Real Difference between Clinical Nurse Leader and Nurse Practitioner

1 Hi -

Could someone that work in a hospital setting explain to me the "real" difference between a CNL and a NP? I've read all the descriptions on various school program sites but they seem very academic and don't speak to what the main differences are...I will be pursuing a higher level degree next fall and would like to know which avenue to choose. If you have pay difference that would help as well.

Thanks in advance
NP is an advanced practice role that, in most states, allows some sort of prescriptive authority. Other advanced practice roles are CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) CNM (Certified Nurse Midwife) and CNS (Clinical Nurse Specialist, a role that is becoming blurred with the NP in many areas.) An advanced practice nurse can work in the hospital but also in independent practice (in some states) and in group practices (with physicians, PAs and other advanced practice nurses.)A Clinical Nurse Leader is a new role; it is being utilized in the VA system but not so much in other systems because of budgetary concerns and the newness of the role. My understanding is that CNL programs prepare one to be an expert clinician within an acute care setting. A CNL coordinates care, does discharge planning, looks at community and institutional trends to better understand what might be going on with a hospitalized patient. The University of Iowa College of Nursing has a nice description on its website. The U of I has recently dropped its entry-level CNL and has changed it to a post-baccalaureate program. I think this is in response to confusion among employers about what to do with a master's prepared CNL who has no experience (as well as the graduates who end up taking bedside jobs so they can get experience and truly become clinical nurse LEADERS.)http://www.nursing.uiowa.edu/academi...mnhp/index.htm

Thanks, I've pretty much read the same material and don't think I've ever ran into a CNS so I'll probably continue on with the NP Masters program...they are really pushing the CNS program at my school but I wanted to do more research before I made a final decision.Thanks sooo much for the information.

I'm an adult CNS as well as a peds CNS - like Moogie said - the lines are blurring between CNS and NP. I live in IL where CNS has the same prescriptive authority as NP. I work in a large nephrology practice with 2 FNPs, 1 PA and me and we all do the same exact job.

Ummm NPs actually take care of patients CNLs...paper.

On my unit, the CNLs basically equate to charge nurses. They occasionally take patients and work the floor, but they usually work in a charge nurse role. They're not really paper-pushers, though..they do rounds, start IVs, handle staffing, coordinate admissions and discharges (bed control), act as clinical support for those of us doing direct care, that sort of thing.

Quote from RNMegOn my unit, the CNLs basically equate to charge nurses. They occasionally take patients and work the floor, but they usually work in a charge nurse role. They're not really paper-pushers, though..they do rounds, start IVs, handle staffing, coordinate admissions and discharges (bed control), act as clinical support for those of us doing direct care, that sort of thing.

Thanks for the information...was the academic training piece similar to the NP program...I've found some year long programs for the NP track...some of them (reputable schools such as Vandi and Emory) offered most of it online.

Quote from trina9230Thanks, I've pretty much read the same material and don't think I've ever ran into a CNS so I'll probably continue on with the NP Masters program...they are really pushing the CNS program at my school but I wanted to do more research before I made a final decision.Thanks sooo much for the information.

Thanks for this information, I too am in caught between CNL and NP