What is a Masters in Health Informatics?

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with an Emphasis in Health Informatics is a program designed for BSN-prepared nurses who wish to gain a deeper understanding of healthcare data and its application in making evidence-based decisions to enhance patient care.

Earn an Online MSN Health Informatics Degree at GCU

The MSN informatics program at the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions includes a capstone course and a 16-week practicum. During this time, students have the opportunity to develop an evidence-based practice project that involves:

– Identifying a research-based intervention for a specific problem
– Conducting a literature search
– Proposing a solution
– Developing a plan for implementing the solution and evaluating its outcomes
– Disseminating the findings

The final practicum focuses on integrating nursing knowledge, leadership, and advanced critical thinking to create a comprehensive and professional project plan. In addition to the capstone and practicum, students take courses that help them develop skills in utilizing technology and data analysis to improve patient care.

The BSN and MSN programs at GCU are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), though specific states may have additional requirements to meet their standards. Students are encouraged to refer to their enrollment agreement or contact GCU for more information.

Why Study Health Informatics?

Pursuing a master’s degree in health informatics equips individuals with the knowledge to optimize patient and health data usage for improved patient outcomes, cost reduction, and increased operational efficiency. Graduates of this program are well-prepared to assist organizations in adapting to technological integration and constant changes in patient-care systems.

Students also have the opportunity to learn about automating clinical care, creating new operational data systems, training healthcare professionals in computer system usage, and analyzing data to enhance patient care.

The MSN informatics online degree program covers various courses, including:

– Healthcare research analysis
– Ethics, policy, and finance
– Healthcare information systems
– Project evaluation and development
– Healthcare innovation
– Healthcare data management
– Electronic health records
– Research and population health management
– Leadership and informatics

What is a Job in Health Informatics?

Upon completing the masters in nursing informatics program, graduates can explore various roles, such as:

– Informaticist
– Project manager
– Researcher
– System analyst
– Data analyst
– Administrator
– Executive

These roles may involve tasks such as automating clinical care, creating new operational data systems, training healthcare professionals in computer system usage, or collecting and analyzing data to improve patient care.

Health informatics professionals have opportunities to work in diverse settings, including hospitals, primary care facilities, doctor’s offices, insurance companies, pharmacies, technology suppliers, consulting firms, and government agencies.