临床护士带头人（CNL）专业在《美国新闻与世界报道》中排名全国第7位，它为硕士级别的护士提供了在各种医疗保健领域执业的高级执业护士的准备。CNL是医疗保健提供系统的领导者。CNL通过应用基于证据的实践来设计，实施和评估微系统级别的护理交付，从而对患者的护理结果承担责任。临床护士长专业需要37个总学时，26个教学法和11个临床学时，总共需要540个小时的临床接触时间。在夏季学期开始课程学习的学生将选修六门课。学期完成课程。
The UAB School of Nursing produces strong nurse leaders and strategic thinkers through it's nationally ranked programs, including the nation's No. 6 Nursing Health Systems Administration Specialty, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report for 2020. Three Nursing Health Systems Leadership Specialties are currently offered, preparing career-minded graduates for management and executive roles at all levels of a health care organization, including unit manager, clinical coordinator, chief information officer or chief nursing officer, enabling them to implement or lead health system and health care change, making a difference in patient lives globally.<br><br>The Clinical Nurse Leader is an emerging leadership specialty that is practiced in a variety of settings. The Clinical Nurse Leader specialty prepares advanced practice nurses to assume accountability for patient care outcomes through the application of evidence-based practice to design, implement, and evaluate care delivery at the micro systems level. To best accommodate the needs of the nursing workforce, the curriculum is offered via a part-time program of study delivered through a distance accessible format that combines synchronous online classes with on-campus intensives, where students participate in planned laboratory and simulation experiences designed to promote mastery of essential skill sets. The curriculum is accomplished through 37 credit hours of course work, with 26 credit hours of didactic coursework and 11 credit hours of clinical practica, that is completed in six semesters.