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Harness Information Science to Improve Patient Care with a Master of Science in Nursing Informatics
The fully online Master of Science in Nursing Informatics program is designed for the registered nurse with an interest in how nursing science, data science, and information technology can work together to effectively improve patient outcomes.
Online courses, practical experiences, and a robust curriculum prepare you to know how to use data to respond to health care problems, improve care and organizational operations, and make information-based decisions in a variety of health organizations.
The dynamic and challenging program provides a flexible path for working registered nurses to earn their master’s degree and prepare to build a career in the growing field of nursing informatics. Learn to manage complex health information in hospitals, nursing homes, public health firms, research laboratories, and insurance agencies.
Are you a registered nurse who’s interested in a master’s but don’t have your bachelor’s in nursing yet? Learn more about our dual-degree RN to MS in Nursing Informatics program.
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PROGRAM DETAILS
Online MS in Nursing Informatics
- Major Core36 Credits
Master of Science in Nursing Informatics
- Year 1 - Term 1
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This course focuses on the theoretical foundations of nursing practice through the exploration of nursing theories, organizational change models, and learning theories. The application of theories relevant to nursing practice will be emphasized. The examination of multiple theories and their implications on nursing knowledge development and practice will serve as a foundation for future graduate courses. In addition to the classroom discussions and written assignments, students will engage in a 1-hour practice experience that will support new understanding of professional practice. This is an 8-week 3-credit hour course requiring a minimum of 18 hours of course engagement each week (refer to the Credit Hour Calculation Policy found in the Student Handbook.) Course engagement includes student activities such as discussions, reading, study time, practice experience, and assignments.Prerequisites
Active and unencumbered RN license.Credit Hours
3Major Requirement - Year 1 - Term 2
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This course explores historical knowledge development through the examination of nursing as an art and a science. The science of nursing will be examined through the fundamental patterns of knowing and the science of knowing. The masters-prepared nurse will develop the ability to apply ethical and moral reasoning, evidence-based competencies, and leadership strategies to promote innovation and to transform nursing practice. Students will use the spirit of inquiry, combined with personal creativity, and the translation of evidence to enhance interprofessional collaboration.Prerequisites
Active and unencumbered RN license. NUR502 Theoretical Foundations of Nursing Practice.Credit Hours
3Major Requirement - Year 1 - Term 3
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This course focuses on the development of the nurse as a role model and mentor for the translation and generation of health care evidence in clinical practice. The goals of research, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement will be highlighted, and the principles of each will be applied to the clinical setting. Students will examine personal practice in relation to policy and current evidence, and explore grant writing. The integration of theory, evidence, cultural considerations, leadership, ethics, and clinical judgement when implementing change will be emphasized. The student will develop a knowledge base that will prepare them to collaborate with inter-professional teams and embrace leadership roles that initiate, implement, and evaluate innovative practice changes.Prerequisites
Active and unencumbered RN license.Credit Hours
4Major Requirement - Year 1 - Term 4
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This course examines public policy, political ideology and ethics as they shape health policy across populations. Political ideology, social and health policy are considered within the lens of population-based health and reducing health disparities. The role of the master s prepared nurse to lead and advocate within the public policy arena is explored and discussed. Contemporary issues in health policy viewed from the perspective of ethics and the social and material determinants of health are considered. A primary focus of the course is consideration and development of the knowledge and skills that the master s prepared nurse needs to be a change agent in health policy. This is an 8 week 4 credit hour course requiring a minimum of 18 hours of course engagement each week (refer to the Credit Hour Calculation Policy found in the Student Handbook.) Course engagement includes student activities such as discussions, readings, study time, and assignments.Prerequisites
Active and unencumbered RN license.Credit Hours
4Major Requirement - Year 1 - Term 5
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This course provides an overview of clinical decision support focusing on the identification, acquisition, analysis, interpretation and application of data, databases, and decision making strategies which influence health care decisions for improved health care. The course delves into knowledge management and artificial intelligence and its impact on clinical decision making and patient safety. Using a consultant s lens, the student will engage in organizational analysis to determine the best decision support system for implementation based on the needs of the clinicians within their chosen organization. Further, the student determines an implementation approach and plan, and identifies goals while evaluating the effectiveness of the selected system.Prerequisites
Active and unencumbered RN license, all Nursing Phase I courses.Credit Hours
3Major Requirement - Year 1 - Term 6
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Epidemiology has long been an integral part of disease prevention and treatment interventions. Recent pandemics have spurred interest in understanding how disease spreads and how to stop the spread. Epidemiology provides valuable insights into what makes people healthy, chronic disease prevention, and an evidence base to create and test interventions. In this course, you will develop an understanding of disease etiology and surveillance strategies. You will learn how to use data to identify trends in morbidity and mortality, as well as how this data can inform public health policy and best practices.Prerequisites
