Clinical Management
Program
- Scope of Practice
Scope of Practice
Both the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) provide care in a variety of health care settings, including acute, outpatient, community, school and home. Both function as clinical experts in designing, providing, coordinating and managing care of patients and their families. The CNL and CNS also use knowledge of their health care organizations to develop, coordinate and implement evidence-based policies and procedures. In addition, the CNS is an advanced practice nurse certified in an area of clinical specialty.
Credentials and Certification
Upon graduation, you will be eligible to sit for examination for the applicable certification, and eligible as an advanced practice nurse in the CNS track for prescriptive authority in all 50 states, with restrictions as specified by each state. Visit Credentialing and Certification for specific information.
Functions Performed by the CNL/CNS
Visit the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) comparison table for details about how the CNL and CNS roles are similar and different, and how they complement each other in the health care setting.
