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About the Program
The Clinical Nurse Leader Program prepares nurses to be clinical leaders with the skills to thrive in the current and future healthcare system while striving to improve client outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. The program is a second-degree, accelerated nursing program for individuals with a baccalaureate or higher degree in a nonnursing field.
Students are prepared for the registered nurse licensure examination and graduate with a Master of Science in Nursing degree. The CNL is a generalist (not an advanced-practice nurse) with nursing knowledge, comprehension of the infrastructure of the healthcare system, clinical decision-making skills, resource management strategies and the ability to manage complex information.
The CNL program has partnered with several healthcare institutions throughout the state to support the program’s educational efforts and provide possible career opportunities following graduation. The program and partnerships will enhance the role development of the CNL through the engagement of highly skilled clinicians, outcomes-based practice and quality improvement strategies while providing high-quality patient care in the surrounding communities throughout Georgia.
The goals of the Clinical Nurse Leader program are to prepare graduates to:
- Provide optimal patient and family centered care that is evidence based, applied across diverse settings and throughout the life span
- Create and sustain environments for clinical excellence in patient safety and quality outcomes
- Serve as leaders and partners in interdisciplinary healthcare teams
- Become effective decision makers using information systems and technology
For more information, call 706-721-9767, or visit www.georgiahealth.edu/son/futurestudents.htm.
Salaries for CNLs vary based on regions or states. Average starting salaries range from $45,000 to $60,000. Salaries for experienced staff nurses can exceed $60,000, while directors of nursing can earn in excess of $100,000 nationally.
The CNL program has been fully approved by the Georgia Board of Regents and the Georgia Board of Nursing.
Completed Online Application for Graduate Programs (please check the Office of Admission website for fee information: http://www.georgiahealth.edu/Admissions/)
Application Deadline: February 1 - FALL entry
GPA: Minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Minimum Degree Requirement and Official Transcripts: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any area other than nursing from an accredited college or university.
Official transcripts are required from all universities and colleges ever attended, including transcripts for any courses currently in progress. Only in the case of transcripts from international colleges/universities must have an official course-by-course evaluation based on official transcripts and documents be accepted in lieu of an official transcript.
Official transcripts should be sent to GHSU’s Office of Academic Admissions as part of your “Admissions Packet.” To remain official, all transcripts must remain in the original, unopened, sealed, and stamped/signed envelope from the Registrar’s Office of the issuing institution. Alternatively, transcripts can be mailed to GHSU’s Office of Academic Admissions directly from the Registrar’s Office of the issuing institution.
Transcript/Credential Evaluation of Foreign Transcripts: An official, professional course-by-course evaluation based on official transcripts and documents is required for all foreign educational transcripts and documents from one of the following three credentials evaluation services: Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., World Education Services (WES), or Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE). Official evaluations based on unofficial transcripts, documents, or copies will not fulfill this requirement.
References: Recommendations from three individuals are required. Referees should be individuals (usually college professors) qualified to critically assess the applicants prior academic, employment, artistic, research and/or clinical experience and qualifications (as applicable) as well as the applicants potential as a graduate student in the field/program selected.
Graduate reference forms and letters can be submitted online only. Applicants list names and provide information for three individuals as references during the online application process. Once the application is submitted, each referee will receive an email directing them to complete the online reference form. The completed reference form will then be forwarded to the Office of Academic Admissions via the online application system, CollegeNet. An applicant wishing to change a reference letter after the application has been submitted must log into his/her CollegeNet account and change the name and contact information for the reference.
GRE Requirements: Minimum combined Verbal and Quantitative score of 900. Official GRE scores are required (only the General GRE test is required).
All official GRE scores must be submitted to GHSU’s OAA directly from the Education Testing Service (ETS) and must be less than five years old. The institution code for submission of GRE scores to GHSU is 5406. Please do not select a department code.
Millers Analogy Test (MAT) scores with a minimum score of 400 will be accepted in place of GRE scores; test must be taken within the last 5 years.
All official MAT scores must be submitted to GHSU’s OAA directly from Pearson Education, Inc. The institution code for submission of MAT scores to GHSU is 1108. Please do not select a department code.
TOEFL Exam Scores: Minimum score of 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, or 79 internet-based.
Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are required for applicants whose first language is not English. The institution code for submission of TOEFL scores to GHSU is 5406. Please do not select a department code.
Exemption from the TOEFL requirement is allowed for graduate students who submit proof of earning a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college/university where English is the language of instruction.
Program Specific Requirements
Pre-requisite course work:
Successful completion of the following courses prior to enrollment
- Anatomy and Physiology (8 credits), completed within the last 10 years
- Microbiology (3 credits) completed within the last 10 years
- Biochemistry (3 credits) OR Other Chemistry (6 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
- General Psychology (3 credits)
- Human Growth and Development across the lifespan (3 credits)
Personal Interview: Interviews by invitation only. Selected applicants will be notified directly by the program.
Resume or CV
Essay: Standard, as part of the application/supplement form and an additional essay that addresses professional goals that will be met by the CNL degree and impact the CNL can have on care delivery
Admission Recommendations
No additional recommendations
While every effort is made to maintain this information as current, it may be subject to change. Please check with GHSU’s Office of Academic Admission for recent updates.
Apply online at www.georgiahealth.edu/Admissions by February 1 for Fall Semester.
For more information on this program, visit www.georgiahealth.edu/son/futurestudents.htm.
Office of Academic Admissions
170 Kelly Building-Administration
Georgia Health Sciences University
Augusta, Georgia 30912
Telephone: 706-721-2725
Toll-free: 800-519-3388
Fax: 706-721-7279
Email: Admissions@georgiahealth.edu
Estimated Tuition and Fees
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For estimated tuition and fees, please see the Tuition and Fees section of this catalog.