What is the difference between a Clinical Nurse Leader and an Executive Nurse Leader (nursing administration) ?

Executive Nurse Leader Role (Nursing Administration): connecting the business of health care with patient care

Executive nurse leaders are  in all areas health care, from a chief nursing officer leading a 200+ bed hospital to a nurse manager leading change in the unit; from a director of nursing in a sub acute care/rehab or long term care facility to a nursing administrator in home care.  Nurse leaders are vital to any health care organization. Leadership is not necessarily defined by a title; rather it is defined by actions.  Nurse leaders are at the forefront of generating creative and effective ways to address the critical issues facing nursing and health care today such as: staffing, budgeting, cost effective care, marketing, business planning, organizational assessment and inter-health care provider communication and collaboration (AONE, 2012).

Clinical Nurse Leader Role: A leader of quality patient care for improved patient health outcomes.

Basically, the CNL is in charge of implementing evidence based practices in nursing. The CNL is a leader in the health care delivery system across all settings in which health care is delivered, not just the acute care setting. The implementation of the CNL role, however, will vary across settings. The CNL role is not one of administration or management. The CNL functions within a microsystem and assumes accountability for healthcare outcomes for a specific group of clients within a unit or setting through the assimilation and application of research-based information to design, implement, and evaluate client plans of care. The CNL is a provider and a manager of care at the point of care to individuals and cohorts. The CNL designs, implements, and evaluates client care by coordinating, delegating and supervising the care provided by the health care team, including licensed nurses, technicians, and other health professionals (AACN, 2007).

References:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2007). Retrieved from:  http://www.aacn.nche.edu/publications/white-papers/cnl

American Organization of Nurse Executives. (2012). Retrieved from:  http://www.aone.org/membership/membership.shtml

Dr. Maggie