Master of Science in Nursing – Clinical Nurse Leader Curriculum

The LECOM Master of Science in Nursing – Clinical Nurse Leader (MSN-CNL) Program is comprised of 16 online modules for a total of 45 credit hours. The didactic curriculum is divided into three sections which include: Essential Core, Clinical Core, and Specialization Core. In the full-time semester program sequence, students will take 3-4 courses each semester, for a total of 4 semesters of study over 2 academic years,with summers off. For the 8-week term plan, students may take 2 courses each term, and complete the program in 2.5 years, completing all coursework and clinical hours through the entire calendar year, including summers.

Within the coursework, students will be completing clinical leadership hours at their place of employment, or at one of LECOM’s Clinical Affiliates most convenient to the student, with a preceptor for a total of 500 clinical hours, as required for certification as a Clinical Nurse Leader by the Commission on Nurse Certification (CCNE), which is an autonomous arm of the AACN (American Association of Colleges of Nursing).

Along with the completion of coursework, students will complete a Clinical Nurse Leader Capstone Project that will serve as an applied evidence-based project prior to the completion of the degree program. Students will complete the Capstone Project, which will include completion of a Project Proposal, IRB proposal, and the final Project Defense. Each student will be responsible for submitting an abstract that is accepted by a Professional Nursing Research Organization National Conference and deliver either a poster or podium presentation at the conference. To complete the requirements for dissemination of findings, a manuscript of the Capstone Final Paper must be submitted for publication prior to graduation. Acceptance of the paper for publications is not a requirement for graduation.

All courses must be passed with 80% or greater for all sections of the program to continue forward as a student in good standing, progressing toward graduation. See the Graduate Nursing Course Catalog for more information regarding grading for the Nursing Graduate Program.

Full Time Semester 8-Week Program Sequence Option (2.5 full years)

Year One

Semester 1 (Fall) – 6 credit hours
NRS 5000 Nursing Theory for Clinical Nurse Leaders
NRS 5015 Ethical and Legal Considerations in Nursing Practice and Management
Semester 2 (Spring) – 6 credit hours
NRS 5020  Nursing Informatics and Navigating EMR as Clinical Nurse Leader
NRS 5010 Nursing Economics, Policy, and Finance
Year Two Semester 3 (Summer) – 6 credit hours
NRS 5025 Research Design, Methodology, and Advanced Statistical Analysis
NRS 5030 Advanced Pathology
Semester 4 (Fall) – 5 credit hours
NRS 5055 Nursing Leadership and Healthcare Policy Administration
NRS-P
5075
Practicum I for NRS 5055
Year
Three
Semester 5 (Spring) – 6 credit hours
NRS 5035 Pharmacology for Advanced Nursing Practice
NRS 5040 Advanced Physical Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice
Semester 6 (Summer) – 5 credit hours
NRS 5065 Improving Health Outcomes and Health Systems Management
NRS-P 5070 Practicum II for NRS 5065
 

 

Year
Four

 

 

 

Semester 7 (Fall) – 5 credit hours
NRS 5075 The Role of the CNL in Population Health Management and Community Health Promotion
NRS-P 5080 Practicum III for NRS 5075
Semester 8 (Spring) – 6 credit hours
NRS 5050  The Advanced Practice Nursing Role of CNL in Healthcare Leadership and Interpersonal Collaboration
NRS 5090 CNL Capstone Project