Top 10 Best MSN Nursing Informatics Programs

Nursing informatics is a specialty of nursing that combines knowledge of nursing, communications, computer science, and information science.Have you considered pursuing masters in nursing informatics? If that’s the case this article Best MSN Nursing Informatics Programs Is For You.

Nurse informaticists are responsible for the analysis and development of health systems within the clinical setting for clinicians to optimize healthcare delivery and positively influence the health outcome of patients. These health systems include but are not limited to electronic medical records (EMR), remote patient monitoring, telehealth, computerized provider ordering, and so on. “Using data, an informatics nurse can analyze trends, monitor for any consistent errors, and implement new, more efficient systems.”

Moreover, they explain various technological processes adopted in the healthcare system to improve patients’ outcomes and the reasons behind them to clinical staff. Also, they train healthcare personnel on the approach to implement these processes effectively.

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Skills Required

To function excellently in this role, a Nurse Informaticist need to have the following skills:

• Strong analytical and critical thinking
• Computer and technology
• Problem-solving
• Project management
• Communication

Responsibilities of a Nurse Informaticist

• Nurse informaticists take on diverse roles within their work environment, although they might not have direct contact with the patients, however, they work to influence the healthcare needs and outcomes of the patients. The core roles and responsibilities of a nurse Informaticist include:

• Analyzing and developing health systems that nurses and clinicians in the clinical setting use thereby reducing medical errors, patient care delays, and so on.

• Tracking the outcome of patient care systems and newly implemented technology.

• Using the results of data analysis to improve outcomes.

• Teaching staff about new adaptations to electronic health records.

• Controlling health care costs at hospitals and other medical facilities.

• Influencing health care policy to advance public health

• Promoting evidence-based best practices, education, and research initiatives.

Qualification Needed

• The minimum requirement needed for this role is BSN, however, having a qualification or certification in relevant fields such as health information technology, nursing informatics or healthcare informatics is essential.

• The HIMSS survey revealed that 66% of nursing informaticists had a master’s-level degree in 2020 among whom about 27% had a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Nursing Informatics specifically.

• Hence, to be able to take on higher roles for example leadership roles in an institution, a nurse informaticist requires an advanced qualification such as a master’s degree or doctorate. Asides from that, Nursing Informaticists with a higher level of educational qualification earn higher salaries.

• Finally, experience working in the electronic health record unit is essential to be able to practice effectively.

MSN Nursing Informatics Programs

The master’s of Nursing Informatics programs are generally advanced-level degrees that educate and equip nursing students with the essential skills needed to carry out their duties as Nurse Informaticists.

The average length of these programs is usually two years and can take up to three years. This also depends on the type of qualification you have in mind.

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Classes are usually online, although you might need to complete some fieldwork in local healthcare facilities. These classes might include topics such as:

• Informatics systems design and analysis
• Data analytics and science
• Database management systems
• Nursing informatics capstone
• Nursing informatics in the healthcare environment
• Professional informatics influence
• Informatics for transforming nursing care
• Leadership and management in nursing informatics
• Advancing evidence-based practice through technology
• Quality outcomes with value-based nursing care
• Source: nurse.org

Lists Of Best Institutions Offering MSN Nursing Informatics Programs.

According to U.S News and World Report, the following are the best institutions offering master’s in nursing informatics programs.

• University of Pittsburgh
• University of South Carolina
• Duke University
• Thomas Jefferson University
• University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
• University of Texas–Tyler
• University of Utah
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
• Ferris State University
• University of Kansas
• Troy University
• Nova Southeastern University Ron & Kathy Assaf College of Nursing
• University of Maryland–Baltimore
• Concordia University Wisconsin & Ann Arbor
• Queens University of Charlotte
• University of South Alabama
• Jacksonville University
• National University
• Liberty University
• Northeastern State University

Overview of The Top 10 Institutions Offering MSN Nursing Informatics Programs

University of Pittsburgh

The master of science in Nursing Informatics at the School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh is an interactive online program that provides opportunities for active learning, discussion, problem-solving, debating, critical thinking, research, networking, and community building.

The institution offers three different options for its Nursing Informatics program which include, a major, a minor, and a post-professional certificate that can be completed on a full or part-time basis.

At Glance

• Tuition: $1,150 per credit
• Program length: Five semesters (full-time)
• Accreditation: ACEN
• Contact info:
• Email: sao50@pitt.edu
• Phone number: 412-624-4586

University of South Carolina

The nursing informatics MSN program at the University of South Carolina is an online-cum-practical course that prepares its students to gain national certification in Nursing Informatics with the American Nurse Credentialing Center.

At Glance

• Tuition: $1,438 per credit
• Program length:
• Four semesters (full-time)
• Seven semesters (part-time)
• Accreditation: CCNE, The Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
• Contact info:
• Email: nursinq@mailbox.sc.edu
• Phone number: 803-777-7412

Duke University

The Health Informatics major in the MSN program combines online instruction with one campus session each semester.

