Nursing Informatics

Application Periods

Acceptance Cohort Available Pathways Application Period Classes Begin
Spring Part-Time & Post-Master's June 2 through November 1 January
Summer Part-Time November 2 through April 1 May
Fall Full-Time & Part-Time January 1 through June 1 August

NOTE: It is recommended that applicants apply to the Graduate School at least 1 month before submitting a program application to account for admission processes. Students MUST be accepted prior to application consideration.

Background

The Nursing Informatics (NI) graduate nursing program is designed for students who have already earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from an accredited program and who wish to continue their education and earn their Master of Science in Nursing as an advanced practice registered nurse who combines nursing science, information management science, and computer science to manage and process nursing data, information, and knowledge to deliver quality care to the public. The goal of this program is to improve the health of populations, communities, families, and individuals by optimizing information management and communication.

Nursing informatics allows for timelier access to data, information, and clinical care as a necessity in the arena of healthcare delivery. Technology has become a central means to the reduction of time spent in the maneuvering of patient records, which allows for more time for direct client care and, thus, safer, quality care. The increased adoption and use of technology within healthcare and society has influenced the nursing informatics specialty in a multitude of fashions. Considering the increased use of automation, artificial intelligence, and big data in healthcare, the specialty must also reconceptualize the roles of both nurses and informaticians to ensure that the nursing profession is ready to operate within the profession.

Qualified nurses that possess a nursing informatics degree can apply to be Chief Information Officers, Chief Nursing Officers, Clinical Analysts, Clinical Informatics Nurses, Clinical Specialists, Health Informatics Officers, Informatics Nurse, and Nursing Informatics Specialists.

Program Format

The NI program is a wholly online graduate nursing program designed to be completed in 4 semesters (full-time), 5-7 semesters (part-time), or 3 semesters (post-master's certification). This program culminates with the student earning a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nursing Informatics.

Admission Criteria

  1. FIRST, submit an application to Albany State University's Graduate School and be admitted in good standing.
    • To enter the program leading to the Master of Science in Nursing Degree, the student must meet the requirements established for all graduate degree programs at Albany State University, as established by its Graduate School.
  2. AFTER being accepted as a graduate student at Albany State University, submit the completed program application and application fee by the application deadline.
  3. Possess a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program.
  4. Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or 2.0 (on a 3.0 scale).
  5. Complete the following undergraduate courses: Assessment in Health Care/Health Assessment; Pathophysiology/Pathophysiology for RN's; Research/Research in Nursing; and Introduction to Statistics.
  6. Have documentation of current Professional Nursing Licensure in their state of practice prior to entering the functional track.
    • Students intending to practice or satisfy clinical requirements within the state of Georgia must also provide documentation of current Professional Nursing Licensure in Georgia.
  7. Arrange for a personal interview with the Graduate Nursing Programs Director.
  8. Submit three (3) references regarding professional accomplishments and academic potential (if the references submitted to the Graduate School are not professional references).
  9. Following admission to the nursing program, students must submit the following documentation prior to the course’s established pre-clinical deadline: certificate of immunization, current basic life support (BLS) for healthcare providers, malpractice insurance, proof of active health insurance (or enrollment into the student health insurance plan), a complete criminal background check, a drug test, and an annual health physical at the expense of the student. The criminal background check will be completed utilizing PreCheck.com.
    • Certificate of Immunization: Must be on file in Student Health Services indicating that all immunizations are current based on his/her age. Immunizations include Hepatitis B (or waiver), MMR, tetanus, varicella, tuberculosis, and any other immunization(s) deemed necessary by the University and/or the clinical site.
    • BLS Card: A current CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) basic life support (BLS) for healthcare providers card . All students must be certified by the American Heart Association (AHA) in child and adult BLS for health care providers. This certification must be maintained throughout the program (renewed every 2 years). An outdated CPR certification will prohibit the student from attending clinical practice experiences.
    • Students are subjected to compulsory background checks per clinical agency requirements and may also be required to submit to random tests for illegal use of controlled substance as a provided by the law or regulations of the contracting agency. If the site refuses to allow a student to attend clinical experiences, the nursing program is not obligated to find another clinical site. The student may not be able to complete the nursing program at ASU. Therefore, it is important to conduct personal record checks prior to admission to the nursing program.
  10. A student who has failed (C, D, F, or WF) two (2) graduate nursing courses—whether at ASU or another graduate-level program—will be ineligible for admission (or continuation) in the nursing program at ASU. Students who have been dismissed for two (2) nursing failures or for cause may request readmission after two (2) years of receiving notice of dismissal. For readmission policies, please refer to the appropriate section in the Graduate Nursing Student Handbook.

