Healthcare It Project Manager
Primary duties: Healthcare IT project managers work with healthcare facilities to implement new IT systems. They develop and propose plans, identify any required resources and oversee the completion of deliverables until the entire project is done. Their expertise enables improvements in informatics systems with minimal disruption, error or delay.
University Of Illinois Chicago Illinois
Health Systems Leadership and Informatics DNP
Student to Faculty Ratio: 19:1Average Graduate Student Tuition: $13,502/year in-state and $#23,742/year out-of-stateOverall Graduation Rate: 57%Points: 9The UIC College of Nursing offers a top Health Systems Leadership and Informatics DNP program. Its ranked 4th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. Students have access to a variety of practicum settings including hospitals, accrediting agencies, and professional associations. Coursework covers areas like:
- data driven health care improvement
- strategic planning and operations management
- human resources
This 60 credit hour program includes both practicum and project courses that develop leadership skills in a professional environment.
Nurse Informaticists: Not Your Typical Nursing Job
A job as an informatics nurse might not be what many people think of when they think of nursing. In fact, your job duties will look quite different than a typical nursing role. Some things to know:
You arent likely to provide hands-on patient care.
According to the HIMSS survey, more than 70% of nurse informatics dont provide clinical care.
You might be able to work from home.
About 45% of informatics nurses work remotely, according to the HIMSS survey.
You probably wont have anyone reporting to you.
The HIMSS survey found that 68% of nurse informaticists have no reports.
You might not report to the nursing department.
About 49% of nurse informaticists report to IT departments and another 28% report to administration. Only 40% of nurse informaticists surveyed by HIMSS reported to a nursing department.
Nursing informatics involves working more with healthcare software and hardware, analyzing information to improve nursing services, and testing or even creating new information solutions such as communication tools or digital health records, Sullivan says. In other words, nursing informatics involves more IT, while traditional nursing focuses more on direct care of the patients.
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Join A Proudly Accredited Institution
Are you looking for an accredited MSN degree program?
Chamberlain has university accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission and masters degree program in nursing accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education . Chamberlain continuously earns new approvals from respected agencies across the nation.
Chamberlain University confers online degrees from its Main Campus in Addison, IL.
What Are The Prerequisites
The first thing youll need is an RN license. All nurse informaticists need to hold and maintain an active RN license. That means your first step is completing either an Associate Degree in Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Keep in mind that while you can work as a nurse informaticist with a bachelors degree in a non-nursing field, youll still need to be an RN. So earning your RN license with either an ADN or BSN is still your first step.
Youll need to take the National Council Licensure Examination before youre granted a nursing license. Youll need to keep up with your states renewal requirements to keep your license in good standing.
No matter what degree you pursue, youll need an active registered nursing license to work as a nurse informaticist.
Beyond a nursing license, your prerequisites will depend on the program:
Undergraduate programs
Youll need to have a high school diploma or GED before you can begin an undergraduate program. Many schools will also require that youve taken courses in science and technology before you enroll.
Graduate programs
Youll generally need a bachelors degree before you begin a graduate program, although there are RN-to-MSN bridge programs offered by some schools. Many colleges will also ask that you take the Graduate Record Examination and achieve a minimum score.
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Ranking The Top Nursing Informatics Programs
We created a ranking of the top 20 programs in nursing informatics based on information from the National Center for Education Statistics. To be included in our list, programs need to offer either a masters or DNP level program with a focus on nursing informatics and hold regional accreditation. Programs selected for consideration are taught by experienced faculty, offer a well-rounded curriculum, hands-on training, and provide students with mentoring or guidance while in the program. We then developed a ranking methodology that included:
- average graduate tuition rates
- student to faculty ratio
- overall graduation rate
The top 20 schools made our list. Where there are ties, the school with the lower average graduate tuition is favored.
Student to Faculty Ratio
- 15:1 or less= 5 Points
- 16:1 to 20:1=3 Points
- Greater than 20:1= 1 Point
Average Graduate Tuition Rate
- Less than $10,000 per year= 5 Points
- $10,000 to $15,000 per year= 3 Points
- More than $15,000 per year= 1 Point
Overall Graduation Rate
- Less than 30%= 1 Point
- Between 30% and 50%= 2 Points
- Greater than 50%= 3 Points
Below are the 20 schools that offer the best graduate nursing informatics programs.
Msn Nursing Informatics At A Glance
Chamberlains Master of Science in Nursing Nursing Informatics specialty track prepares emerging informatics specialists to integrate nursing with information systems by implementing and optimizing clinical systems that aim to improve the quality of patient care while finding opportunities to reduce overall costs.
The Informatics curriculum teaches you to interpret, analyze and use electronic health record technology, as well as empowers you to be more efficient and effective in healthcare practices. Coursework includes the practice of nursing informatics, management of data and information, healthcare information workflow and project management.
- Earn your degree in as few as 2 years by taking 1 course at a time
- No mandatory login times
Networking with current nurse informaticists and building relationships interprofessionally while completing your practicum project
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How Long Will It Take
Depending upon your level of dedication, a nursing informatics degree can take the following time to complete:
- Masters degree programs generally require two years.
