How to Become a Clinical Nurse Leader

Clinical nurse leaders are responsible for nursing teams, including care quality and patient outcomes. They typically work in hospitals, but may work in other healthcare settings. They lead teams or departments, teach and mentor nurses, and implement nursing policies based on evidence-based practices.

This guide describes how to become a clinical nurse leader. Keep reading to learn about the required education and certification, and what work is like for clinical lead nurses.

Clinical nurse leaders oversee nursing teams or departments and are responsible for coordinating patient care. Clinical lead nurses must have at least a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree to become certified.

Most clinical nurse leaders work in hospitals and health systems, though they may also work in mental health facilities, clinics and urgent care centers, or independent practices. They may work as charge nurses, nursing team leaders, or in other leadership roles. Their responsibilities include team management, mentoring and training, quality assessment and improvement, and strategic planning.

To become a clinical nurse leader, you must become an RN, gain RN experience, earn an MSN and attain certification.

Clinical lead nurses need at least a master’s degree in nursing. Some options include earning a BSN and MSN degree separately or pursuing an RN to MSN bridge program. Students can typically earn an MSN in 2-4 years depending on whether they have RN licensure before beginning the program.

CNL certification, offered by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, is not legally required to work as a clinical lead nurse, but employers may require or strongly prefer it. To earn your certification, you must provide documentation that you meet the application qualifications (an MSN, experience, and an current and unencumbered nursing license) and pass the certification examination. The examination is multiple choice.

Clinical lead nurses are responsible for nursing administration, including budgeting, staffing, and informatics. They are also responsible for strategy, quality assessment and improvement, leadership, and staff development.

In a large hospital or health system, a clinical lead nurse might be responsible for just a particular nursing team or function, while in a smaller setting, such as a clinic, they might be responsible for the entire nursing function.

Salaries for clinical nurse leaders are comparable to other roles that require an MSN. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), reports a median salary of $101,340 for all healthcare managers.

Clinical nurse leaders and clinical nurse specialists both have graduate degrees in nursing and board certification. Yet, clinical nurse leader programs and certification focus on leadership and management, while clinical nurse specialists focus on a particular clinical area, such as geriatrics, palliative care, or emergency care.

Clinical nurse leaders must be detail-oriented, have excellent communication skills, and understand the principles of administration. They must also make evidence-based decisions, motivate and inspire others, and collaborate with different departments and personnel.

Clinical nurse leaders are responsible for leading nursing teams, functions, or departments. They are responsible for nursing quality and outcomes, along with efficiency. They set priorities, lead the implementation of evidence-based practices, analyze outcomes, and adjust nursing practices based on outcomes, and manage staffing.

Clinical nurse leaders typically work in hospitals and health systems, but they can work in any setting where nursing care is provided, such as clinics, military bases, or urgent care centers. They may also lead public health initiatives.

Last reviewed: May 27, 2022