Implementing the Clinical Nurse Leader Role in a Large Hospital Network

In 2011, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) provided statistics regarding the future of health care based on legislative changes during 2010. According to the IOM's report,1 an additional 32 million Americans would receive health care benefits by 2012. Additionally, it is estimated that by the year 2025, health care will face a shortage of more than 350,000 nurses.2, 3 The influx of new lives in America requiring medical care and the estimated lack of resources provide multiple challenges for hospitals, including organizing new models of care at the bedside to improve care coordination and to enhance interprofessional collaboration.4, 5