Clinical Nurse Leader with a BSN
A clinical nurse leader is a fairly new role within nursing. Typically the role of a clinical nurse leader is to supervise the care of a specific set of patients, as well as the medical unit they work with.
Along with a team of doctors, and other medical staff, clinical nurse leaders help combine the latest technologies with treatment to give patients the best care. To become a clinical nurse leader, you will need a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited health career school such as Health Career Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Education for Clinical Nurse Leader
For a clinical nurse leader, you will want to first enroll in an accredited bachelor of science in nursing degree program, which usually takes about 4 years to complete. After completion, it is recommended to take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) in order to be able to work as an RN in your state. It is then recommended that you gain some experience as a registered nurse. You may also want to consider going for your Master of Science degree in nursing as well, because many firms may want a registered nurse with a higher education.
A master’s degree could be helpful, as you will most likely take more advanced courses in pharmacology, pathophysiology, and clinical assessment. Courses like these are important because as stated above, a clinical nurse leader typically works with the entire medical team to work on integrating medical advances with patient care. A clinical nurse leader should be well informed, well educated, and ready for anything.
The average clinical nurse leader can make an average of $77,000. According to payscale.com, a clinical nurse leader can make anywhere from $50,000 to $101,000 annually depending on experience, education, and geographic location.