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Clinical Nurse Leader Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Ascension

Clinical Nurse Leader

Milwaukee, WI · On-site

Demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches in the management of complex patient ... Registered Nurse credentialed from the Wisconsin Board of Nursing obtained prior to hire date or ...

IntelyCare

Clinical Nurse Leader

Milwaukee, WI

Where Purpose Meets Opportunity Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a ... Registered Nurse credentialed from the Wisconsin Board of Nursing obtained prior to hire date or ...

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$31K

$89.9K

$155K

How much do clinical nurse leader jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for clinical nurse leader in the United States is $89,949.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $71,000.00 and $104,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Clinical Nurse Leader, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Clinical Nurse Leader, you need advanced clinical expertise, leadership abilities, and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with CNL certification. Familiarity with healthcare information systems, quality improvement tools, and patient care technologies is typically required. Exceptional communication, critical thinking, and team coordination skills help Clinical Nurse Leaders drive positive patient outcomes and mentor staff. These skills are vital for improving care quality, ensuring patient safety, and leading healthcare teams effectively in complex clinical environments.

How does a Clinical Nurse Leader typically interact with interdisciplinary teams within a healthcare setting?

Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNLs) play a pivotal role in coordinating care by serving as a bridge between nursing staff and other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, pharmacists, and social workers. They regularly participate in interdisciplinary rounds, contribute to care planning meetings, and ensure effective communication among team members to optimize patient outcomes. This collaborative approach helps to identify and address patient care issues swiftly, foster teamwork, and promote evidence-based practices across the unit. Job seekers should be comfortable facilitating discussions, resolving conflicts, and advocating for both patients and nursing staff.

What is a Clinical Nurse Leader?

A Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) is a master's-educated registered nurse who oversees the integration of care for a specific set of patients. CNLs focus on improving patient outcomes by coordinating care, implementing evidence-based practices, and ensuring quality and safety standards are met. They typically work at the point of care, collaborating with other healthcare professionals to optimize patient care processes. Unlike nurse managers, CNLs do not have direct administrative responsibilities but are leaders in clinical practice and care delivery. Their role is essential in bridging the gap between administrative leadership and bedside nursing.

What is the difference between Clinical Nurse Leader vs Registered Nurse?

AspectClinical Nurse LeaderRegistered Nurse
CredentialsBSN or higher, certification as CNL often preferredAssociate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Work EnvironmentHospitals, clinics, care coordination settingsHospitals, clinics, community health settings
Role FocusCare coordination, quality improvement, patient outcomesDirect patient care, administering medications, monitoring health

The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) focuses on care coordination and improving patient outcomes, often taking on leadership roles in clinical settings. Registered Nurses (RNs) primarily provide direct patient care. While both roles require nursing credentials, the CNL typically has additional training in leadership and quality improvement, making it suitable for roles that involve overseeing care teams and implementing best practices.

More about Clinical Nurse Leader jobs
What cities are hiring for Clinical Nurse Leader jobs? Cities with the most Clinical Nurse Leader job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Clinical Nurse Leader jobs? The most popular types of Clinical Nurse Leader jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Clinical Nurse Leader jobs? The top employers for Clinical Nurse Leader jobs are:
What states have the most Clinical Nurse Leader jobs? States with the most job openings for Clinical Nurse Leader jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Clinical Nurse Leader jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Clinical Nurse Leader jobs are:
Clinical Nurse Leader jobs near you
Infographic showing various Clinical Nurse Leader job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% In-person, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $89,949 per year, or $43.2 per hour.
Clinical Nurse Leader

Clinical Nurse Leader

Ascension

Milwaukee, WI • On-site

Full-time

Medical, PTO

Posted 10 days ago

Ascension Healthcare rating

7.0

Company rating: 7.0 out of 10

Based on 991 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

403rd of 864 rated healthcare providers

Job description

Your future role at a glance

Location: Milwaukee, WI

Facility: St. Francis Hospital 

Department/Speciality: Acute Care Practice Specialist 

Schedule: Day Shift | Full-time 

How you'll make an impact in this role
  • Utilize knowledge, experience, and research to impact patient outcomes.
  • Reduce hospital acquired conditions and increase patient education.
  • Demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches in the management of complex patient care.
  • Enable effective implementation of health promotion and prevention practices, the management of acute and chronic illnesses, attainment of appropriate lengths of stay, and most effective level of care.
What minimum qualifications you'll need

Licensure / Certification / Registration:

  • BLS Provider obtained within 1 Month (30 days) of hire date or job transfer date required. American Red Cross or American Heart Association accepted.
  • Registered Nurse credentialed from the Wisconsin Board of Nursing obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date required.

Education:

  • Diploma from an accredited school/college of nursing OR Required professional licensure at time of hire.
What additional requirements you'll need
  • 40 hours a week | M-F| Primarily day shift hours, with availability to cover house wide projects during off shift hours when needed | No weekends or major holidays
  • MSN highly preferred 
Life at Ascension: Where purpose meets opportunity

Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you'll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.

Equal employment opportunity employer

Equal employment opportunity employer

Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.

Fraud prevention notice

Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process. Our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.

E-Verify statement

Employer does not participate in E-Verify and therefore cannot employ STEM OPT candidates.

Benefits

Paid time off (PTO)Various health insurance options & wellness plansRetirement benefits including employer match plansLong-term & short-term disabilityEmployee assistance programs (EAP)Parental leave & adoption assistanceTuition reimbursementWays to give back to your community

Benefit options and eligibility vary by position. Compensation varies based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, performance, location and salary range at the time of the offer.

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

What Ascension Healthcare employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

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About Ascension

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Ascension is a leading non-profit, faith-based national health system made up of over 150,000 associates and 2,600 sites of care, including more than 140 hospitals and 40 senior living communities in 19 states.

Industry

Health care and social assistance and outpatient health care

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

St. Louis, MO, US

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