 Admission Procedures

PHASE 1: Evaluation & INTERVIEWS

Review of applications will be conducted following conclusion of the application period. Applications received earliest will be reviewed first and may receive priority in scheduling interviews.

Interviews will be offered to the most qualified applicants and may be conducted on-campus or online, depending on faculty and student availability/preference. These interviews typically take place 1 month prior to the beginning of the relevant semester. During the interview, the candidate will meet with program faculty to discuss their application responses, review the program curriculum, and determine overall program admission eligibility. Applicants who decline this interview will be ineligible for program admission.

PHASE 2: ACCEPTANCE DETERMINATION

Notification of program acceptance or denial will occur after all candidates have been interviewed. Letters will include assignment to one of the following admission categories: conditional acceptance, alternate candidate, or regret. Any outstanding requirements for the selected program must be completed and/or verified prior to matriculation.

Interviewees who are selected as conditional or alternate candidates for the graduate nursing program must complete and submit the following:

  1. Review the Master of Science in Nursing Student Handbook, then sign and return the “Acknowledgement: Receipt of MSN Student Handbook” page (found at the end of this handbook) to denote understanding and acceptance of the policies detailed within.
  2. A copy of a government-issued photo identification.
  3. Documentation of an active professional nursing license within the state in which you intend to complete your clinicals.
  4. Documentation evidencing satisfaction (and/or maintenance) of the following requirements prior to the established pre-clinical deadline for each nursing course with a clinical/laboratory component:
    • Complete criminal background check and 10-panel drug screening (via PreCheck)
    • Students are subjected to compulsory background checks per clinical agency requirements and may also be required to submit to random tests for illegal use of controlled substances as a provision by the law or regulations of the contracting agency. If the site refuses to allow a student to attend clinical experiences, the nursing program is not obligated to find another clinical site, and the student will not be able to complete the nursing program at ASU. Therefore, it is important to conduct personal record checks prior to admission to the nursing program.
    • Active health insurance (or enrollment in the Student Health Insurance Plan)
    • Documentation of current malpractice insurance, which must meet the following coverage requirements:
      • Medical Specialty: Explicit reference to coverage as a “student” within your current program of study. Please note that having coverage as only a “Registered Nurse” or “Employed Nurse” will NOT satisfy this requirement.
      • Professional Liability Amount: Students must have a minimum coverage amount of $1,000,000 each claim and $6,000,000 aggregate.
    • Immunization record documenting the following: measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, varicella, and any other immunization(s) deemed necessary by the University and/or the clinical site. Hepatitis B vaccination is also recommended for clinical settings but is not required.
      • Hepatitis B: Recommended for clinical settings, but NOT required. You may elect to either receive the three-series shot (plus titer) or refuse and provide a signed Hepatitis B Waiver Form (available from the department upon request).
      • Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, and Rubella: By a positive titer, physician’s diagnosis of disease, or two (2) doses of vaccine. Depending on your medical history, you may have had these vaccinations given individually or as part of an MMR series.
      • Tetanus: Required if you have not received a vaccination in the past 10 years. This can be taken individually or as part of the TDAP vaccination series. If your learning experience is in women’s services, neonate, pediatric, urgent care, or emergency department, you must be compliant with the Varicella information as noted below and have at least one dose of the TDAP (tetanus, diphtheria, aceulluar pertussis) vaccine if your last TD (tetanus, diphtheria) vaccine was two or more years ago.
      • Varicella: By a positive titer, physician’s diagnosis of disease, or two (2) doses of vaccine. The school must notify the clinical site if you have no immunity to Varicella, and any exposure to chicken pox or shingles must be reported immediately.
        • NOTE: Declinations for any of the required vaccinations listed above will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may affect clinical participation.
    • Basic life support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers card (must be certified by the American Heart Association)
      • AHA certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and/or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) may also be required depending on clinical site requirements.
      • Automated External Defibrillators (AED) courses and courses that are “consistent with” AHA standards (but do not explicitly specify AHA certification) will NOT satisfy this requirement.
    • Tuberculosis screening via
      • Purified Protein Derivative (PPD): requires an intradermal injection; results are typically read within 48 to 72 hours after initial injection
      • T-SPOT®.TB Test (T-spot): requires a blood sample to be drawn from patient; results are typically available within 24 hours
      • QuantiFERON® TB Gold In-Tube Test (QFT-GIT): requires a blood sample to be drawn from patient; results are typically available within 24 hours
      • Chest X-Ray: utilizes chest radiography; result availability varies
        • NOTE: Students with positive screening results and/or evidence of active tuberculosis may require additional testing (including chest x-rays) and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, which may affect clinical participation.
    • Annual health physical assessment, most frequently received from a student’s current employer or appropriate health facility, denoting that a student has no limitations that would prevent him/her from performing or completing his/her clinical duties and requirements.
      • Depending on the site from which the physical is given, the examination may be brief or thorough and can include any of the following: medical history; vital signs; general appearance; heart, lung, head/neck, vision, abdominal, neurological, dermatological, and extremities exams; and any gender-specific exams.
    • Identify potential clinical sites in your geographic area.
      • As part of your admission process, ASU requires that you identify potential clinical sites appropriate to the course you will be taking, which you will contact in the future to arrange your required field experiences.

