- Nursing
- Nursing specialties
- Clinical nurse leader
Clinical nurse leader
A clinical nurse leader creates and coordinates long-term care plans for patients and the medical teams they work with.
- X (Twitter)
Copy link
Required education
MSN
Varied
Take on different tasks, patients, and situations every day.
Managerial
Oversee other nurses and help improve healthcare for all.
Research-oriented
Analyze data and discover new ways to help patients.
Patient-facing
Work hands-on, directly with patients.
Structured
Follow a routine that allows you to anticipate and prepare for every situation.
What is the role of a clinical nurse leader?
You’ll focus on improving the quality of patient care by evaluating results and finding ways to introduce the most effective new treatments.
What you’ll do as a clinical nurse leader
Evaluation
You’ll determine the relevance of the latest medical and technological developments.
Management
You’ll oversee and coordinate a patient’s medical team.
Treatment
You’ll prepare long-term care plans for patients.
Where you’ll work as a clinical nurse leader
Clinical nurse leaders work in a variety of settings, including:
- Medical colleges
- Private clinics
- Research facilities
How to become a clinical nurse leader
Get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
When considering a future nursing career, it’s important to explore the different nursing programs available and the paths they offer. With various options like associate degree programs, bachelor’s degree programs, and direct-entry master’s degree programs, prospective students can choose the educational path that best suits their goals and interests.
Pass the NCLEX-RN and work as a Registered Nurse.
The National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) is the all-important step between graduating from nursing school and becoming a nurse. It’s a standardized test, set by the Board of Nursing in each state, that makes sure you have the knowledge and skills you need to work in the field of nursing.
Get your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with advanced courses in Pathophysiology, Clinical Assessment and Pharmacology.
A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) offers advanced courses that will help you develop new skills and move into specialized roles.
Get your Clinical Nurse Leadership Certification from the Commission on Nurse Certifications.
You’re ready to work as a clinical nurse leader!
Clinical nurse leader career resources
Become a member of a clinical nurse leader organization to find career opportunities, learn from your colleagues, and support the profession.
Clinical Nurse Leader Association
Clinical Nurse Leader Association
Related nursing specialties
-
Genetics nurse
A genetics nurse works with people who either have, or are at risk for hereditary diseases such as Alzheimer’s and cancer. -
Quality improvement nurse
A quality improvement nurse helps improve the quality of care that nurses provide in a hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Stories about nurse leading innovation
-
131: AI in Play | The clinicians shaping healthcare technology (part 2)
SEE YOU NOW episode 131, part of our ongoing AI in Play series, features Dominic King, former surgeon and VP of Health at Microsoft AI, discussing how his team scales trusted consumer health tools used in over 50 million daily sessions. -
130: AI in Play | The clinicians shaping healthcare technology (part 1)
As part of our ongoing AI in Play series, host Oriana Beaudet explores how artificial intelligence could reshape a healthcare system strained by workforce shortages and administrative overload. This episode, the first of two on the topic, features nurse leader Mary Varghese-Presti, who discusses co-designing Microsoft’s Dragon Copilot with nurses and shares her vision for how AI can restore dignity and humanity to the profession. -
Insight 24: Nurses moving care from complex to complete
In this SEE YOU NOW Insight, nurse and systems leader Lauren Hardin shares how she built a model of complex care that brings providers together across sectors to serve people whose needs fall through the cracks of fragmented systems.