Clinical Nurse Leader vs Nurse Practitioner: The Main Differences

Do you wish to work as a nurse and progress careerwise in the future? Being in this field gives you opportunities for growth and development. The most advanced and coveted nurse titles are clinical nurse leaders (CNLs) and nurse practitioners (NPs).

But how does a clinical nurse leader vs nurse practitioner compare? Are these positions different, and can you move from a CNL to NP? Here is a clear picture of what each title entails and the key differences to help you make a better decision for your future and career.

What is a Clinical Nurse Leader?

A CNL is a registered nurse-RN who has furthered their education to acquire a master in nursing degree specializing in CNL. CNLs oversee all the care given to patients that are within their charge. They do so by communicating and working together with healthcare teams at the clinical level to ensure patients receive the best care.

Healthcare teams, in this case, are practitioners who interact directly with their patients, including physical therapists, doctors, and nurses.

Are you wondering how you can move from being a registered nurse RN to a clinical nurse leader CNL? It takes a lot to become a CNL. First, one must be a persisting learner and have committed their lives to the nursing profession.

What is a Nurse Practitioner?

Nurse practitioners can be referred to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), who become the primary caregiver to their patients. They have the power to order and perform diagnostic tests, interpret the test results, treat, and even prescribe medication to patients.

You must have a master’s degree or a doctorate in nursing to become a nursing practitioner. You’re required to pass different exams such as GRE (General Record Exam) and NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination). There are also the required years of experience in the nursing field to advance to a nurse practitioner.

Nurse practitioners work in various settings, including:

• School-based clinics,

• Nursing homes,

• Patients’ homes,

• Hospitals,

• Community clinics,

• Birthing centers.

Interested in pursuing an FNP degree in California?

Fill out the form and get all the detailed information you need regarding your chosen program.

First Name

Email

Phone

City *

Select Program Select Program Vocational Nurse Associate of Science Family Nurse Practitioner Master of Science Bachelor Business Administration Degree Bachelor In Healthcare Administration Registered Nursing Associate Of Science RN-to-BSN Bachelor Of Science Life Science Courses

Preferred Location * Preferred Location * Costa Mesa Commerce Ontario Online

Thank you!

Clinical Nurse Leader vs. Nurse Practitioner: Key Differences

Looking at clinical nurse leader vs nurse practitioner, both nurses have advanced education and have received training to render their services in clinical settings. However, they have several differences, considering their responsibilities, training, licensing, and salary.

Below are the four key differences distinguishing clinical nurse leaders from nurse practitioners. 

Education

To become a CNL, you must first become a registered nurse then pursue a master’s degree in nursing specializing in CNL (MSN-CNL).

On the other hand, Nurse Practitioners must complete a Master’s degree but with a different specialization, Nurse Practitioner (MSN-NP). Some NPs also get doctorate degrees in nursing, which isn’t necessary for clinical nurse leaders.

And even though they must both obtain some certification before they can wear their titles, the certification requirements are different.

Clinical nurse leaders must receive a CNL certification exam from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing while nurse practitioners have various options.

Responsibilities

How can you compare a clinical nurse leader to a nurse practitioner based on their responsibilities? Although clinical nurse leaders and nurse practitioners provide the best patient care, they do it differently according to their training.

Clinical nurse leaders provide the needed care with oversight from the healthcare team at the clinical level. They are in charge of other junior nurses, overseeing patient care from the hospital they work for.

As the nurses in charge, they give orders, supervise activities, and delegate duties to other nurses in the interest of their patients. Please note that the roles and responsibilities of clinical nurse leaders are only within the clinical level, as opposed to that of nurse practitioners.

The responsibilities of CNLs can be abridged as follows:

• Curating ideal healthcare plans for patients and families;

• Staying up to date with emerging trends in healthcare (researching and implementation);

• Overseeing safety standards within the clinical setup;

• Managing teams that provide patient care;

• Ensuring health facility protocols are adhered to;

• Supporting and mentoring healthcare team members.

While clinical nurse leaders are always in charge of a specific nursing unit working with oversight from their healthcare team, nurse practitioners are the primary caregivers. Nursing practitioners provide the needed care directly to their patients and work in any facility, not just hospitals.

Nurse practitioners’ responsibilities vary with specialties, including pediatrics, oncology, psychiatric care, primary care, and geriatrics.

NPs are mainly trained to deal with acute illnesses and can order diagnostic tests, interpret results, treat and prescribe medication to their patients.

The responsibilities of nurse practitioners can be summarized as follows:

• Diagnosing health problems;

• Crafting care plans for patients;

• Administering and modifying treatment/medication;

• Operating medical equipment;

• Conducting physical examinations and observations;

• Providing training on injury or illness prevention.

Licensure and certification

Every state in the US has specific application requirements for nursing licensure, so ensure you understand what’s required of you as per your state.

Now to the difference between clinical nurse leader vs nurse practitioner based on licensure and certification. Both nurses must go through a specific process to become registered nurses.

Clinical nurse leaders must first obtain a Clinical Nurse Leader Certification, usually obtained from one body, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. However, you must prove your eligibility for this certification before accessing it. To become eligible, you must provide your RN License and have completed a Master’s course in nursing specializing in CNL.

How do you acquire an RN license? There are three steps to obtaining your RN license, listed below.

• First, obtain your bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution

• Second, pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurse (NCLEX)

• Lastly, get your state license. You can get your state nursing licensure from the state you want to work in.

Nurse practitioners must also gain their RN license and have completed a master’s degree or doctorate in nursing before getting the required certification. Obtaining an RN licensure process is the same for both clinical nurse leaders and nurse practitioners, but the difference lies in certifications.

There’s only one certification that every clinical nurse leader must obtain. However, various national certifications are available for nurse practitioners depending on their specialties, like pediatric care, acute care, and oncology. Also, nurse practitioners renew their certifications through the ANCC after every five years, which isn’t the case with the Clinical Nurse Leader Certification.

Nurse practitioners can get their certifications after obtaining a master’s or doctorate degree from the several exams boards available in the US, including:

• Pediatric Nursing Certification Board;

• American Nurses Credentialing Center;

• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses;

• National Certification Corporation.

Salary

Comparing CNL to NP, another difference comes in their salaries. There is a difference in the salary figures of these two advanced nurses, perhaps based on their education, roles, and years of experience.

A clinical nurse leader’s salary ranges from $84,900 to about $106,450 per year in the US, excluding life insurance, employer-sponsored insurance, and retirement benefits. If you factor in these benefits, the amount will be much higher.

A CNL’s salary also depends on the state’s living costs. The higher the living cost, the higher the annual salary.

For a nurse practitioner in the US, the average salary is approximately $114,700 per year. The amount might oscillate up to $133,600 depending on education level, certification, state, and years of experience. For example, a nurse practitioner’s annual salary can be as high as $125,000 in Massachusetts or as low as $85,000 in states like Mississippi.

Overall, nurse practitioners rake in slightly more than clinical nurse leaders regarding salaries.

The Bottom Line

Despite the differences mentioned above, clinical nurse leaders and nurse practitioners work to provide the best care to their patients. The only significant difference in this is that nurse practitioners work without oversight from anyone, while CNLs oversee patient care from the healthcare team.