![[ Visit Client Website ]](images/banner.gif)
Background: The Clinical Nurse Leader’s (CNL) role is increasingly valued and desired in U.S. healthcare systems, and abroad (Murphy, 2014). This is primarily due to the ability of the CNL to transform healthcare delivery, and improve outcomes (Harris, Roussel, & Thomas, 2014). However, there is a shortage of qualified CNL faculty and the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC) has extended the faculty certification deadline through 2016 (AACN, 2014). The purpose of this project was to promote qualified nursing faculty to gain in depth understanding of the assumption of the CNL role in theory and clinical practice.
Program: A seven-day CNL certification review seminar for qualified nursing faculty was developed in partnership with Saint Anthony College of Nursing and Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois, and Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The theoretical components of the curriculum included nursing leadership, clinical outcomes management, care environment management, evidence-based-practice, and case studies. The clinical immersion experience was coordinated through nursing administration at Saint Joseph Mercy Ann Hospital.
Outcome: A total of 10 participants joined the CNL immersion and certification seminar. This included seven qualified nursing faculty form Japan, one nursing faculty from the U.S., and two CNL students. 2) The clinical immersion experience occurred in a mature location where the CNL role had been fully operationalized. 3) The immersion created opportunity for CNLs to disseminate critical outcomes achieved through microsystem leadership at Saint Joseph Mercy Ann. 4) A total of 21 Continuing Education credits were provided to the seminar participants. 5) Strong collaborative partnership development between two different health systems served to promote and facilitate faculty CNL certification, implementation, integration, and clinical practice.
Recommendation: CNL faculty preparation for CNL certification should involve clinical immersion with an institution where the CNL role is fully incorporated. This fosters deeper understanding of the integration and clinical practice of CNL’s at the microsystem level through clinical immersion. Partnerships between higher education and clinical settings are imperative to enhance the understanding of content delivered didactically.