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Master of Science—Clinical Nurse Leader

The clinical nurse leader (C.N.L.) master's program option prepares graduates as leaders in the nursing care of clients in a variety of care settings. The C.N.L., with a broad-based graduate nursing education, oversees the care management and coordination of a distinct group of clients–individuals, families, or populations. The C.N.L. actively provides direct care in complex situations. This clinician puts evidence-based practice into action to ensure that clients benefit from the latest innovations in care delivery. The C.N.L. evaluates client outcomes, assesses patients’ risks, and functions as part of an interdisciplinary team by communicating, planning, and implementing care directly with other healthcare professionals.

The C.N.L. master's program option incorporates professional standards and guidelines from the Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing (AACN, 2011), and the Competencies and Curricular Expectations for Clinical Nurse Leader Education and Practice (AACN, 2013), in preparation of the curriculum and evaluation of outcomes.

All clinical nurse leader students are required to complete a scholarly project designed to meet AACN clinical nurse leader education and practice competencies, including but not limited to clinician, educator, risk anticipator and team manager. The project is designed to facilitate evidence-based organizational change identified through a systematic assessment of the microsystem. Projects integrate best practices, principles of effective leadership and negotiation skills, use of information systems to evaluate patient outcomes, and theories of organizational behavior in the design of the project. Examples of student projects may include evaluating and/or modifying current practice standards, increasing clinical application of evidence-based interventions, or adapting or designing a research based intervention. Students will develop, implement and evaluate the C.N.L. project in the last two clinical practica courses in the second year of the program.

C.N.L. Program Goals

The goals of the C.N.L. master's program option reflect the mission of the School of Nursing with the focus on providing and managing quality and effective care at the point of care to individuals, clinical populations and communities. The goals, competencies, and outcomes are in alignment with professional nursing standards and guidelines.

The goals of the C.N.L. master's program option are to graduate advanced generalist nurses who:

  1. Demonstrate leadership in the healthcare delivery system by effecting change through knowledge, advocacy and effective communication to achieve quality client outcomes and lateral integration of care for a cohort of clients;
  2. Practice as care environment managers delegating and effectively using systems assessment, nursing, and interdisciplinary team resources and information systems and technology to improve healthcare outcomes, quality and safety at the point of care;
  3. Manage clinical outcomes for a group of patients through advanced nursing practice utilizing designed care, evidence-based guidelines, and quality care standards, and use of best practices to facilitate client and provider teaching and learning.

C.N.L. Admission Requirements

  1. School of Nursing Graduate Applicant Personal Essay
  2. Current Resume
  3. Three recommendation forms and letters
  4. Official transcripts (from all previously attended academic institutions)
  5. A bachelor of science degree in nursing or its equivalent from an accredited college or university recognized by the University of Portland
  6. A bachelor of science degree in nursing from a school of nursing accredited by an appropriate national nursing accrediting body
  7. Cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale) in a bachelor of science degree in nursing.
  8. Graduate Record Examination (G.R.E.) verbal score of 150 or above (500 or above if exam was completed prior to August 1, 2011) and an analytical writing score of 3.5 or above. Applicants with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.5 or above in a bachelor of science degree in nursing or a master's degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the University of Portland are not required to submit G.R.E. scores.
  9. College level statistics course with a grade of B or better within three years of acceptance into the program
  10. Current unencumbered R.N. license to practice nursing in state of residence.  R.N. license in Oregon is encouraged. Additional costs may be incurred for clinical placements outside of Oregon.
  11. Preference is given to Oregon and Washington residents with at least two years experience as a RN 
  12. An admission interview upon request of the School of Nursing

Degree Requirements

Clinical Nurse Leader Program of Study

NRS 004Integrative Health Colloquium I

0
NRS 014Integrative Health Colloquium II

0
NRS 006Integrative Health Colloquium III

0
NRS 504/NRS 604Nursing Science for Advanced Practice

3
NRS 505/NRS 605Analytical Methods for Practice Improvement

3
NRS 506/NRS 606Quality Improvement Processes for Practice Improvement

3
NRS 514/NRS 614Health Organization Systems & Resource Management

3
NRS 534The Role of the CNL

3
NRS 545Clinical Nurse Leader Scholarly Project I

1
NRS 546Clinical Nurse Leader Scholarly Project II

1
NRS 549/NRS 649Policy and Politics for the Nurse Leader

2
NRS 550/NRS 650Informatics in a Complex Healthcare Environment

2
NRS 551/NRS 651Clinical Prevention and Population Health

3
NRS 557Pathophysiology and Pharmacology: Illness Trajectory and Symptom Control

2
NRS 558Assessment of Health Within Illness

1
NRS 593Clinical Nurse Leader as Practice I

3
NRS 595Clinical Nurse Leader as Practice II

3
NRS 596Clinical Nurse Leader Residency

6

Total Credit Hours: 39

Program of study includes 500 clinical hours.

Total Credit Hours: 39