Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:
- Fall: April 1
- Spring: Nov. 1
- Summer: N/A
- Special: N/A
A clinical nurse leader (CNL) oversees the lateral integration of care for a distinct group of patients and may actively provide direct patient care in complex situations. A CNL puts evidence-based practice into action to ensure patients benefit from the latest innovations in care delivery; collects and evaluates patient outcomes; assesses cohort risk; and has the decision-making authority to change care plans when necessary. This clinician functions as part of an inter-professional team by communicating, planning and implementing care directly with other healthcare professionals, including physicians, pharmacists, social workers, clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners and other healthcare providers. A CNL is a leader in healthcare delivery across all settings. In the final semester of the program, students sit for the clinical nurse leader certification exam.
At UNH you’ll be supported by a productive faculty and outstanding facilities as you advance your nursing career. Faculty members conduct research in a wide variety of topics including substance use disorders and harm reduction, distance education, telemedicine, telepractice and health information technology, best practices for LGBTQ communities, family nursing, rural health and human dimensions of climate change. Clinical practicum sites are available in local, regional and teaching hospitals, clinics, community health agencies, primary care and other urban and rural healthcare settings in New England with additional sites by permission.
Students graduate as an advanced generalist as a clinical nurse leader (CNL) with a master of science degree. Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Clinical Nurse Leader national certification examination. The CNL is a role in the field of nursing designed to provide master's-prepared, point-of-care nurse leaders with the ability to manage and solve complex patient problems within a systems framework.
Admission Requirements
Registered nurses (RNs) who have successfully passed the NCLEX-RN, currently hold an unencumbered, active RN license in the United States, and who hold a baccalaureate degree in either nursing or another field can be considered for admission. Applicants are required to have a good academic record and completion of coursework in statistics and research. The following is required:
Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted. References should be substantial with one academic, if available, and two current nursing professionals with graduate education background.
RNs whose baccalaureate degree is in a field other than nursing may apply to the master of science degree in nursing (MS) program and will be considered for the track that is commensurate with their clinical experience based on faculty discretion.
Clinical Hours: 500*
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
NURS 901 | Health Policy | 3 |
NURS 902 | Advanced Physical Assessment | 2 |
NURS 908 | Advanced Physiology & Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan | 3 |
NURS 925 | Leadership, Role & Collaboration | 3 |
NURS 952 | Clinical Nursing Leadership | 2 |
NURS 952C | Clinical Nursing Leadership Clinical | 6 |
NURS 953 | Promoting Quality Management | 3 |
NURS 958 | Clinical Nurse Leader Capstone | 6 |
NURS 963 | Biostats and Epidemiology | 3 |
NURS 968 | Foundations of Evidence Based Practice | 3 |
Total Credits | 34 |
Clinical hours are completed through the following required courses: NURS 952C, NURS 958.
This graduate program is approved to be taken on an accelerated basis in articulation with certain undergraduate degree programs.
General Accelerated Master's policy, note that some programs have additional requirements (e.g. higher grade expectations) compared to the policy.
Please see the Graduate School website and contact the department directly for more information.
The Masters of Science Clinical Nurse Leader program builds upon the skills of the baccalaureate prepared nurse.
Students entering the CNL Program are expected to:
At the completion of the Master's nursing program, the graduate student is prepared to:
In addition the Clinical Nurse Leader graduate will:
Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:
Application fee: $65
Campus: Durham
New England Regional: No
Accelerated Masters: Yes (for more details see the accelerated masters information page)
Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission or you will not be able to register for classes.
If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC.
If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.
If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:
Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.
Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.
References should be substantial with one academic, if available, and two current nursing professionals with graduate education background.
Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:
Applicants are required to have an unencumbered RN license in the United States, degree in nursing or outside nursing, and successful completion of undergraduate statistics and research to be eligible to apply to this program.
Non-BSN Admission Requirements:
RNs whose baccalaureate degree is in a discipline other than nursing may apply to the master of science degree in nursing (M.S.) program and will be considered for the track that is commensurate with their clinical experience based on faculty discretion.
All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.
Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.