Clinical Nurse Leader Practice Exam

As a CNL, what is your number one priority?

1. Cost-effectiveness of care

2. Improving quality of care

3. Patient safety

4. Decreasing fragmentation of care

The correct answer is: Patient safety

In the role of a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), the foremost priority is patient safety. This focus stems from the fundamental responsibility of healthcare professionals to protect patients from harm and ensure the highest level of care. Patient safety encompasses a wide range of practices, including effective communication among the healthcare team, proper medication management, infection control, and the timely identification of potential risks to patients. By prioritizing patient safety, CNLs create a foundation upon which quality of care, cost-effectiveness, and care coordination can be effectively built. When patient safety is ensured, it directly contributes to improved health outcomes, enhances patient satisfaction, and ultimately leads to more efficient use of resources, which links to cost-effectiveness and decreased fragmentation. In contrast, while improving quality of care, cost-effectiveness, and decreasing fragmentation of care are vital components of a healthcare system, they can only be fully realized when patient safety is firmly established. Without patient safety as a priority, these other aspects may not effectively function or may even contribute to adverse outcomes.