The clinical nurse leader (CNL) is specifically mentioned in the In stitute of
Medicine’s "Future of Nursing" re p o rt as an innovative and necessary new nursing
role for meeting the new higher standard s for quality care (IOM, 2010, Ch 2 pg 72).
The CNL is a m asters-prepared RN educated to enhance the efficiency with which
care is delivered and to coordinate care through collaboration at the microsystem
level with the entire healthcare team (American Association of Colleges of Nursing
[AACN], 2007). CNL core competencies include nursing leadership, clinical
outcomes management, and care environment management. The goal of the CNL is
to apply these advanced competencies to (a) lead and sustain a culture of
interdisciplinary collaboration as a basis for delivery of safe, comprehensive care,
(b) laterally integrate care services across disciplines and care settings efficiently
and cost effectively, and (c) apply evidence-based criteria for measuring the quality
of microsystem care delivery and lead quality improvement processes based on
evidence.