- Abachelors degree program takes four years.
- Accelerated BSN programs range from 12 to 20 months.
- Associate degree programs, which provide entry-level opportunities, usually take two years.
Attending part time is usually an option at most schools, but bear in mind it will take longer to complete your program.
What Is Healthcare Informatics
Healthcare informatics really represents many disciplines that fall neatly under the healthcare informatics umbrella. So, when someone asks what is health informatics or what is healthcare informatics, they are really asking for the broad definition for what these terms mean.
Healthcare informatics will usually deal with health and medical information. Because of that broad definition, an applicant can start to see just how nebulous and far-reaching this particular discipline can become.
Anything from record-keeping to full IT administration can fall under the purview of healthcare informatics. Health informatics also deals with various sciences, which is important because the healthcare field includes a tremendous number of biological and physiological subcategories that intersect with even more categories, such as chemistry.
Is health informatics a good career choice? Yes, once there is an understanding of what is health informatics and why is it so important, it becomes quite clear this field is an excellent choice, especially right now. These facts also make pursuing a Masters in Healthcare Informatics worth it as well.
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Director Of Clinical Informatics
This management position typically oversees the systems that handle patient data in their healthcare facility, such as electronic health records , virtual telehealth systems and apps that allow patients to access their medical data online.
Key job duties:
- Training nurses and other healthcare professionals in the use of these health data systems
- Evaluating existing data systems and keeping an eye out for new technologies that could improve their facilitys record-keeping process
- Making recommendations to executives about new technology options
- Maintaining compliance with regulations surrounding privacy and medical data
- Supervising the troubleshooting of errors within an IT data system
University Of Colorado Denver Colorado
Master of Science in Nursing-Health Care Informatics
Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1Average Graduate Student Tuition: $6,714/year in-state and $22,374/year out-of-stateOverall Graduation Rate: 45%Points: 10
The Health Care Informatics MSN program at the University of Colorado is CCNE accredited. It provides students with the skills to tackle the informatics specialist role. The program is an HIMSS Academic Organizational Affiliate, indicating dedication to better health through IT. The core nursing informatics courses provide students with a strong foundation in:
- information management and decision support
- nursing and healthcare terminologies
- the general life cycle of an information system
Students complete an advanced practicum experience that focuses specifically on a particular role in informatics in the students own community.
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New York University New York New York
Master of Science in Nursing-Nursing Informatics
Student to Faculty Ratio: 9:1Average Graduate Student Tuition: $41,352/yearOverall Graduation Rate: 84% Points: 9
The Master of Science in Nursing Informatics at New York University is a great opportunity for individuals who want to work at the crossroads of technology and patient care. This unique MS degree focuses on the analysis, design, implementation, and evaluation of systems and patient care settings. Students have the opportunity to complete unique practicum experiences. They will work with experts in the field and collaborate with other NYU colleges. Graduates are able to sit for the ANCC Nursing Informatics Certification Examination.
Nursing School Spotlights For The Online Masters In Nursing Informatics
Want to explore even more school options for your online masters in nursing informatics? Check out the three accredited programs weve spotlighted below and see if their tuition costs, online learning format, and other features match what youre looking for.
Duke University
Duke Universitys online MSN in Health Informatics program centers on nursing and biomedical informatics with an emphasis on real-world application. This 38-credit hour program combines synchronous and asynchronous, fully-online coursework with two, single-day on-campus sessions . Studies culminate in an intensive in-person practicum with an approved health care organization typically located in the students local community. During the practicum, students complete an informatics-related project under the mentorship of an experienced clinician.
Admission requirements include a BSN degree from a properly-accredited college or university, or a bachelors degree in any major combined with an associate degree in nursing. Preference is given to applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. A GRE score is not required, but may be submitted as an option. A minimum of one year of nursing experience is recommended but not required.
University of Utah
Admission into the program requires a bachelors degree in nursing earned with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. However, acceptance into the program is limited and selective, so meeting the minimum admissions requirements does not guaranty entry.
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Do You Need A Special Certification To Work Or Advance In Nursing Informatics
In the United States, professional certification in nursing informatics is offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center . Obtaining the ANCCs Informatics Nursing Certification is not a requirement for practice in the field, however, and there is no specific state licensure of nurse informaticists . Nevertheless, possessing the Informatics Nursing Certification will likely increase the holders attractiveness to employers and enhance their chances for career advancement.
Three Nursing Informatics Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , the median salary for a registered nurse in 2021 is $77,600 per year or $37.31 per hour, but conditions in your area may vary. Unfortunately, the BLS does not differentiate between different nursing specialties.
Reported informatics nurse salaries vary widely across different platforms. Glassdoor.com reports an average median salary of $92,195 per year for informatics RNs. Payscale.com reports an average annual salary of $79,272 or $35.73/hr.
However, the HIMSS 2020 Nursing Informatics Workforce survey, found that 49% of respondents earn base salaries of more than $100,000 each year. This is up from 45% in 2017 and 33% in 2014.
