Clinical Nurse Leader (post-BSN to DNP)

Program Description

Program Description

The MSON offers the post-baccalaureate entry to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (post-BSN to DNP. This pathway is designed to provide students the opportunity to assimilate and utilize in-depth knowledge of nursing, biophysical, psychosocial, analytical and organizational sciences, with sophisticated informatics and decision-making technology to develop collaborative strategies that optimize the health of individuals, families, communities and systems. The DNP program curriculum is based upon the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) (2006) Essentials of Doctoral Education and builds upon a foundation of baccalaureate education. Grounded in the Mercy and Jesuit traditions, the DNP program emphasizes the student’s development as an expert clinician with strong leadership capacity, a commitment to service, and skills to act as change agents, translating clinical research into improved health care. 

The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) program prepares nurses for a leadership and support role for the nursing team at the point-of-care. The CNL is educated with a unique blend of knowledge and skills in interprofessional leadership, care coordination, risk anticipation, care process improvement, practice design, information management, advanced clinical problem solving, lateral integration of care, advocacy, collaborative practice, and resource management skills.  This skillset enables CNLs to lead care process development and change that supports highly effective and efficient care delivery specific to the care setting and population being served.  Students develop and demonstrate CNL competencies during a 300-400 hour clinical immersion experience.  Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for national certification as a CNL through the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC). 

The post-BSN to DNP with a major in CNL requires a total of 72 credit hours and 400-500 clinical hours.  A six-credit executive leadership bridge is included in the 72 credits toward the DNP, since the Clinical Nurse Leader major does not include an advanced nursing practice major.

Open All | Close All

  • Ìý

    Program Outcomes

    The following program outcomes will be achieved at completion of the post-BSN to DNP with master’s exit:

    MSN Program Outcomes

    1. Demonstrate professional role practice consistent with the competencies of the unique specialty at the master’s level.
    2. Translate theoretical and conceptual knowledge into advanced nursing practice actions that promote optimal health care quality and patient safety outcomes.
    3. Integrate informatics, health care technology, and interpersonal collaboration in the delivery of person-centered nursing practice for individuals and populations.
    4. Engage in systems leadership with a focus on preventive care, policy development, and patient advocacy.
    5. Integrate the Jesuit and Mercy traditions in providing culturally competent, compassionate, holistic, and person-centered care with a commitment to human dignity in the contemporary world.

    DNP Program Outcomes

    1. Demonstrate professional role practice consistent with the competencies of the Doctor of Nursing Practice.
    2. Formulate innovative theoretical and conceptual frameworks that ensure optimal health care quality and patient safety outcomes.
    3. Translate evidence to produce innovative models of care that integrate informatics, health care technology, and interpersonal collaboration to affect population health, outcomes, and support health care policy initiatives.
    4. Lead health care systems and policy innovation with a focus on preventative care, quality improvement and patient advocacy.
    5. Integrate the Mercy and Jesuit traditions in providing culturally competent, compassionate, holistic and person-centered care with a commitment to human dignity in the contemporary world.
  • Ìý

    Admission Criteria for the post-BSN to DNP Program

    1. A baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally-accredited program.
      • RNs with a baccalaureate degree in another field could qualify for the MSN bridge program.  The baccalaureate degree must be from an accredited program.  Each application will be individually assessed to determine courses needed to bridge into the MSN program.  This gap analysis will determine what additional courses will be required at the baccalaureate level to ensure they have met the prerequisites necessary for graduate education in nursing.
    2. A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
    3. New graduates are eligible for admission to the program. A minimum of 2,000 hours as a registered nurse to be obtained prior to graduation from the program.
    4. A current unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse in the State of Michigan or in the state of home residence.
    5. Official transcripts from each institution of higher education attended.
    6. Three letters of professional recommendation with at least one from someone in a supervisory capacity.
    7. An autobiographical statement of personal goals and objectives.
    8. Current resume or professional CV.
    9. An interview with graduate faculty.

    Note:  A GRE may be required for any student petitioning for admission to the program with a cumulative GPA less than 3.0.

  • Ìý

    Degree Requirements for the Master of Science in Nursing with major in Clinical Nurse Leader (41 credits)

    MSN Integrated Core

    • NUR 5030 Analytic Methods for Clinical Practice (3 credits)
    • HLH 7100 Health Care Policy, Economics and the Law in Clinical Practice (3 credits)
    • NUR 7000 Advanced Theory and Knowledge Development for Clinical Nursing Practice (3 credits)
    • NUR 7300 Transformational Leadership and Innovation in Advanced Practice (3 credits)
    • NUR 7400 Information Management and Decision Support (3 credits)
    • NUR 7500 Evidence-Based Nursing Practice: Theory, Design & Methods (3 credits)

    Advanced Practice Core

    • NUR 5500 Physical Assessment and Advanced Pharmacology (4 credits)
    • HLH 5900 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
    • NUR 5940 CNL Immersion (4 credits)

    CNL Major Courses

    • NUR 5350 Outcomes Management & Decision Support in Nursing (3 credits)
    • NUR 5420 Management of the Health Care Environment (2 credits)
    • NUR 5450 Business Planning for Nurse Leaders (2 credits)
    • NUR 5650 Population Health & Care Transitions Management (2 credits)
    • NUR 5830 Leadership & Quality Improvement in Clinical Microsystems (3 credits)

    Total Credits: 41 

    Organizational Leadership Bridge

    Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Requirements (30 credit hours with Detroit Mercy MSN CNL major)

    Students will be required to complete a six-credit Organizational Leadership Bridge toward the DNP, since the Clinical Nurse Leader major does not include an advanced nursing practice major.

    • NUR 5170 Management & Leadership in Nursing (2 credits)
    • NUR 5040 Accounting and Financial Management in Health Care (4 credits)
  • Ìý

    Accreditation

    The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, Master of Science in Nursing degree, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, and post-graduate APRN certificates at the University of Detroit Mercy McAuley School of Nursing are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW Suite 750, Washington, DC  20001. Telephone: 202-887-6791.
  • Ìý

    Program Contact Information

    Julia Stocker-Schneider, PhD, RN, CNL
    CNL Program Coordinator
    College of Health Professions, 225
    McNichols Campus
    Telephone: 313-993-1790
    Fax: 313-993-1271

    Julie Bazydlo, Graduate Nursing Recruiter
    College of Health Professions, 121
    McNichols Campus
    Telephone:  313-993-1828

Detroit Mercy Catalogs


Graduate Catalog
2022-2023