Online Nursing Care Informatics Degree :: Accredited Universities

The Master of Science in Nursing: Health Care Informatics program is designed for BSN-prepared nurses who want to better understand and apply the data involved in health care to make better decisions through evidenced-based practices. This master‛s program in nursing informatics will assist nurses in the use of patient and health data to achieve better patient outcomes, reduce costs, and optimize operational efficiency.

Graduates of the Master of Science in Nursing: Health Care Informatics program may take on roles within an organization such as automating clinical care, building new operational data systems, training health care workers in the use of computer systems, collecting and analyzing data to improve patient care, etc. Graduates of the nursing informatics program may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, primary care facilities, doctor's offices, insurance companies, pharmacies, technology suppliers, consulting firms, and more.

The program culminates in a capstone course that provides an opportunity for students to develop an evidence-based practice project proposal that addresses a problem, issue, or concern in professional practice. Students identify a problem amenable to research-based intervention; search literature; propose a solution; and develop a plan to implement the solution, evaluate its outcome(s), and disseminate the findings.

Entry Requirements

Applicants to university graduate programs may be accepted for admission by meeting one of the criteria specified below:

Degree Bearing Transcripts
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An undergraduate degree from an accredited, GCU-approved college, university or program with a GPA of 2.8 or better on the degree-bearing transcript

OR

A graduate degree from an accredited, GCU-approved college, university or program

Test Scores
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If students cannot meet the GPA requirement, they may still be eligible for admission by meeting certain graduate test scores:
Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT): 500
Graduate Record Examination (GRE): 1,000 combined verbal/quantitative, prior to August 2011; 300 combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011

Other Fees

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There is an increasing demand for professionals who understand the relationship between health care, information technology, and leadership.

The Master of Professional Study degree program with a concentration in Healthcare Administration prepares you for a rewarding and challenging career dedicated to the vital role of enhancing the quality of care, reducing health care costs, and addressing health care issues.

As healthcare issues become more complex due to changes in healthcare policy, and a rapidly aging population, the Master of Professional Studies program with a concentration in Healthcare Administration will effectively prepare students for careers as leaders in the healthcare industry. TTU graduates will positively influence the direction of healthcare facilities using ethical decision-making, data analysis, and a deep understanding of the healthcare system as it exists in the United States.

The Healthcare Administration M.P.S. uses an interdisciplinary approach of study designed to provide professionals with leadership and strategic management tools to lead and serve in one of the nation's largest service industries. The program's focus is to provide professionals with the opportunity to develop important skills in healthcare, leadership, finance, informatics, research, and administration in the various components of healthcare delivery systems that include hospitals, nursing homes, group medical practices, personal care homes, retirement centers, health maintenance organizations, medical sales and insurance companies.

Entry Requirements

1. Grade Point Average on Bachelor's degree of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited college or university

2. Official transcripts from your bachelor's institution and any institutions attended since that degree

3. Acceptable score on the GRE, at least 400 verbal, 500 quantitative and a 4.0 on analytical writing

4. Applicants with five or more years of professional work experience may submit a portfolio in lieu of the GRE. The portfolio must include:

- a resume

- a 500- to 600-word essay detailing the reasons for wanting to enter the MPS program and discussing how the program will help the applicant achieve personal and professional goals

- two sealed letters of professional reference

- Additional items that may be included:

description of professional responsibilities
professional achievements
professional awards/recognitions

5. Portfolio material must be submitted as a packet, not mailed separately.

6. International Applicants must also meet the English Language Requirement by providing test results on one of the following:

TOEFL--minimum IBT of 71
IELTS--minimum score of 5.5
PTE Academic--minimum score of 48
FLS Level 8

Other Fees

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Health care is moving ahead; shouldn’t your career? As nursing becomes more complex, a bachelor of science degree in nursing can help move your career forward. Our RN to B.S. program builds and expands on the RN competencies needed to lead change and positively affect the health care industry. Earning a B.S. degree can also properly prepare you to attend graduate school.

Why the RN to B.S. Online Program at Penn State

Take classes anywhere — With Penn State World Campus, all RN to B.S. classes are online, and you can fulfill your clinical requirements near your home. You can also choose to take your nursing courses at an accelerated pace for ultimate flexibility through our Accelerated RN to B.S. program. If you live near a Penn State campus and wish to participate in both classroom and online learning, you can blend the two experiences while earning your degree.

Beyond a degree — You can enhance your professional credentials by earning one of our specialized certificates as you move from an RN to a B.S. Choose from the certificate in Nursing Management, Nursing Informatics, or the Nursing Forensics to help you set yourself apart from others on the career ladder. Some of the credits you earn in one of the certificate programs can be applied toward the requirements for your B.S. degree. In addition, some courses in the certificate programs may apply toward graduate work or may satisfy continuing professional education requirements.

Recognition — The Penn State RN to B.S program is one of the top online programs in the nation. It is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

If you are a registered nurse with a valid United States RN license and you want to advance in your career, the online RN to B.S. program may be the right choice for you. The B.S. degree can help you move up to a supervisory role or build a solid foundation to become a clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, nurse-midwife, or nurse practitioner.

Career Opportunities for B.S. Graduates

Research has established a clear link between higher levels of nursing education and better patient outcomes. Additionally, graduates develop stronger professional-level skills such as communication, leadership, professional integration, and research/evaluation, as a result of completing the B.S. program.

