Nursing Informatics

What is Nursing Informatics?
The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing informatics as "a specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information,knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice. Nursing informatics facilitates the integration of data, information, knowledge, and wisdom to support patients, nurses, and other providers in their decision-making in all roles and settings. This support is accomplished through the use of information structures, information processes, and information technology." >> Overview of Nursing Informatics by HIMSS (pdf)

Nursing Informatics Career Options and Salary Potential
Informatics nurses can look forward to a variety of career options in numerous settings. Nurses can have informatics careers as managers/executives, administrators, educators, and consultants. Nursing informatics career opportunities are available in hospitals and other healthcare providers, public health organizations, research labs, medical software companies, insurance agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and educational institutions.

Nursing informatics provides excellent salary potential. Below are average salary figures for the most common career titles. However, income for senior managers can go well into the six figures. A Senior Nursing Informatics Specialist job opening in a major city is currently offering $105,000 to $145,000 / year and a Director of Nursing Informatics job is currently offering $90,000 to $140,000 / year.

Nursing Informatics Career Outlook - One of the Largest Growth Industries
• The US Department of Labor estimates a 49% job growth in health information and health informatics
• Healthcare Informatics was named one of the top careers in U.S. News & World Report
• Approximately 70,000 health informatics specialists are needed , according to Don Detmer, the CEO of the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA), the main professional body relating to health informatics in the U.S.
• Health informatics is the #1 emerging industry job opportunity on CareerBuilder.com
• Electronic medical records tops ECRI's Top 7 Health Plan IT Trends to Watch

Preparing for a Nursing Informatics Specialist Career
While the opportunities are plentiful, nursing informatics is not an entry-level career. RNs who find work in this specialty typically have several years of experience and professional education in both information systems and nursing. A Master's degree or certificate in Nursing Informatics, Health Informatics or related fields will improve salary and job potential. A Master's degree in Informatics is generally required for advanced nursing informatics positions. Informatics Nurses must have strong verbal and communication skills, analytical skills, as well as clinical knowledge and technical proficiency. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers the Informatics Nurse Board Certification Exam for the RN-BC credential. This credential improves a nurse's employment and salary potential.

Informatics Nursing Certification
Currently active and licensed RNs who qualify can sit for the Informatics Nursing Certification Exam, which is awarded by ANCC. In the 2007 HIMSS/McKesson Nursing Informatics survey, more respondents (23%) had this certification than any other type. >> Learn more about how to qualify for certification

>> Nursing Informatics Specialist Career Profile
>> Video Interview with a Nurse Informatics Specialist
>> Nursing Informatics Certification Exam Content Outline (pdf)

Brandeis University Online

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Kiplinger.com: Top 50 Values in Private Universities

Health and Medical Informatics - Master of Science
Health and medical informatics is the application of principles of computer and information science to the effective organization, analysis, management, and use of information in health care.With evolving health care reform, the development, implementation, evaluation, and management of information technology solutions are critical, and core technologies and standards must be addressed. The Health and Medical Informatics program in the Division of Graduate Professional Studies addresses the growing need for professionals who need to possess both analytical skills and business acumen with the goal of improving health care delivery systems through information technology. 

• Facilitate the development and advancement of emerging information technologies to improve health care delivery and cost efficiencies.
• Gain an in-depth understanding of new and existing health information management systems within the context of the U.S. health care system.
• Become proficient in the "language" of health care, navigate the rules around using medical data, and obtain relevant information to assess changes to the health care system.
• Participate in the development, implementation, evaluation and management of information technology solutions to improve patient care and the health care delivery process.
• Utilize health information technology for decision support, knowledge management, strategic planning, and outcomes assessment to optimize cost efficiencies in the health care system.
• Effectively interface between the data systems developers and the user community.

University of Illinois at Chicago Online

The University of Illinois at Chicago is ranked in the top 4% of 4,000 colleges and universities in the US by U.S. News & World Report.

Health Informatics - Certificate (Post-Bachelor's)
For professionals with a bachelor's degree, this non-degree health informatics certificate provides an excellent credential for those working in health care, IT and health information management. The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health Informatics focuses on the implementation, operation and control of health information systems. Not only will students earn a prestigious credential indicative of advanced, current knowledge in the health informatics field, they can earn continuing education credits.

Health Informatics - Master of Science
The Master of Science in Health Informatics emphasizes the analysis, implementation and ongoing management of the critical factors that impact the successful selection and use of health care information technologies. This online degree program equips students with an academic foundation in health information sciences and the practical tools necessary to apply this knowledge. Graduates will be prepared for a wide range of roles at mid-to-high management levels in the health care information setting.

The University of Illinois at Chicago Master of Science in Health Informatics program is one of only three online graduate programs designated as an "Approved Program" by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

• Health Informatics - Certificate (Post-Master's)
• Health Information - Certificate (Post-Bachelor's)

Nursing (BSN Track) Nursing Informatics - Master of Science
For Registered Nurses entering the program with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
In The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), students will learn how to more effectively utilize information technology to enhance the quality of patient care. This specialization offers a multidisciplinary approach to informatics by blending nursing science, computer science, and information science.

