Program evolves and expands within one year's time

With the growing demand for nurses and the uncertainty of today's economy, alumni who feel the urge to return to school may want to consider a newly created position called the Clinical Nurse Leader.

In January, the College of Health Professions McAuley School of Nursing launched the Clinical Nurse Leadership (CNL) master's degree program, which can be completed in seven semesters of part-time study.

The program welcomes students who have a bachelor's degree in nursing, who want to remain connected to patient care at the point of service and desire to lead others within their nursing units. The curriculum combines hands-on experience at partner hospitals and courses with a focus on systems, patient safety, leadership, quality improvement, and core advanced nursing knowledge.

It also has evolved to incorporate initiatives and the strategic goals of the participating health system with a focus on the Institute of Medicine Report recommendations that include team work, collaboration, quality improvement and diversity training.

"The organization benefits because the students bring classroom learning to their job and the students benefit because the job makes the learning real," says Tricia Thomas, assistant professor and faculty coordinator for the CNL program.

Trinity Health and the McAuley School of Nursing formed the first partnership at Saint Mary's Health Care in Grand Rapids. The partnership ensures that the students will be able to practice the CNL role upon graduation.

Recently, additional Trinity Health Systems hospitals in Ann Arbor, Saline, Livingston and Battle Creek have joined in developing a role for CNLs at hospitals in their communities where, according to Thomas, the program has been very well received.

For more information on the Clinical Nurse Leader program, visit the CNL web site or contact Tricia Thomas at 313-993-1718.