Minnesota is known for its brutally cold winters, thousands and thousands of lakes, and friendly people that welcome you with open arms. But something else Minnesota is known for is higher education.
With more than 200 post-secondary schools in the state, including the University of Minnesota System – the state’s largest – you have a wealth of opportunities to study nursing informatics. This is true whether you are a freshman just beginning your degree, an experienced nurse coming back to school for your master’s degree, or somewhere in between.
Of course, having so much variety is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, you have lots of choices for completing your education.
On the other hand, having so many choices can be overwhelming. To get started, consult this partial list of some of the top nursing informatics programs in Minnesota.
Nursing Informatics Programs in Minnesota
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering nursing informatics programs in Minnesota:
- University of Minnesota
- St. Catherine University
- College of St. Scholastica
- Minnesota State University Mankato
- Wake Forest University
- Capella University
University of Minnesota
Three things have remained the focus of the University of Minnesota throughout the more than 170 years since its founding – research, education, and outreach. As one of only five schools in the nation with on-campus programs in medicine, law, agriculture, engineering, and veterinary medicine, U of M has top-tier program offerings to help guide and direct you toward a career.
What’s more, you qill take classes that focus on research and have the opportunity to participate in groundbreaking studies that can literally change the world. All the while, you will be part of a school that works hard to reach out to the community and allow you and other students to get experiential learning outside of the classroom.
But while you are in class, you will have the advantage of learning from highly experienced faculty who are dedicated to helping you develop the skills required to be successful after graduation.
Nursing Informatics Program Information
The University of Minnesota’s Center for Nursing Informatics at the School of Nursing is one of the best nursing informatics schools in the country. Its Doctor of Nursing Practice has a special emphasis on nursing informatics that puts you on the leading edge of theory and practice in this field.
This is a hybrid program, with most coursework taking place online. However, you must visit campus once each semester for an intensive four-day session. This is a three-year program, so you will make six campus visits
Over the course of this program, you will take a diverse slate of classes that includes:
- Database Principles for Healthcare
- Human Factors and Human-Computer Interaction in Health Informatics
- Knowledge Representation and Interoperability
- Data Science for Healthcare
- Interprofessional Health Care Informatics
In addition to this coursework, you must complete at least 1,000 hours of practicum experience. These experiences take place in or near your community at sites approved by the university.
The admissions requirements for this program are extensive. You must have a BSN or equivalent or an MSN from an accredited nursing program before applying. You must also have at least a 3.0 GPA for work on your most recent degree. Additionally, you must submit the following:
- Proof of a current, valid nursing license
- Three reference letters
- A resume or curriculum vitae, three professional references, and an essay
Select applicants will also be invited to participate in an interview session.
St. Catherine University
St. Catherine University is a small school in St. Paul that has around 4,000 students. With such a small student body, you’re able to make more personal connections with other students and with your professors as well. The small class sizes, low student-to-faculty ratio, and commitment to encouraging everyone’s success are all benefits you can derive as a student at St. Kate’s.
As a private Catholic university, St. Kate’s focuses on the importance of inclusivity, women’s empowerment, and social justice. Your studies will enlighten you with the development of knowledge and skills that make you a better person, a better student, and a better employee, as has been the tradition at St. Kate’s since its founding in 1905.
Nursing Informatics Program Information
The Master of Science in Nursing from St. Kate’s is an online program focusing on nurse informatics. You must complete 36 credits to graduate, which most students can do in about 28 months of studies. The program has start dates in the spring and fall semesters to give you some flexibility regarding when you begin your education.
This program was specifically designed for working nurses, especially RNs with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The curriculum builds off the clinical training and experiences you have and helps you develop the informatics skills required to advance your career. To do so, you will take courses like:
- Foundations for Advanced Practice Nursing
- Leadership for Advanced Nursing Practice
- Advanced Outcomes Measurement and Evaluation
- Leading Healthcare Quality Improvement
- Nurse Informatician as Change Agent
As is common for programs like this, you must also complete a capstone practicum, which gives you the chance to get real-world experience in nursing informatics.
This program is accredited by ACEN – the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. It’s also approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing. However, state regulations prohibit students in certain states from joining this program. This includes students in Canada, Connecticut, New York, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Washington.
