University General Course Catalog 2025-2026 (DRAFT) 
    
    Oct 31, 2024  
University General Course Catalog 2025-2026 (DRAFT)

Clinical Nurse Leader, Graduate Certificate (Online)


This is an online program

The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) program prepares nurses as healthcare systems specialists to be effective leaders for health care delivery and to work within all settings to plan and coordinate complex patient care.

Note: Students who are enrolled in this program solely are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid.

Program Learning Outcomes


Students will be able to:

  • Create a systematic approach to clinical reasoning based on best evidence, research, and knowledge from nursing and other disciplines to make decisions which optimize the health of populations and the delivery of care across a range of sociocultural settings.
  • Role model communication strategies and teamwork to intentionally collaborate with interprofessional teams, individuals, groups, and populations across a range of sociocultural settings to advocate for diverse, equitable, and inclusive care in professional environments.
  • Evaluate quality improvement principles, standards, methods, and strategies to identify health and systems problems and translate evidence-based change in practice settings.
  • Analyze systematic processes across settings using evidenced-based strategies and standards, to promote a just culture of safety, and to prevent or minimize risk to self, patients, and environment.
  • Appraise health care technology, data, and information literacy, while considering risks and ethical requirements, to plan, implement, and evaluate person and population-centered care and assist in system-wide best practice decisions in a variety of settings.
  • Integrate person and population centered care that is respectful of differing sociocultural needs based on best evidence, clinical judgment, and sound legal/ethical principles to maximize health for diverse individuals, groups and populations.
  • Expand professional identity through leadership and advocacy that promotes the needs of self, individuals, groups and populations and the nursing profession while improving the healthcare system.

Contact Information


Stephanie S. DeBoor, PhD, APRN, ACNS_BC, CCRN
Associate Dean of Graduate Programs
Associate Professor
University of Nevada, Reno
Orvis School of Nursing
1664 N. Virginia Street MS 0134
Reno, NV 89557
775-682-7156
deboors2@unr.edu

Admission Requirements


Prerequisites for admission to the Orvis School of Nursing Master of Science Program:

  • Successful completion of a Master of Science in Nursing from a CCNE- or NLN-accredited academic institution with a GPA of 3.0 or better.

  • Current unrestricted licensure as an RN and eligible for licensure in Nevada.

Applicants are to submit to the Orvis School of Nursing:

  • A resume that includes education, professional and community service experience.

  • A letter of intent should be single-spaced, 12-point font, and no longer than 1,000 words. It should include the following information:

    • Explain why you have chosen the University of Nevada, Reno, Orvis School of Nursing for your graduate studies.

    • Share which track (post-master’s, advanced graduate certificate as a CNL) you have chosen to pursue and describe how you envision functioning in this role as part of an inter-professional team.

    • Describe leadership experiences, both professional and personal, that have prepared you for graduate studies.

II. Program Total 15* Units


*Providing review of transcripts represents completion of core coursework (CNL) from full time plan of study.