PHASE 3: FINAL SELECTION

Applicants are given notice of final selection by mail once all requirements have been met. It is imperative that applicants have made financial and personal preparations to ensure readiness to begin the program.

Curriculum Patterns

Full-Time

Fall Entry (4 Semesters)

NOTE: The full-time program pathway ONLY accepts for the Fall semester.

Fall Semester Spring Semester Summer Semester
NURS 5100 Adv. Health Assessment (3)
NURS 5210 Adv. Pathophysiology (3)
NURS 5910 Pharm. In Adv. Practice (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 9		 NURS 5110 Nursing Roles & Theory (3)
NURS 6500 Informatics in Nursing/HC (3)
NURS 6505 Database Sys. & Info. Mgmt. (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 9		 NURS 5120 Adv. Nursing Research (optional) (3)
NURS 6520 Interop/Workflow in HC Sys. (3)
NURS 6530 Impl/Mgmt. in HC Sys. (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 6 or 9
NURS 5120 Adv. Nursing Research (if needed) (3)
NURS 6540 Proj. Mgmt. & Synthesis (3)
NURS 6550 Informatics Practicum (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 6 or 9		    

Part-Time

Fall Entry (7 Semesters)

Fall Semester Spring Semester Summer Semester
NURS 5100 Adv. Health Assessment (3)
NURS 5210 Adv. Pathophysiology (optional) (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 3 or 6		 NURS 5110 Nursing Roles & Theory (3)
NURS 5210 Adv. Pathophysiology (if needed) (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 3 or 6		 NURS 5120 Adv. Nursing Research (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 3
NURS 5910 Pharm. In Adv. Practice (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 3		 NURS 6500 Informatics in Nursing/HC (3)
NURS 6505 Database Sys. & Info. Mgmt. (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 6		 NURS 6520 Interop/Workflow in HC Sys. (3)
NURS 6530 Impl/Mgmt. in HC Sys. (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 6
NURS 6540 Proj. Mgmt. & Synthesis (3)
NURS 6550 Informatics Practicum (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 6		    

 

Spring Entry (6 Semesters)

Fall Semester Spring Semester Summer Semester
  NURS 5110 Nursing Roles & Theory (3)
NURS 5210 Adv. Pathophysiology (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 6		 NURS 5100 Adv. Health Assessment (3)
NURS 5120 Adv. Nursing Research (optional) (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 3 or 6
NURS 5120 Adv. Nursing Research (if needed) (3)
NURS 5910 Pharm. In Adv. Practice (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 3 or 6		 NURS 6500 Informatics in Nursing/HC (3)
NURS 6505 Database Sys. & Info. Mgmt. (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 6		 NURS 6520 Interop/Workflow in HC Sys. (3)
NURS 6530 Impl/Mgmt. in HC Sys. (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 6
NURS 6540 Proj. Mgmt. & Synthesis (3)
NURS 6550 Informatics Practicum (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 6		    

 

Summer Entry (5 Semesters)

Fall Semester Spring Semester Summer Semester
    NURS 5100 Adv. Health Assessment (3)
NURS 5110 Nursing Roles & Theory (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 6
NURS 5120 Adv. Nursing Research (3)
NURS 5210 Adv. Pathophysiology (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 6		 NURS 6500 Informatics in Nursing/HC (3)
NURS 6505 Database Sys. & Info. Mgmt. (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 6		 NURS 6520 Interop/Workflow in HC Sys. (3)
NURS 6530 Impl/Mgmt. in HC Sys. (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 6
NURS 5910 Pharm. In Adv. Practice (3)
NURS 6540 Proj. Mgmt. & Synthesis (3)
NURS 6550 Informatics Practicum (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 9		    

 

Post-Master's Certification

Spring Entry (3 Semesters)

NOTE: The post-master's certification pathway ONLY accepts for the Spring semester.

Fall Semester Spring Semester Summer Semester
  NURS 6500 Informatics in Nursing/HC (3)
NURS 6505 Database Sys. & Info. Mgmt. (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 6		 NURS 6520 Interop/Workflow in HC Sys. (3)
NURS 6530 Impl/Mgmt. in HC Sys. (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 6
NURS 6540 Proj. Mgmt. & Synthesis (3)
NURS 6550 Informatics Practicum (3)
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 6