients’ healthcare needs at the point-of-care. Precepted clinical experiences will include activities such as:

• Modeling of care
• Assessment and evaluation of aggregate patient outcomes
• Case management and service integration
• Unit and interdisciplinary team leadership
• Teaching and mentoring of staff

Post-Master’s Options as a Clinical Nurse Leader

A Clinical Nurse Leader Post-Master's Certificate and CNL certification may help you pursue new nursing career opportunities. As the newest nursing role to be created in the last 30 years, Clinical Nurse Leaders earn from $52,000 to $106,000 per year with the average salary at $76,988.

While the role is evolving in the broader field of nursing, per the AACN, over 90% of CNLs report being valued as employees because of their new knowledge and abilities. About 97% also say they are able to apply their CNL competencies into their current role.

Related Programs

• MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader
• MSN: Leadership in Health Systems Management
• DNP

Questions? We're here to help!

For application related questions:
enroll@drexel.edu

For program related questions:
College of Nursing and Health Professions Program Team
CNHPGraduateDivision@drexel.edu

State restrictions may apply to some programs.
The Clinical Nurse Leader Post-Masters Certificate program at Drexel University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.