Master of Science in Nursing – Clinical Nurse Leader Curriculum

Master of Science in Nursing – Clinical Nurse Leader Curriculum

The LECOM Master of Science in Nursing – Clinical Nurse Leader (MSN-CNL) Program is comprised of 16 online modules for a total of 45 credit hours. The didactic curriculum is divided into three sections which include: Essential Core, Clinical Core, and Specialization Core. In the full-time semester program sequence, students will take 3-4 courses each semester, for a total of 4 semesters of study over 2 academic years,with summers off. For the 8-week term plan, students may take 2 courses each term, and complete the program in 2.5 years, completing all coursework and clinical hours through the entire calendar year, including summers.

Within the coursework, students will be completing clinical leadership hours at their place of employment, or at one of LECOM’s Clinical Affiliates most convenient to the student, with a preceptor for a total of 500 clinical hours, as required for certification as a Clinical Nurse Leader by the Commission on Nurse Certification (CCNE), which is an autonomous arm of the AACN (American Association of Colleges of Nursing).

Along with the completion of coursework, students will complete a Clinical Nurse Leader Capstone Project that will serve as an applied evidence-based project prior to the completion of the degree program. Students will complete the Capstone Project, which will include completion of a Project Proposal, IRB proposal, and the final Project Defense. Each student will be responsible for submitting an abstract that is accepted by a Professional Nursing Research Organization National Conference and deliver either a poster or podium presentation at the conference. To complete the requirements for dissemination of findings, a manuscript of the Capstone Final Paper must be submitted for publication prior to graduation. Acceptance of the paper for publications is not a requirement for graduation.

All courses must be passed with 80% or greater for all sections of the program to continue forward as a student in good standing, progressing toward graduation. See the Graduate Nursing Course Catalog for more information regarding grading for the Nursing Graduate Program.