Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Nursing Specialization in Nursing Informatics

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Program
Nursing

Procedure for Admission to Master of Science in Nursing Programs

Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

The criteria to determine admission to the Master of Science in Nursing degree program include: 

  • Completion of the application for admission
  • A bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) from an accredited institution.
  • A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale.
  • Provisional Admissions: South University College of Nursing and Public Health fosters diversity through a holistic provisional admission status for students with a GPA less than 3.0.
    • Applicants with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 -2.99 must receive a final course grade of B or better in all nursing courses for the first quarter to be fully admitted into the MSN program.
    • Applicants with a GPA between 2.50 and 2.74 will be considered for provisional admission with submission of a current resume and a letter explaining challenges faced in previous academic experiences.

Students must receive a final course grade of B or better in all nursing courses for the first quarter to be fully admitted into the MSN program.

Students who do not receive a final course grade of B or better in all nursing courses will have the provisional admission rescinded. There is no appeal for rescinding provisional status. 

  • Submission of official transcripts from every college or university attended within 5 weeks of the class start date (refer to Conditional Acceptance).
  • A valid and unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse in all US states or territory in which the student is licensed, including the state in which the student completes all assignments and clinical rotations, for entry and maintenance of admission to the program. (Note that military, federal, and foreign educated nurses must meet their state/territory requirement for nursing licensure).

For additional admissions information please see the admissions section here. 

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

The Master of Science in Nursing degree program (MSN) is designed to develop and enhance the knowledge and skills of registered nurses. It is also designed for those nurses who want to pursue advanced positions in today's challenging healthcare environment. The program, based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Master's Essentials, blends nursing theory with advanced practice concepts that prepare students to work within a healthcare organization or educational setting.

All applicants to the MSN program must hold a valid and unencumbered license as a registered nurse in all US states or territory in which the student is licensed, including the state in which the student completes all assignments for the program. (Note that military, federal, and foreign educated nurses must meet this state requirement for nursing licensure).  An unencumbered license(s) must be maintained throughout the program.  Additionally, all applicants must successfully complete a criminal background check and a drug screening. Clinical affiliation agencies may require additional personal testing.

The program consists of five core courses and courses in an area of specialization in education, administration, informatics, and various nurse practitioner programs. Program includes practica and experiences in areas of specialization.

Courses may be waived if the individual's master's transcript indicates that s/he has successfully completed the required course or its equivalent. Waivers and exceptions will be determined on the written request of individual students through a transcript analysis as determined by the Program Director, Chair, or College Dean.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will:

  1. Synthesize current scientific research, theories, and concepts from nursing and other disciplines for application in advanced nursing roles.
  2. Collaborates directly with other healthcare professionals using various resources and technologies in various aspects of the advanced nursing leadership role.
  3. Model a professional leadership role to formulate comprehensive plans of action for ongoing contributions to healthcare systems improvement.
  4. Formulate a plan for ongoing contributions to improvement of healthcare delivery and development of health policy in a cost-effective manner.
  5. Demonstrate ethical and legal standards of practice in the decision-making process to assist with delivery of quality care associated with a specialty area of advanced nursing practice.

Master of Science in Nursing (Specialization in Nursing Informatics)

Offered at Online Programs.

Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

The 21st century nurse informaticist will transform care of patients and communities by optimizing information management and communication. These activities include the design and use of informatics solutions and technology to support all areas of nursing practice, including the direct provision of care, establishing effective administrative systems, designing useful decision support systems, managing and delivering educational experiences, enhancing lifelong learning, and supporting nursing research. The Master of Science in Nursing program with a specialization in Nursing Informatics at South University is designed to prepare the next generation of nursing leaders to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities to develop and implement information management systems in a variety of settings including home health and hospice agencies, nursing homes, public and community health agencies, physician offices, ambulatory care centers, medical device vendors, large and small software companies, web content providers, disease management companies, and government agencies. Students will complete 240 practicum hours during progression through the program.

Program curriculum for the MSN with a specialization in Nursing Informatics includes key attributes from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials of Masters Education for Advanced Practice Nursing (2011), the Alliance for Nursing Informatics (2010), and the ANA Scope and Standards of Practice (2008). Students completing this program will be eligible to sit for the AACC certification examination.

Specialization Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will: 

  1. Formulate principles and concepts of project management for the implementation of information systems in the provision of patient-centered care for various healthcare settings.
  2. Extract data from clinical data sets to provide evidenced-based support for identification of potential problems and trends.
  3. Evaluate documentation within healthcare information systems to provide insight for quality improvement and strategic planning.

Master of Science in Nursing (Specialization in Nursing Informatics): 48 Credits

MSN Core 20 Credits

Course Code
Title
Credits
This course examines the role of the advanced practice nurse in the clinical, primary care, education, administration, research, healthcare specialty, health policy, and political arenas. The historical role of the nurse, nursing theory and leadership models within a variety of healthcare regulatory models provide the basis for self-reflection, self-mastery, professional integrity, and ethical decision making to help the student transition from clinical expert to the advanced practice role. A minimum grade of B is required to pass this course.

Credits : 4

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This course explores theories related to nursing, health care and learning. Students will have the opportunity to analyze and critique various theories. Students will demonstrate how theory is applied to research. A minimum grade of a B is necessary to pass this course.