Nursing (RN Track) / Nursing Informatics - Master of Science
For Registered Nurses with a hospital diploma, Associate Degree in Nursing (A.D.N.), or bachelor’s degree (other than BSN)
In The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), students will learn how to more effectively utilize information technology to enhance the quality of patient care. This specialization offers a multidisciplinary approach to informatics by blending nursing science, computer science, and information science.

Nursing / Informatics - Post Master's Certificate
This program can prepare learners to effectively use information technology to enhance decision-making in various health care settings. Coursework for this program blends nursing science with computer and information science, and focuses on core concepts in nursing informatics, knowledge and information management, and effective project management. Nursing professionals will gain the knowledge to integrate data, information, and knowledge to support decision-making processes that positively affect patients and practitioners.

• CIS / Healthcare Informatics - Bachelor of Science

Healthcare Informatics - Certificate
This comprehensive certificate program is designed for information professionals, clinical personnel and healthcare support personnel who want to increase their knowledge of health information technology and management of the complex social and organizational issues surrounding this major change in healthcare. This online certificate program will provide an intensive introduction to the evolving field of Medical/Health Informatics. The goal of the Certificate in Healthcare Informatics is to provide knowledge and skills in the application of information technology (IT) in the provision of healthcare. Graduates of the program will gain knowledge and skills useful in taking on additional healthcare IT-related responsibilities or embarking upon new careers as managers or developers of healthcare IT systems.

>> Drexel offers more programs for Nurses

Healthcare Informatics - Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
This certificate program is designed for health care and nurse professionals interested in pursuing or advancing in careers associated with health care informatics and technology. Individuals with little or no background in Informatics receive an overview of informatics as it relates to delivery within a health care facility. The program is designed to provide the learner with current knowledge in concepts of health care informatics, systems life cycle, and data management. The 10 credit-bearing specialization is available as a certificate program for post-baccalaureate students.

Nursing / Informatics - Master of Science
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), enhances the knowledge and skills of registered nurses with baccalaureate-degree preparation. The program prepares advanced practice nurses to function in leadership roles in practice and educational settings. Advanced nursing theory and research provide the foundation for nurses to influence the future of nursing and health care. Students complete core courses in advanced nursing content and process, as well as on leadership skills. Specializations assist students to concentrate on developing increased knowledge and/or skills in a specific area of content or advanced practice role.

Health Administration / Informatics - Master
This program specialization is designed for health care and nursing professionals interested in pursuing or advancing in careers associated with health care informatics and technology. Individuals with no background in informatics receive an overview of informatics as it relates to delivery within a health care facility. The program is designed to provide the learner with current knowledge in concepts of health care informatics, systems life cycle, and data management.

IT / Health Informatics - Bachelor of Science
The Health Informatics specialization of the Information Technology BS degree is designed to prepare you to use technology to improve health care quality and lower costs. Course work covers such topics as electronic information systems management, information security, data integrity, and regulatory compliance. People who choose this specialization are often pursuing information technology specialist positions in hospitals, clinics, and health care systems.

Health Informatics - Bachelor of Science
This program is for experienced healthcare or IT professionals seeking an affordable online bachelor’s degree and IT certifications to work in the high-demand field of health informatics. The B.S. in Health Informatics prepares learners to become designers and developers of health informatics and information systems for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The program equips students with a combination of healthcare and IT skills and includes two IT certifications as part of the curriculum.

WGU offers the Excellence in Health Informatics Scholarship, which is valued up to $2,500. This scholarship is available to experienced IT or healthcare professionals who wish to move into the high-demand field of health informatics.

CIS / Health Information Systems - Bachelor of Science
This degree in Computer Information Systems with a track in Health Information Systems prepares graduates to develop specialized healthcare applications that both improve patient care and make healthcare more efficient. By mastering current technologies and best practices, including picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability ACT (HIPAA) and Health Level Seven (HL7), graduates will be prepared to integrate equipment output with HER and other applications, as well as to develop and support electronic health records applications in hospitals and medical offices nationwide.

Health Administration Informatics - Master of Science
The Master of Science in Health Administration Informatics (MSHAI) degree has a dual emphasis: health care administration and informatics (information science) applied to the health care industry. It is geared toward health care professionals as well as information technology professionals who work in health care settings.

Biotechnology Studies (Bioinformatics specialization) - Master of Science
This specialization covers a broad range of subjects (for example, biostatistics, databases and data structures, algorithms, gene expression analysis, and PERL) at the interface of molecular biology and computational science. The Master of Science program in biotechnology serves a number of careers at the entry-, mid-, or high-level positions, depending on the prior level of experience of the candidate. Graduates can be prepared for careers as Bioinformatics Analyst, Bioinformatics Specialist, Computational Biologist, Biological Database Specialist, Instructor, and more.

Bioinformatics - Graduate Certificate
Bioinformatics is a rapidly growing area in the biotechnology industry today. The certificate in Bioinformatics is intended to provide students with a core set of knowledge and skills in bioinformatics.

Information Technology / Health Informatics - Bachelor of Science
Students of the health informatics specialization will examine data modeling and management for the twenty-first century health care industry. They will review the wide variety of health care information available, focusing on quality, laws, regulations, and standards. Students will learn to design and develop health care IT application components, and gain foundational IT knowledge to support smarter decision making.