Penn State RN to B.S. graduates can choose from numerous career opportunities and work in different aspects of the health care industry, including:

administrative or management positions
education
research
consulting
community and public health centers
social work case management
specialization areas
pharmaceutical sales
insurance

Entry Requirements

To apply for this program, you must be a high school graduate, or have completed your GED. You must have completed an RN program or have an RN license.

International applicants
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International students whose native language is not English must submit proof of English language proficiency.
The scores must be less than two years old. The following are ways in which you can satisfy the language proficiency requirement:

TOEFL: A minimum TOEFL score of 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL or 550 on the paper exam (score reports must be official and cannot be more than two years old (code #2660);

IELTS: A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 on the academic test

SAT score of 530 or higher on the critical reading section (code #2660);

ACT score of 24 or higher on the English section (code #3656);

IGCSE score of A, B, or C on the English language exam,
IB score of 5 or higher on the English Language & Literature (SL/HL) exam.

Other Fees

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The online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a professional, practice-focused doctoral degree designed to prepare highly qualified advanced practice nurses to be leaders and deliver expert nursing care and ultimately improve health care outcomes. This degree is designed for you if you are a nurse who plans to continue in a practice role, and you have already received a bachelor's or master's degree with a major in nursing.

Doctor of Nursing Practice at Penn State

Providing quality nursing education since 1964, Penn State's College of Nursing, in partnership with Penn State World Campus, can help you update your knowledge and skills to meet the demands of the constantly changing health care field. Based on your previous education and nursing experience, the DNP degree will have two entry options:

- directly from the Bachelor of Science in Nursing for nurse administrators

- post–Master of Science in Nursing for nurse administrators and advanced practice nurses

Your online DNP courses

Built on the DNP essentials developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the curriculum will focus on the translation of research into practice, transformational leadership, and advanced expert nursing practice. To support these essentials, your course work will also include nursing/change theory, foundations of advanced practice, health policy, informatics, and population-based health.

While providing you with the convenience and flexibility of an online program, the online DNP will include the same rigor you would expect from a traditional doctoral-level nursing program. In order to properly prepare you for the highest level of clinical nursing practice, you will be required to attend in-person intensive sessions and complete other doctoral benchmarks, including your candidacy examination, comprehensives, and capstone project with an oral presentation.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in nursing from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or a postsecondary degree in nursing that is equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree earned from an officially recognized degree-granting international institution. Students entering from the post-master's route must have earned a master's degree with a major in nursing from a program accredited by a national accrediting agency for nursing.

Applicants to the DNP program must also have a current license to practice professional nursing in at least one state in the United States. You are also expected to have a grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) meeting the requirements for your track:

BS to DNP: cumulative undergraduate GPA ≥ 3.5 and B+ or better on subsequent coursework

MSN to DNP: cumulative graduate GPA ≥ 3.5 and B+ or better on subsequent coursework

International applicants
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All international applicants must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below. The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 550 for the paper-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the internet-based test (iBT). Applicants with iBT speaking scores between 15 and 18 may be considered for provisional admission, which requires completion of specified remedial English courses ESL 114G (American Oral English for Academic Purposes) and/or ESL 116G (ESL/Composition for Academic Disciplines) and attainment of a grade of B or higher. The minimum acceptable composite score for the IELTS is 6.5. Graduate programs may have more stringent requirements.

Other Fees

BS to DNP tuition - $ 47824 for entire program

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The DNP prepares advanced practice nurses who demonstrate clinical expertise, judgment, scholarship, and leadership to provide the highest level of nursing practice in the primary health care setting.

DNP (Family/Individual) Educational Objectives
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1. Integrate nursing science and theory, biophysical, psychosocial, ethical, analytical, and organizational sciences as the foundation for the highest level of nursing practice.

2. Analyze complex health care systems to assess strengths and weaknesses and facilitate organization-wide changes in practice delivery.

3. Synthesize, interpret, and apply knowledge from nursing practice, research, theory, and informatics to evaluate outcomes and sustain evidence-based advanced nursing practice.

4. Advocate for health care policy addressing issues of social justice and equality in the delivery of advanced practice nursing services.

5. Enact leadership and effective communication in inter- and intra-professional collaborator relationships to facilitate and improve outcomes for individuals, populations, and health care systems.

6. Assess epidemiological, financial, sociopolitical, occupational, and organizational forces in the development, implementation, and evaluation of clinical prevention and population health.

7. Integrate professional standards, values, accountability, and ongoing self-reflection into role acquisition as an advanced practice nurse.

8. Influence health outcomes by providing advanced independent comprehensive health care services including health promotion and counseling, health assessment and diagnosis, disease prevention, and management of health and illness of individuals and families throughout the lifespan.

Entry Requirements

Any applicant who has received a bachelor's or master's degree in nursing from a regionally accredited college or university may apply for admission to The Graduate School.

An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Applicants with post-baccalaureate coursework must have a graduate GPA of at least 3.0.

Should be a registered nurse.

International applicants
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International applicants must prove English Language proficiency in one of the following ways :

Internet-based TOEFL Test (iBT) 80
Paper-based TOEFL Test (PBT) 550
IELTS 7

Other Fees

Tuition fee for BSN - DNP - $ 18658 per year.

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