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Master of Science

Nursing Informatics (RN to MSN)

OVERVIEW

Move from RN to MSN and Learn to Utilize Data to Drive Impactful Change


 

This RN to MSN degree lets you put data at the center of decision-making. You became a registered nurse to make a difference, change lives, and empower people to take charge of their health. Now, you’re ready for your next step—one that will broaden your skillset, expand your influence, and maximize the positive impact you have on people’s well-being. What you seek is a degree in nursing informatics, a growing and important field. Nursing informatics focuses on helping health care workers give patients the best possible health care, making a huge difference for patients and entire communities. WGU’s online, CCNE-accredited RN-to-MSN – Nursing Informatics program prepares you to arm your fellow health care practitioners with the data, knowledge, and wisdom to make the kinds of decisions that truly improve care and shape outcomes. This online nursing RN to MSN degree program builds on your previous nursing education and experience, beginning with BSN-level coursework and continuing with cutting-edge health care curriculum designed to make you an in-demand, master's-prepared nursing informatics specialist.

This online RN to MSN nursing informatics degree program also includes clinical practice experiences such as analyzing and visually displaying data from a dataset. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to earn the NAHQ (National Association for Healthcare Quality) HQ Principles certificate along with your degree, helping you to boost your resumé before you even graduate.

Already have your BSN? No problem! Check out the BSN-to-MSN version of this nursing informatics program or compare other MSN programs

82% of RN to MSN grads finish within 

36 Months*

WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. The result: You may finish faster.

*WGU Internal Data

Tuition per six-month term is

$4,685

Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps you reduce the ultimate cost of your degree. Finish faster, pay less!

Students can transfer up to

90 credits

Students from an accredited program will receive 80 transfer credits toward their BSN at application, and will have their transcript evaluated for up to 10 more transfer credits.

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Bridge RN to MSN Programs

Earn Credentials on the Way to an MSN


 

RN to MSN programs at WGU allow you to complete your BSN and then move forward to your MSN. As you are close to finishing your BSN coursework, you will choose your MSN specialty: Nursing Education, Leadership and Management, or Nursing Informatics. Upon completion of your undergraduate coursework and the conferral of your BSN degree, you will also have taken 5 graduate-level courses, which allows you to earn a post-baccalaureate certificate. This helps you enhance your résumé and demonstrate your advanced education right away. A post-baccalaureate certificate credential is a great addition to your résumé and shows your current or potential employers the value you can bring to your position even while you are finishing your MSN degree. Or if you need to delay your MSN portion, you can still showcase the graduate-level coursework you have already completed. 

Now's the time to advance your healthcare career with a master's degree. There is no RN work requirement. This means you don't need to be currently working as an RN in order to be eligible for admission into our MSN programs.

Safety Notice

WGU and the Leavitt School of Health are committed to the health, safety, and well-being of all patients, community members, and key stakeholders that interact with WGU students at various clinical/host sites. Interactions might include direct patient interaction, observation experiences, laboratory experiences, project development, or conducting research.  Standard compliance verification for students in applicable LSH programs is required to protect the public, meet LSH program expectations, reasonably assure compliance with state regulatory board requirements, meet WGU’s contractual and legal obligations with clinical partners, and support WGU’s mission to prepare students who will be qualified to enter their desired field. Compliance items may include, but are not limited to, background checks, immunizations, and drug screens as needed.

COURSES

Nursing Informatics Courses

Program consists of 14 courses

At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.

This RN to MSN Nursing Informatics degree prepares you to play an integral role in enhancing the level of care offered by their health care facilities. With an RN to MSN degree in nursing informatics from WGU, you will be prepared to deliver and coordinate improved care across multiple settings. Take your nursing career to the next level and change the future of health care with nursing informatics.

In this RN to MSN degree program you'll start by earning your BSN. The Bachelor of Science Nursing portion of this RN to MSN degree program focuses on contemporary nursing practice. Earning a BSN adds both theoretical and policy depth to the practical knowledge you have as an RN.

The MSN portion of this nursing informatics degree program addresses the complexities of health care, access, quality, and costs for diverse populations. In the nursing informatics specialization, you'll master skills like applying systems-thinking strategies to transform data into wisdom and using current technologies to work with teams across disciplines for the development and implementation of health education programs, evidence-based practices, and point-of-care policies.