Credits : 4

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This course builds on and applies concepts from the humanities, behavioral sciences, biological sciences and nursing science in an examination of pathophysiologic principles and common pathological conditions. The topics of cellular biology, genes and gene-environment interactions, mechanisms of self-defense, cellular proliferation, and pathophysiologic alterations related to organs and body systems, are addressed. The focus is on pathological conditions encountered in clinical practice across the life span of patients, including but not limited to geriatric, adult, and pediatric considerations. Emphasis is placed on regulatory and compensatory mechanisms as they relate to commonly occurring diseases. A minimum grade of B is required to pass this course.

Credits : 4

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In this course, the learner cultivates an understanding of health care policy formation and evaluation, while examining the nursing role in public policy, finance and politics. The organization and delivery of healthcare is explored, applying the most current knowledge available in the areas of health promotion and disease prevention. Guidelines, initiatives, mandates and recommendations from a wide range of agencies and organizations provide a solid foundation from which nurses in advanced practice roles can plan, implement and evaluate care designed to promote health and prevent disease.

Credits : 4

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This course prepares the graduate student to develop and refine essential skills necessary to strengthen critique of selected research studies. The student will identify a topic or problem using consideration of national/ international research imitates and priorities. The student will complete a NIH learning module which emphases ethical guidelines to protect the rights of human subjects. Both quantitative and qualitative research designs will be assessed for essential understanding of research elements. A minimum grade of B is required to pass this course.

Credits : 4

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Sub-Total Credits
20

Specialization in Nursing Informatics: 28 Credits

Course Code
Title
Credits
Concepts, systems development and effective use of up-to-date tools and application software, focusing on IT infrastructure, systematic approach to management, processes involved in managing IT infrastructures, best practices to IT service support and service delivery, the place of IT infrastructure and IT service in an organization, IT management frameworks, and concepts of the work processes used to manage an IT infrastructure.

Credits : 4

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In this course the student reviews and comprehends the principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics of drugs commonly used in the management of acute and chronic illnesses across the lifespan. Emphasis is on the therapeutic decision-making in drug selection and monitoring therapeutic response for culturally diverse patients. Patient education, legal, ethical and economic issues are reviewed. A minimum grade of B is required to pass this course.

Credits : 4

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This course explores the role of the nurse informaticist using the ANA (American Nurses Association) Scope and Standards of Practice for Nursing Informatics. Informatics theories, including Rogers Theory of Diffusion of Innovation, the Technology Acceptance Model, and Locsin's Technology Competence as Caring in Nursing will be examined.

Credits : 4

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This course examines issues and trends in nursing informatics from sources such as professional and governmental regulations, academic and professional literature, and case studies. Topics may include the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act, meaningful use, and Health Level 7, with an emphasis on how these issues affect nursing informaticists in their current and future roles.

Credits : 4

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This course is the first course in a two-course series which synthesizes content from the specialty informatics courses into a culminating "clinical" nursing informatics experience. In both courses the learner enacts the role of the nursing informatics professional. Content will include clinical informatics experiences. The course involves obtaining a local mentor and practicing the informatics role under guided mentorship. The majority of clinical time will be spent in an informatics organizational setting mutually agreed upon by the instructor, the mentor, and the student. A minimum grade of a B is required to pass. A minimum of 120 practicum hours is required.

Credits : 4

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This course is the second course in a two-course series which synthesizes content from the specialty informatics courses into a culminating "clinical" nursing informatics experience. In both courses the learner enacts the role of nursing informatics professional. Content will include didactic and clinical informatics experiences. The course involves obtaining a local mentor and practicing the informatics role under guided mentorship. The majority of clinical time will be spent in an informatics organizational setting mutually agreed upon by the instructor, the mentor, and the student.
A minimum grade of a B is required to pass. A minimum of 120 practicum hours is required. 

Credits : 4

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The capstone project is a synthesis and application of advanced nursing knowledge, scholarship, and research to initiate change and to improve practice. The student’s inquiry is focused in the area of their advanced nursing knowledge and on evidenced-based nursing practice issues to develop solutions using available evidence. The student develops a scholarly capstone that will either demonstrate an application of evidence to practice for a substantive change or of a quality improvement initiative to advance the practice of nursing. Emphasis is placed on application of evidence-based research methodology, scholarly writing, and critical thinking. The scholarly capstone is presented in both written and oral forms. A minimum grade of B is required to pass this course.

Credits : 4

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Sub-Total Credits
28
Note(s):

*Students enrolled in Nurse Administrator and Nursing Informatics specializations  wishing to further develop their advanced practice skills should take NSG5003 Advanced Pathophysiology, NSG6001 Advanced Nursing Practice I, and NSG6005 Advanced Pharmacology. Students wishing to further develop their information technology skills may take MIS5020 Information Systems Fundamentals, MIS5030 Emerging Technologies, MIS6000 Principles of System Development, and/or PMC6601 Foundations of Project Management, in place of NSG5003, NSG6001, and/or NSG6005. In all cases students should work closely with their Academic Advisors or Academic Counselors to select appropriate coursework that meets their career needs and course prerequisites.

Total Credits
48