Clinical Nurse Leader Job Description Template

A clinical nurse leader (CNL), sometimes referred to as a clinical lead nurse, is a master’s-educated RN who oversees patient care. These specialized nurses lead quality improvement initiatives and collaborate with other care providers to optimize patient outcomes. If you’re looking to hire a CNL, developing a tailored clinical nurse leader job description can help you find the perfect candidate for the job.
In this sample job description template, we’ll highlight important duties, skills, and educational requirements of CNLs. We’ll also provide you with strategies to help your job posting stand out among the competition.
Before advertising your job vacancy, be sure to conduct market research on the clinical nurse leader job market. You can browse CNL jobs on our healthcare hiring board to ensure your company’s clinical nurse leader salary, benefits package, and scheduling requirements meet industry standards.
Next, you’ll need to prepare a list of clinical nurse leader interview questions to help you rank candidates and identify those who are best suited for the position. Once you’ve completed these tasks, you can focus on crafting your job description.
Clinical Nurse Leader
Tips: At the beginning of your job description, it’s important to introduce the basics of your position and highlight your organization’s mission, vision, and values. Candidates may be curious: What level of clinical experience are you looking for? Would I be expected to work in an office or hospital?
Clinical nurse leader job descriptions should answer these questions early on in their job description to encourage potential applicants to continue reading. Mention any awards or accolades that could help showcase your facility’s patient outcomes, care quality, and staff satisfaction. This can attract the attention of nurses who are looking to join a collaborative team and make a meaningful impact on patient care.
Template:
Here at [facility name], we’re looking to hire an experienced clinical nurse leader (CNL) to work in our cardiac care unit (CCU). As the newest member of our nursing leadership team, you’d be expected to work Monday through Friday in our acute-care hospital. You’d collaborate with bedside nurses and care coordinators to ensure our patients receive the exceptional care they deserve.
We pride ourselves on being “The Nation’s #1 Hospital for Cardiac Surgery” and know that supporting and empowering our clinical team is the key to providing high-quality care. We’re proud to offer exceptional salaries, fringe benefits, and work-life balance to all of our nursing employees. If this sounds like a position you’d be interested in, continue reading below as we outline our CNL duties, scheduling expectations, and degree requirements.
Benefits
Tips: In this section of your clinical lead nurse job description, you’ll want to highlight the perks of working for your organization. Start by listing financial and lifestyle benefits that contribute to a better work-life balance. Then, outline any professional development opportunities your company offers to attract candidates looking to build their nursing career.
Template:
- Competitive pay
- Health, dental, and vision benefits
- FSA/HSA options
- Paid vacation and holidays, family leave, sick time
- 401(k) matching and access to our pension program
- $5,000 annual tuition reimbursement
- Subsidized public transportation
- Discounts for local restaurants, gyms, and amusement parks
- Paid continuing education credits
Duties and Responsibilities
Tips: Here, you’ll want to give candidates a better feel for what it’s like to work as a CNL in your organization. Compile a list of frequently performed tasks and duties, explaining who the CNL will report to and the goals they’ll be expected to meet.
In this section of your clinical nurse leader job description, make note of any responsibilities that fall outside of the normal duties of a clinical nurse leader. This ensures that the applicants who make it to the interview phase of the hiring process are fully aware of the expectations of the position and are comfortable performing the tasks required.
Template:
Clinical Nurse Leaders at our organization are expected to perform the following duties:
- Review facility policies to ensure they meet evidence-based practice guidelines
- Educate staff, patients, and their family members on clinical care goals and strategies
- Coordinate and execute clinical research projects aimed at improving patient health outcomes
- Assist with patient admission, transfer, and discharge to streamline safe care delivery
- Collaborate with nurse managers to develop cost-effective strategies that boost patient and staff wellness
- Attend local conferences, symposiums, and seminars to stay up-to-date on the latest healthcare trends and innovations
- Precept and mentor students enrolled in local clinical nurse leader programs
Compensation and Schedule
Tips: Now that prospective applicants have a better understanding of what the job entails, it’s time to list your CNL pay rate along with any scheduling requirements. When outlining your compensation details, be sure to specify whether the position is hourly or salaried. Also, clarify any additional weekend, night, holiday, or on-call requirements.
Template:
- Starting salary of $120,000, with adjustments made for relevant education and experience
- Full-time employment, working Monday through Friday for 8-hour shifts (8a-4p)
- 1 weekend (Saturday/Sunday 8a-4p) and 1 on-call shift (4p-8a) required per month
- Overtime, holiday, and incentive pay available
- Bi-weekly or weekly pay periods
Clinical Nurse Leader Qualifications and Skills
Tips: What does it take to be a CNL at your facility? In this section of your clinical nurse leader job description, point out the skills, clinical experience, and degree requirements you’re looking for. You can differentiate between required and preferred qualifications to keep from missing out on candidates who may not meet all of your preferred qualifications but have the skill set you’re looking for.
Template:
Required Qualifications:
- Active and unencumbered RN license
- MSN required, DNP preferred
- CNC Clinical Nurse Leader Certification
- At least 2 years of bedside nursing experience
- At least 2 years of CNL experience at a similar institution
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience leading evidence-based practice projects, quality improvement initiatives, and other clinical research trials
- Previous participation in shared governance councils
- Bilingual in English and Spanish
Call to Action
Tips: Now that you’ve created an alluring clinical nurse leader job description, it’s time to guide candidates straight to the application. Provide a call to action link labeled “Apply Now” or “Click Here to Begin” to bring applicants to the final step of the application process. If your organization doesn’t use an online application portal, be sure to explain the necessary steps for submitting resumes and cover letters.
Template:
Ready to join our nursing leadership team? Start today by clicking “Apply Now.” The entire application process takes less than 10 minutes. Thank you for your interest — we look forward to hearing from you!
Find Qualified Clinicians for Every Hiring Need
Now that you’ve developed a well-written clinical nurse leader job description, you’re ready to begin recruiting candidates for your position. By posting your vacancies to the nation’s #1 healthcare hiring board, you can quickly match with over 1 million qualified healthcare professionals actively looking for work.