What is accreditation and why is it important?

Accreditation ensures that higher education institutions offer students a quality education. Accrediting agencies evaluate schools and academic programs. Therefore, if they do not grant accreditation status to a certain college or program, this should register as a red flag. State boards require applicants to possess licensure from accredited schools, and employers also look for candidates with accredited degrees.

What skills are important for nursing informaticists?

Nursing informaticists need many of the skills they learn in school, including information technology foundations, healthcare technology infrastructure, and data analysis management. They also need soft skills, including communication and interpersonal skills. Problem-solving is also a big part of the job, and programming knowledge can give nurse informaticists a competitive edge.

What is a chief nursing informatics officer (CNIO)?

The role of a chief nursing informatics officer varies for each healthcare organization, but they typically lead health informatics initiatives. They manage teams and implement strategies in information technology that can improve clinical efficiencies and operational outcomes.

How long does it take to complete a nursing informatics program?

While master's degrees traditionally last two years, some schools offer accelerated programs that students may complete in 12-18 months. Bridge programs typically last longer, as students need to take bachelor's and master's-level courses. Finally, some students enroll part time, which can also add a year or two to their MSN timeline.

Best Online MSN in Health Informatics Programs

January 29, 2021 | NurseJournal Staff

Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?

Whether you’re looking to get your pre-licensure degree or taking the next step in your career, the education you need could be more affordable than you think. Find the right nursing program for you.

Nursing informatics can be a great career path for nurses interested in using data and information to improve the healthcare industry. They manage important medical records including patient data, medical histories, and lab and imaging reports. This information is highly sensitive and private, which means that nurse informaticists take on important roles within healthcare facilities. The added responsibilities are reflected in their salaries; nursing informatics specialists earn an average annual salary of $84,804, according to data gathered by PayScale.

In order to follow this career path, individuals should earn a master of science in nursing (MSN). Graduate degrees in nursing offer several different specializations, including nursing or healthcare informatics. During these programs, students learn about storing and managing electronic information systems within medical settings. Several schools offer online nursing informatics programs for individuals who prefer flexibility or who live far from campus.

If you’re interested in online MSN informatics programs, you can find a list of the best nursing informatics degrees below.

View ranking methodology

Rank	School	Location
1	American Sentinel University	Aurora, CO
2	Duke University	Durham, NC
3	Nova Southeastern University	Fort Lauderdale, FL

Featured Online Programs

Top Online MSN in Health Informatics Programs

American Sentinel University

Location
Aurora, CO

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Located in Aurora, Coloardo, American Sentinel University is a medical school dedicated to nursing and healthcare management. Providing degree opportunities at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, this school focuses exclusively on nursing certification and advancement. The MSN in informatics online at American Sentinel University takes a technological perspective of the master’s in nursing. Students learn to use the latest software systems and data analysis tools to diagnose, monitor, and track progress with precision, and provide tailored care to patients. The program offers intensive 8-week courses, with 12 courses required for graduation. Build your analytical skills and prepare for a career in upper management in this MSN nursing informatics program online.

American Sentinel University prides itself as a military-friendly school by accepting military transcripts and providing free qualifying exams to translate real-world experience into college credit.
Duke University

Location
Durham, NC

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Duke University’s school of nursing MSN in health informatics online spreads technological training to students nationwide from its campus in Durham, North Carolina. Study clinical information systems, project management, and strategic planning to prepare for a career as a clinical analyst, informatics researcher, or informatics manager. Pursue technological training in electronic health recordkeeping, computerized practitioner order entry, and data analytics gathering and processing systems.

The MSN informatics online degree at Duke requires 38-credit hours, including four core classes in evidence-based practice and statistics, global population health, and advanced nursing practices. Elective courses include introductory and advanced health informatics, ethical health information exchange, data analytics, and system design. All courses are online, with no on-campus requirements. However, participants must find a local healthcare institution to complete a supervised practicum to demonstrate skills acquired in the program.
Nova Southeastern University

Location
Fort Lauderdale, FL

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The MSN nursing informatics program online at Nova Southeastern University offers a multi-level nursing education for registered nurses and students with a BSN. For students without the BSN, NSU provides a 6-credit intensive course to transition students into advanced nursing practice. With this foundation, students enter the MSN program, which consists of 12 courses that cover everything from nursing research and critical analysis, to policy and leadership. Informatics and technology are the focus of courses such as database systems, clinical decisions support systems, and human-computer interactions.

Applications for Nova Southeastern University require either an RN certification or a BSN degree from an institution accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applications to the nursing school are accepted twice each year: by August 1 for fall admission, and by December 15 for winter admission. Applicants must submit two applications, one specialized application to the nursing program, and a general application to NSU.

Applying to an Online MSN in Health Informatics Program

Online nursing informatics programs generally expect students to meet the same basic admission requirements: an undergraduate degree and a registered nursing (RN) license.

Beyond that, prerequisites vary for nursing informatics programs. Many schools require applicants to possess a bachelor’s degree in nursing, while others allow RNs with associate degrees to enroll in RN-to-MSN bridge programs. Often prospective students must meet a minimum undergraduate GPA requirement, usually ranging from 2.5-3.2. Some schools also require applicants to possess at least 1-2 years of nursing experience as well.

Typically students need to submit recommendation letters — either professional or academic, and sometimes both — and write a personal essay. They may need to submit GRE or MAT scores, although many schools put more weight on other admission factors. Finally, the application process often involves an interview with faculty.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is accreditation and why is it important?

Accreditation ensures that higher education institutions offer students a quality education. Accrediting agencies evaluate schools and academic programs. Therefore, if they do not grant accreditation status to a certain college or program, this should register as a red flag. State boards require applicants to possess licensure from accredited schools, and employers also look for candidates with accredited degrees.
What skills are important for nursing informaticists?

Nursing informaticists need many of the skills they learn in school, including information technology foundations, healthcare technology infrastructure, and data analysis management. They also need soft skills, including communication and interpersonal skills. Problem-solving is also a big part of the job, and programming knowledge can give nurse informaticists a competitive edge.
What is a chief nursing informatics officer (CNIO)?

The role of a chief nursing informatics officer varies for each healthcare organization, but they typically lead health informatics initiatives. They manage teams and implement strategies in information technology that can improve clinical efficiencies and operational outcomes.
How long does it take to complete a nursing informatics program?

While master’s degrees traditionally last two years, some schools offer accelerated programs that students may complete in 12-18 months. Bridge programs typically last longer, as students need to take bachelor’s and master’s-level courses. Finally, some students enroll part time, which can also add a year or two to their MSN timeline.

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