MSN Nursing Informatics

Area of Study Overview

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The Nursing Informatics specialty provides baccalaureate prepared registered nurses with the knowledge and skills required to function as nursing informatics specialists. Nursing informatics specialists use information structures, processes, and technology to design and implement information systems that support all areas of nursing as well as members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. This includes support for the direct provision of healthcare, development and delivery of health related education, design of effective administrative systems, and implementation of nursing research. The program is designed for independent learners who desire an online experience coupled with clinical learning experiences that relate to today’s healthcare challenges and opportunities. Graduates meet the educational requirements for national certification programs.

Credit Distribution

I. Core Courses (15 Credits)

NUR-529Health Policy

3

NUR-530Evidence-Based Nursing Practice

3

NUR-531Nursing Informatics: Concepts and Issues

3

NUR-582Financial Management in Nursing Practice

3

NUR-600Nursing Leadership in a Global Community

3

II. Electives (6 Credits)

Electives may be selected from the nursing elective course offerings, direct-care core courses, and/or alternate specialty area courses. For example, students may take two courses in nursing to enhance their skill base and work toward a future certificate in another nursing specialty.. For TESU course options, please contact an Advisor.

III. Specialty Courses (9 Credits)

NUR-631Nursing Informatics: Systems Life Cycle

3

NUR-701Nursing Informatics: Databases and Knowledge Management

3

NUR-711Nursing Informatics: Consumer Informatics and Communications Technologies

3

IV. Practicum Courses (6 Credits)

NUR-721Nursing Informatics: Seminar and Practicum I

3

NUR-731Nursing Informatics: Seminar and Practicum II

3

Total Credit Hours: 36

Note:

Completion of 150 on ground, supervised hours is required in each Practicum course. Application for Practicum placement is submitted six months in advance. The Practicums must be taken consecutively at the same facility.

Course descriptions, advisories, and prerequisites can be found in this publication. It is the student’s responsibility to know and to satisfy advisories and prerequisites prior to course registration. In the MSN degree program, the core courses are to be taken first and the Practicums are to be taken last and may not be taken concurrently with core courses.

Program Competencies

In addition to the MSN degree outcomes, the graduate of the Nursing Informatics program will be able to:

  • integrate knowledge, skills, and scientific findings from nursing science, computer science, information science, and cognitive science in the professional practice of nursing informatics;
  • analyze the concepts of, and relationships between data, information, knowledge, and wisdom for implications to nursing practice;
  • demonstrate leadership in the professional practice of nursing informatics through the use of effective communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and administrative skills;
  • participate at each stage within the health information systems life cycle as a leader and team member;
  • promote the use of healthcare informatics-related education for consumers and healthcare providers;
  • integrate legal, ethical, regulatory, technical, and professional standards into the development and implementation of healthcare related information systems;
  • use research, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and safety methodologies in the evaluation and improvement of healthcare information systems; and
  • advance nursing informatics professional practice and values.