As an employer, you want to hire the most qualified, dependable nurse leaders available. Clinical Nurse LeadersSM (CNLs®) help improve healthcare delivery and provide better coordination of care across healthcare settings in complex situations.
In a CNC survey, over 90% of CNLs reported being viewed as valued employees because of their Clinical Nurse Leader knowledge and skills and 97% reported being able to apply their CNL knowledge and skills into their current role.
- Tracking and trending data to improve care delivery and improve safety (i.e., falls, pressure ulcers, discharge planning, and high risk patients for readmission);
- Cost-effective problem solving, process improvement, risk assessment, and the reduction of waste;
- Research and application of best practices and evidenced-based practices to improve standards of care;
- Collection, compilation, interpretation and sharing of measurable outcome results with staff;
- Trending of performance measures based on national standards and best practice;
- Effective use of technology to place knowledge at the staff nurse’s fingertips;
- Preparation and teaching staff the requirements of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; and
- Your facility’s journey to Magnet recognition by being a change agent at the POC who monitors transitions in care.
CNLs provide the best evidence-based practice and quality patient care available resulting in greater patient safety as well as clinical outcomes and greater staff satisfaction due to unit efficiency.
At our facility, the rate of PICC catheter related blood stream infections (CRBSIs) in catheters placed by an in-house vascular access (combined role dedicated to Interventional Radiology: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Certified Clinical Nurse Leader-NP/CNL) has dropped to ZERO PICC CRBSIs in 2007-present thus far, saving patient lives (IHI’s 5 MILLION LIVES/CENTRAL LINE BUNDLE), decreased patient morbidity and mortality associated with PICC line placement, decreased LOS, and cost avoidance of $1,260,000 to the medical center.
Stratton VA Medical Center
Albany, NY
Facilities that engage CNLs in the healthcare delivery process report reduction in costs, process improvement and improved standards of care with the use of evidence-based practices.
At our facility, CNL outcomes include a 16% reduction in one unit’s yearly NIM rate producing a savings of over $240,000; a 20% reduction in falls; 22 months of being VAP free; 28 months of being Central Line Infection free; and 11% increase in Foley removal. These all can be quantified as cost avoidance and a huge savings for any healthcare organization.
Past CNO of Hunterdon Health Care System
Gainesville, FL
With the involvement of CNLs, employers report better coordination of care across healthcare setting in complex situations.
The CNL applies advanced competencies in nursing leadership, clinical outcomes, and care environment management to:
- Lead and sustain a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration as a basis for delivery of safe, comprehensive care
- Laterally integrate care services efficiently and cost-effectively across disciplines and care settings
- Apply evidence-based criteria for measuring the quality of care delivery and lead quality improvement processes based on evidence
- Become a professional advocate for holistic, defragmented, patient-centered care at the microsystem, organizational, and political level of healthcare practice.
Assistant Professor, Nursing Science Program
University of California
Irvine, CA
