The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) is the first new role in nursing since the nurse practitioner was introduced over many years ago. The CNL evolved after the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) convened a task force to identify ways to improve quality of patient care and determine how to prepare nurses with the skills and competencies needed to thrive in the current and future healthcare system. The original task force on education developed models for nursing education and regulation. A second task force was established, and from that work, a new role emerged-the Clinical
Nurse Leader (CNL).