To apply, you must meet the following criteria:
- Have an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally-accredited school. The program must also be accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- Have a 3.0 GPA or higher with a B- grade or higher in every nursing course
- Have a current, unencumbered nursing license
- Submit the following
- A graduate application
- An essay
- A resume, two letters of recommendation, and official transcripts from each school you have attended
College of St. Scholastica
The College of St. Scholastica was founded in 1912, and for more than a century, the school’s faculty have guided students like you toward a life of purpose and occupational success. With its emphasis on Benedictine values, the school offers you many opportunities to learn and grow as a student and, more importantly, as a person of good moral standing.
If you prefer studying at a small school, the College of St. Scholastica is a good option – there are just 4,000 or so students studying at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Yet, despite its small size, the school offers dozens of degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. And when you aren’t studying on campus, you can explore historic Duluth and take part in many different outdoor activities that make this a fun place to live, study, and work.
Nursing Informatics Program Information
The Master of Science in Health Informatics from the College of St. Scholastica was developed with working professionals in mind. If you have a bachelor’s degree and want to elevate your job prospects, this 100 percent online program might be for you.
This 42-credit program requires that you maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and earn a grade of C or better in all classes. Your classes include a wide range of topics, like:
- Human Factors and Usability Assessment
- Systems Design and Software Development
- Health Information Technology in Practice
- Healthcare Data Analytics
- Methods of Healthcare Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research
Other courses you might take include Healthcare Finance, IT Project Management, and Health Information Security Systems. You must also complete an applied research project which is guided by a faculty member and culminates with a manuscript that can be submitted for publication.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice faculty includes world-class scholars who are experts in this field. Expect them to challenge you, lead you in addressing your weaknesses, and celebrate your achievements throughout your time in the program.
Before applying to this program, you must pass an inferential statistics course. You must also have an undergraduate degree from an accredited school with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Furthermore, you must complete an online application for admission and provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities you’ve attended.
Minnesota State University Mankato
Minnesota State University, Mankato, looks a lot different than it did when it was founded in 1868. Back then, it was known as Mankato Normal School, and it had just 27 students. Today, the school has more than 14,000 students, including more than 1,300 international students and nearly 2,600 students of color.
The location of the campus – just 85 miles from the Twin Cities – makes Mankato an ideal mix of a more rural setting with easy access to the big city life. The campus, which is just over 300 acres, is in an idyllic location overlooking the Minnesota River Valley.
As tempting as it might be to head outside and take part in the beauty of Minnesota, you will find that studying and attending class here is highly stimulating. There are more than 130 bachelor’s degrees and over 80 graduate programs from which to choose, including the Professional Science Master’s program in health informatics described below.
Nursing Informatics Program Information
With its focus on health promotion, improved healthcare delivery, and leadership, the Professional Science Master’s in Health Informatics and Analytics is a degree that prepares you well for your future career.
This is a 37-credit program that takes approximately two to two-and-a-half years to complete. The curriculum, which is highly varied and interdisciplinary, includes courses like:
- Evidence-Based Practice Through Informatics and Analytics
- Big Data Systems
- Data-Informed Clinical Reasoning
- Database Management Systems
- Data-Informed Leadership
Additionally, you must take one of two available four-credit elective courses. You can choose between Technology Fundamentals for Informatics and Analytics or Health Fundamentals for Informatics and Analytics.
A capstone course is also required to graduate. The capstone requires that you apply your health informatics knowledge in improving areas like healthcare delivery, policy knowledge, and healthcare cost-effectiveness.
To apply, you must fill out an online graduate application for admission. You must also submit unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities you’ve attended, applicable test scores, and a $40 application fee.
Nursing Informatics Work Opportunities in Minnesota
There is no doubt that nursing-related careers are in-demand right now. This is typically the case as medical and healthcare services are constantly in need. And while this is a national trend, it’s also a trend in Minnesota – which is good news if you want to pursue your career in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
In fact, at the time of this writing, there are more than 3,000 nursing informatics-related jobs available in Minnesota. These jobs vary widely in their requirements, duties, and pay, but the sheer number of opportunities available speaks to the need for qualified nurses.
Another way in which Minnesota nursing informatics jobs vary is in their location. Some jobs are in medical settings, like hospitals, while others are in non-clinical settings, like insurance firms. There are many other organizations that utilize nurse informaticists, like state and local governments and private healthcare companies.
Whatever the specific location in which you work, you can earn a very good living.
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