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Master Of Nursing And Master Of Science In Health Informatics: Double Degree
Graduate from Canadas only nursing informatics degree program. This unique online/distributed program educates nurses to move into nursing and health informatics roles.
Nursing informatics is a specialty that integrates nursing science and health information science to identify, define, manage and communicate information and knowledge that supports nursing practice. Youll graduate with two degrees: a Master of Nursing and a Master of Science in Health Informatics. The program schedule permits students to complete required coursework in two years and requires additional time for conducting the research for a thesis or research project
Careers
Graduates of this program are prepared for careers in practice, education, research, administration and consultation. They can work in public, private, or corporate settings.
There is a growing demand for knowledgeable nurses who can select, develop, implement, and evaluate information technology. One hundred per cent of our graduates have found employment immediately after graduation.
As a graduate of the double degree Master of Nursing and Master of Science in Health Informatics program you will develop advanced competencies in the following areas:
The importance of nursing informatics
The nursing informatics program provides knowledge, skills and training to identify concerns, design safe and usable systems and address nursing practice issues before and during technology implementation.
What Jobs Can An Msn Prepare You For
An MSN can provide nurses with the foundation to take their experience further and improve the delivery of healthcare. Nurses with an MSN can expect to work in hospitals, clinics, classrooms or labs. In todays day and age, some may even work from their living room, providing patient care remotely. You will learn how to help save lives through an advanced understanding of using data to inform decisions and improve patient care, coach other nurses, provide specialty family care or influence the future of nursing. It all depends on the advanced practice path you choose to pursue.
A Master of Science in Nursing can prepare registered nurse graduates for leadership roles in a variety of specializations. These can include nurse administration, nurse education, informatics and family nurse practitioner. Read on to learn more about the potential roles available to graduates of a Master of Science in Nursing program.
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How Much Does An Informatics Nurse Make
With your new degree and nursing specialization, you can expect a variety of benefits. That includes a potential financial boost. A majority of surveyed individuals reported an average nursing informatics salary of $88,000.*
*USF Health, at Nurse informatics specialist: job description and salary information . Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual salary.
Masters In Health Informatics
There are over 100 hospitals in the U.S. alone that utilize 3D printing technology, with more than 100 more worldwide. These printers are used to create prosthetics and artificial bones for surgical reconstruction, and are just one of the many technological innovations clinicians are using to improve the quality of care they provide as well as patient outcomes.
Medical technologies not only have the potential to help patients, but they can also lead to enhanced clinical productivity, according to a The era of exponential improvement in healthcare? article published by McKinsey and Company in 2019. The authors note that technology-driven improvements in clinical productivity, consumer satisfaction, and health outcomes could deliver net savings equal to 2.6 to 3 percent of national health expenditures by 2025.
For those with an interest in both healthcare and computer science, these statistics may intrigue or excite you, or make you want to learn more about how the two disciplines overlap. One way to launch a career in health informatics is to earn an advanced degree in the subject. A masters in health informatics can offer a range of professional opportunities across the clinical and public health sectors, from discovering new ways to efficiently store, receive and assess electronic medical records to overseeing the technological infrastructures that store those records.
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Jobs As A Clinical Specialist
One of the most common career options that a nursing informatics graduate will choose is nursing informatics clinical specialist. A clinical specialist works in a hospital, doctor office, or another medical setting where there is a strong reliance on electronic computer systems. It is the clinical specialists role to design and implement new systems for documenting or storing information in a patients Electronic Medical Record.
It is also common for a clinical nursing informatics specialist to play a part in software development for programs that will be used primarily by nursing professionals. If the specialist is a part of software design or implementation, they may help train the team how to use programs.
Careers As A Nursing Instructor
Registered nurses who enjoy teaching others or research may be interested in specializing nurse education. This can lead to a career as a postsecondary nursing teacher or instructor. These professionals are responsible for teaching patient care to nursing students in classrooms or clinical units. Nursing instructors often work at universities, community colleges or other postsecondary education providers. When not teaching, they may be involved in research or other administrative tasks.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , the job growth outlook for postsecondary instructors is 9% from 2019-2029, much faster than the national average. BLS reports that the median pay in 2020 was $80,790 per year.
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Admission Requirements For The Master Of Science In Nursing
Applicants must have a regionally or nationally accredited bachelors degree with a 3.0 or above GPA for admission in good standing. Please visit ouradmission requirements page for more detailed admissions-related information.
At this time, our MSN degree is limited in certain states. Please view the licensure/certification requirements for your state. International students can contact the School of Nursing for questions about admission to their specific degree of interest.
All applicants must submit the following:
- Admission application
- Minimum of 1 year of nursing practice as a registered nurse
- 1 recommenders contact information
- Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse
- Statement of Essential Attributes
- Unofficial college transcripts may be accepted with a completed official transcript request form**
- Proof of English proficiency
Nurses educated outside of the United States must submit additional documentation in order to be considered for admission. Please see theMSN admissions page for additional information.
*There is no upfront application fee however, a deferred $50 application fee will be assessed during Financial Check-In. This fee is waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses documentation verifying military status is required.
**An official transcript is needed within 60 days of acceptance or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first.