Duke University School of Nursing offers the following enrollment options for the program, MSN in Nursing Informatics, Post-Graduate Certificate, and Health Informatics Certificate (which is a distance-based program).

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Students who complete the program at the institution will be eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) generalist exam for nursing informatics and/or the AMIA Certified Health Informatics Certification (AHIC), American Medical Informatics Association, advanced informatics certification for mid-career clinicians with informatics experience and a graduate degree in informatics.

At Glance

• Tuition: $1,910 per credit
• Program length: Three years
• Accreditation: ACEN
• Contact info:
• Email: SONAdmissions@dm.duke.edu
• Phone number: (919) 684-4248

Thomas Jefferson University

Thomas Jefferson University offers online MSN with specialty track or MSN with a combination of online and onsite courses.

At Glance

• Tuition: $1,000 per credit
• Program length: Two years
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Contact info:
• Email: enroll@jefferson.edu
• Phone number: 215-951-2800

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

The College of Nursing at the institution offers online MSN Nursing Informatics programs in Health Care Informatics Master of Science, Health Care Informatics Post-Graduate Certificate, and Health Care Informatics Certificate Program.

At Glance

• Tuition: $21,750-$24,575
• Contact info:
• Email: nursing.admissions@ucdenver.edu
• Phone number: 303-724-1812

University of Texas–Tyler

School of nursing at UT Tyler offers Masters of Science in Nursing Informatics, Quality & Safety (MSN-IQS) 100% online program. The program prepares students to take the examination for Board Certification in Informatics Nursing, HIMSS CAHIMS certification, AANC Essentials, and the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) competencies.

At Glance

• Tuition: $12,528-$29,880
• Program length: Two years (part-time)
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Contact info:
• Email: ogs@uttyler.edu
• Phone number: (903) 566-7457

University of Utah

The institution offers on-campus and online MSN in nursing informatics as well as a part-time option. The University of Utah is one of the first Nursing Informatics programs in the United States, with a long history of informatics excellence and faculty that are nationally recognized nursing informatics leaders.

At Glance

• Tuition: $2,404 per credit
• Program length: Five semesters (full-time)
• Accreditation: CCNE, AACN, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Contact info:
• Email: ashley.cadiz@nurs.utah.edu
• Phone number: (801) 587-3194

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Nursing Informatics (NI) track and a Post-Master’s Nursing Informatics Certificate are being offered at the institution. The program is offered online with some field travel. Graduates of the MSN NI track are eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Board Certification and the HIMSS Certified Professional in Health Information Management (CPHIMS) Exams.

At Glance

• Tuition: 2,385-$6,057 (full-time)
• $1,590-$4,038 (part-time)
• Program length: 36 semester credit hours
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Contact info:
• Email: songrad@ttuhsc.edu
• Phone number: (806) 743-9295

Ferris University

The Nursing Informatics MSN program at Ferris university is fully online and aims to prepare nurse leaders for the growing need in the informatics field. The program allows the students to interact with other students thus creating a diverse learning community.

At Glance

• Tuition: $673 per credit
• Program length: Two years (either full or part-time)
• Accreditation: CCNE
• Contact info:
• Email: CHP@Ferris.edu
• Phone number: 231-591-2259

University of Kansas

Most of the Master of Science in Health Informatics courses at the University of Kansas are online except for some focus area courses that will be completed on campus at the institution.

At Glance

• Tuition:
• In-state: $421 per credit
• Out-of-state: $989.60 per credit
• Online: $421 per credit
• Program length: Two years (full-time)
• Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
• Contact info:
• Email: soninfo@kumc.edu
• Phone number: 913-588-1619

Career Pathways For Nurse Informaticist

A Nurse Informaticist may work in any of the following roles:

• Chief Information Officers
• Chief Nursing Informatics Officer
• Clinical Analyst
• Clinical Informatics Nurses
• Clinical Specialist
• Health Informatics Officer
• Informatics Nurse
• Nursing Informatics Specialists

And in various sectors such as; hospital facilities, clinics, long-term care facilities, research facilities, pharmaceutical companies, nursing schools, healthcare recruitment agencies, computer systems design industries, healthcare management, scientific and technical consulting services, IT companies, and federal healthcare agencies, and others.

MSN Nursing Informatics Salary

Nurse informaticist salary earn between $61,000 and $115,000 annually and on average about $75,939. This is influenced by factors such as advanced qualification or certification, employment location, work experience, and the institution of practice.

Helpful Informatics-related Associations

• Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
• American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA)
• American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA)
• American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
• Alliance for Nursing Informatics

Written By: Mayowa Racheal Popoola
RN, Content Writer.

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