NoneCredit Hours
3Zero Textbook Cost CourseMajor Requirement - Year 2 - Term 1
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The focus of Management of Fiscal and Operational Systems is to provide a foundation in the financial aspect and business strategies of health care in order to maximize organizational performance. Learners acquire knowledge and skills in developing and analyzing budgets, assessing/accessing variances, judging benchmarking, regulatory requirements, interprofessional collaboration, and forecasting future assets and revenues. This course encompasses the analysis of the environment that challenges health care organizations to maintain safe, quality patient care while shifting to meet regulatory and external requirements. The role of the masters prepared nurse, Nurse Manager, and Chief Nursing Officer in interprofessional financial planning for quality, safety, and financial stability will be addressed.Prerequisites
Active and unencumbered RN license, all Nursing Phase I courses.Credit Hours
3Major Elective - Year 2 - Term 2
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This is a course offering graduate nursing students the opportunity to focus on concepts involved in the design of a database. Specifically, we ll examine the usage, management, and evaluation of data through the application of basic concepts of database design as well as knowledge of data representation, data sets, and data integrity. Through the use of databases, critical discernment and reasoning are applied in composing queries and reports to assess healthcare problem prominence and identify solutions. Through course readings, incorporation of the ANA Nursing Informatics: Scope and Standards of Practice, discussion boards, and an individual project, students will build upon basic knowledge of data information, the data knowledge continuum, security of databases, and develop an understanding of large scale information system environments in order to understand risk, improve care delivery, and provide guidance in the integration of technology in nursing practice.Prerequisites
Active and unencumbered RN license, all Nursing Phase I courses.Credit Hours
3Major Requirement - Year 2 - Term 3
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This course focuses on a structured methodology to select, develop, and maintain a system; this approach is called the system development life cycle (SDLC). The course incorporates six modules corresponding to the four phases of the systems life cycle: planning, analysis, design, and implementation. System projects as they move through this life cycle require definition of requirements, business need determination and combine various models to provide a design framework; and the management of projects also will include the integration of organizational behavior concepts.Prerequisites
Active and unencumbered RN license, all Nursing Phase I courses.Credit Hours
4Major Requirement - Year 2 - Term 5
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The graduate nursing capstone is a culminating experience designed to provide learners with an opportunity to apply knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program of study focusing on the competencies of the graduate level nurse. This 6-credit course consists of several integrated components: discussion, reflective journal, scholarly paper, 247.5 practice experience hours, and project presentation. Assessment of the learner fs attainment of program competencies is built into these components. No additional hours will be awarded beyond the 247.5 hours. This requirement must be completed through Excelsior University.Prerequisites
Active and unencumbered RN license. Capstone is the last course taken, and all major core courses must be completed prior to beginning the capstone. Students can only take an elective or concentration course with the capstone.Credit Hours
6Major Requirement
- Major Requirement
- General Education Requirement
- University Requirement
- Arts and Sciences Elective
- Concentration Requirement
- Prerequisite to Major Courses
* Denotes alternative courses are available.
ZTC Denotes a Zero Textbook Cost course.
View our catalog for additional information.
Explore Common Careers
Your Career
Can’t Wait
Registered Nurse
Play a vital role in providing and coordinating care for patients, in collaboration with doctors and other health care professionals.
Median Annual Salary:$86,000
Clinical Informaticist
Design systems for collecting, storing, and analyzing health data to benefit both patients and employees in a health care facility.
Median Annual Salary:$107,613
22%
Job Growth
by 2033
Clinical Informatics Specialist
Facilitate communication between technology and care teams while implementing plans that improve records management systems.
Median Annual Salary:$99,000
Danielle Beasley, PhD, RN, RNC-OB, CNE
Department Chair, BS and MS Programs in Nursing
School of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Institutional Accreditation
Excelsior University is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE or the Commission) www.msche.org. Excelsior University’s accreditation status is accreditation reaffirmed. The Commission’s most recent action on the institution’s accreditation status on June 23, 2022 was to reaffirm accreditation. MSCHE is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct accreditation and pre-accreditation (candidate status) activities for institutions of higher education including distance, correspondence education, and direct assessment programs offered at those institutions. The Commission’s geographic area of accrediting activities is throughout the United States.
All of Excelsior University’s academic programs are registered (i.e., approved) by the New York State Education Department.
ACEN Accreditation
The bachelor’s and master’s nursing programs at Excelsior University are accredited by the:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
404-975-5000
These programs include Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Administration of Health Care Systems, Master of Science in Nursing Education, Master of Science in Nursing Informatics, RN to Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Administration of Health Care Systems, RN to Master of Science in Nursing Education, and RN to Master of Science in Nursing Informatics.
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the bachelor’s nursing program in March 2019 is Continuing Accreditation.
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the master’s nursing programs in March 2019 is Continuing Accreditation.
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding these programs at acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programSearch.htm.
