Master’s of Nursing (MN) Degree

The MN degree prepares graduates with advanced leadership skills to be applied in the healthcare delivery system across a wide range of settings. Functions include client advocacy, team manager, information manager, outcomes manager, systems analyst/risk anticipator, educator, and active professional. 

Educational Objectives for the MN Degree

  1. Effect change through advocacy for the client, interdisciplinary health care team and the profession. 
  2. Communicate effectively to achieve quality client outcomes and lateral integration of care for a cohort of clients. 
  3. Pursue knowledge and skills as the CNL role, needs of clients, and the healthcare delivery system evolve. 
  4. Delegate and utilize the nursing team resources (human and fiscal) and serve as a leader and partner in the interdisciplinary health care team. 
  5. Identify clinical and cost outcomes that improve safety, effectiveness, timeliness, efficiency, quality and the degree to which they are client-centered. 
  6. Use information systems and technology at the point of care to improve healthcare outcomes. 
  7. Participate in systems review to critically evaluate and anticipate risks to client safety to improve quality of client care delivery. 
  8. Assume accountability for healthcare outcomes for a specific group of clients within a unit or setting recognizing the influence of the meso-system and macro-system on the microsystem. 
  9. Assimilate and apply research-based information to design, implement and evaluate clients’ plans of care. 
  10. Synthesize data, information, and knowledge to evaluate and achieve optimal client and care environment outcomes. 
  11. Use appropriate teaching-learning principles and strategies as well as current information, materials and technologies to facilitate the learning for clients, groups, and other healthcare professionals. 
  12. Complete and successfully defend a professional project appropriate to the role and scope of the Clinical Nurse Leader. 

CNL Certification

After successful completion of the Master’s in Nursing  - Clinical Nurse Leadership program, which includes 405 practice hours with 315 hours of immersion in CNL practice, students will be eligible to sit for the CNL Certification Examination offered by the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC).  Students are encouraged to sit for the CNL certification exam as soon after graduation as possible. 

For More Information


For more information about the College of Nursing MN degree, please contact:
Kate Hallowell
Graduate Program Assistant
[email protected]
406-994-3500

For admissions requirements and information about how to apply, please go to the College of Nursing’s ADRN to MN Distance Graduate Education page or BSN to MN Distance Graduate Education page.