Generalist Entry Master’s in Nursing (MSN) for Non-Nurses: Clinical Nurse Leader

Our Approach

You will be exceptionally trained by experts who practice what they teach as clinicians at a top-tier academic medical center. At Rush University Medical Center, you gain hands-on experience at a state-of-the-art facility alongside top practitioners in their fields.

We have a high faculty-to-student ratio to help ensure the skills you learn in the classroom are able to be applied in the real world. Additionally, our Nursing Learning Lab and Simulation Center help you hone your skills with patients.

You also have volunteer opportunities to expand your education beyond the Rush campus while assisting underserved communities.

You will be well-prepared to work at a high level in an inpatient, outpatient or community setting. And you will be poised to continue your education and pursue a doctoral degree in nursing.

The Direct Entry pathway allows you to apply to one of a select number of doctoral programs.  

In addition, we’ll prepare you to successfully complete the NCLEX RN licensure exam and Clinical Nurse Leader certification. Since 2013, our students’ NCLEX pass rate has greatly exceeded the national and state averages.

Program Length and Location

Our program takes 2 to 3 years to complete depending on whether you follow the traditional or non-traditional (part-time) course schedule. 

The traditional track is completed in two years. More than half of the courses in this hybrid program are either offered online or have an online option.  

Classes and clinical rotations are generally held Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

We will arrange all of your clinicals. Clinical practice sites include Rush University Medical Center and other health care facilities in the Chicago metropolitan area. 

After graduation, you will sit for the NCLEX exam to receive your RN license before moving on to practice in the field. Or you might decide to continue your education by applying to one of our doctoral programs.  

When you apply to the GEM program, you can also apply to one of a select number of doctoral program through our Direct Entry pathway program. Another option is to apply to one of our DNP or PhD programs after graduation. 

*Please note that the non-traditional track is only available for a fall start. 

Program Tuition

At Rush University, we know your education is a big investment. We want to make sure you have all the information to be able to make the best financial decisions for you and your family.

Tuition for the GEM program is $1,120 per credit hour, and the total cost for the program is $82,880.

We discourage students from working during the program because clinical hours begin early in your education. But we want to make sure your education is as affordable as possible.  

In addition to financial aid, we help students attend conferences through the Dean’s Scholarship Fund.

Career Opportunities

Your preparation as a clinical nurse leader gives you a solid foundation for building a nursing career. You will be well-positioned for success no matter what your career goal may be.

Our graduates work as registered nurses in various hospital and clinical settings, such as the following:

• Emergency department 
• Intensive care unit 
• Labor and delivery 
• Medical-surgical unit 
• Neonatal intensive care unit 
• Operating room 
• Orthopedics 
• Palliative care unit 
• Pediatric intensive care unit 

Graduates have developed careers at hospitals, clinics and community settings across Chicago:

• Advocate Christ Medical Center 
• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital 
• Chicago Department of Public Health 
• The Chicago Lighthouse 
• Northwestern Memorial Hospital 
• Rush Oak Park Hospital  
• Rush University Medical Center 
• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab 
• Shriners Children’s (Chicago) 
• Swedish Hospital 
• UChicago Medicine 
• University of Chicago Physicians Group 

Our graduates are also well-represented nationally: 

• Cleveland Clinic
• Johns Hopkins Hospital
• Massachusetts General Hospital
• Mayo Clinic
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
• UCLA Health

There is strong demand for clinical nurse leaders. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth for registered nurses is expected to increase 6% from 2022-232 – faster than the average for all occupations.

About 193,100 openings for registered nurses are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

The average salary for clinical nurse leaders is $96,797, according to salary.com.