Nursing is a dynamic profession that offers a variety of opportunities to provide direct patient care, conduct research, teach across settings, shape public policy, lead health systems, and practice in an increasing number of innovative ways. One new nursing role that is fast gaining traction in hospitals and health systems nationwide is the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL).

Prepared at the master’s level, CNLs oversee the care coordination for patients, assess risks, develop quality improvement strategies, facilitate team communication, and implement evidence-based solutions at the unit level. Practice sites nationwide are restructuring their systems to accommodate the CNL as a way to engage skilled clinicians in outcomes-based practice and systems redesign. In fact, the Veterans Health Administration, the nation’s largest employer of registered nursing, is moving to introduce CNLs into all of its more than 1,400 medical centers by the year 2016.

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