Entire RN to MSN Nursing Informatics Coursework

General Education
Nursing Informatics Specialty
Nursing Core
MSN Core

31 Courses

This program contains 31 courses

At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.

Field Experiences

Special requirements for this program

While most of your coursework will be completed online, your nursing program includes some requirements—including field experiences—that must be completed in a facility near you. And while most of your courses can be accelerated based on your prior knowledge and hard work, some nursing programs begin with a cohort-based course that must be completed via five scheduled webcam sessions with faculty and fellow students.

Skills For Your Résumé

As part of this program, you will develop a range of valuable skills that employers are looking for. 

  • Data Analysis: Proficiently presented analytical and statistical information to decision-makers and stakeholders, enabling data-driven decision-making and fostering informed strategies.
  • Data Management: Skillfully analyzed data to identify gaps and opportunities for enhancing access to care, contributing to improved healthcare services and outcomes.
  • Health Information Management: Successfully leveraged technologies to advance health, promote healthcare equity, ensure safety, enhance quality, and optimize patient outcomes.
  • Analytical Techniques: Developed effective solutions based on comprehensive data analysis results.
  • Care Coordination: Applied patient-centered collaborative care principles, prioritizing quality, safety, and efficiency in a complex healthcare environment, leading to enhanced patient experiences and outcomes.
  • Communications: Articulated complex ideas, opinions, and information while establishing connections and relationships, facilitating effective communication with diverse audiences and stakeholders.

“Awesome program. Great flexibility to accomplish as much as you desire in a term. Great pricing and did an amazing job incorporating my career experience into the degree program. I would recommend WGU to all my friends.”

—Shenondoah Wells
M.S. Nursing – Informatics

WGU vs. Traditional Universities
Compare the Difference

Traditional Universities

 

TUITION STRUCTURE

Per credit hour

Flat rate per 6-month term

SUPPORT

Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors

Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one

EXAMS

Scheduled time

Whenever you feel ready

SCHEDULE

Professor led lectures at a certain time and place

Courses available anytime, from anywhere

TIME TO FINISH

Approximately 2 years, minimal acceleration options

As quickly as you can master the material, can finish programs in 1 year

Traditional Universities

 

TUITION STRUCTURE

Per credit hour

TUITION STRUCTURE

Flat rate per 6-month term

SUPPORT

Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors

SUPPORT

Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one

EXAMS

Scheduled time

EXAMS

Whenever you feel ready

SCHEDULE

Professor led lectures at a certain time and place

SCHEDULE

Courses available anytime, from anywhere

TIME TO FINISH

Approximately 2 years, minimal acceleration options

TIME TO FINISH

As quickly as you can master the material, can finish programs in 1 year

Why WGU?

Affordability

WGU tuition is charged per six-month term, not per credit. That means if you want to move faster through this nursing informatics program, you'll pay less.

On Your Schedule

You can continue working at your full-time job or maintaining your responsibilities while pursing your BSN to MSN degree. You don't have to log-in to classes and there aren't due dates. You are in charge of your degree.

Alumni Network

When you enroll in the nursing informatics program at WGU, you join an impressive network of healthcare professionals.

Accredited,

Respected,

Recognized™

One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and master's degree program in nursing at WGU are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).

The post-graduate APRN certificate program at WGU is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.

COST & TIME

An Affordable Nursing Informatics Degree

By charging per term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees.

$4,685

Tuition per 6-month term for the undergraduate portion of the program

At WGU, tuition is charged every six months. Other fees include a flat fee of $200 each term for e-books and learning resources.

$4,795

Tuition per 6-month term for the graduate portion of the program

For the graduate portion of this degree, other fees include a flat fee of $200 each term for e-books and learning resources.

A Nursing Master's Degree Is Within Reach

There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:

The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2022 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.

Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits. 

Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out what you might be eligible for.

*WGU undergraduate students have approximately half the debt at graduation compared to the national average, according to the Institute for College Access and Success (2022).

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE

WGU's Online MSN Bridge Program Was Built to be Different—for a Busy RN’s Schedule

Our unique education model puts working nurses in the driver’s seat of their education. As a busy nurse, you need a degree program that's more than simply online—you need a nursing program that truly reflects the realities of your work life and experience. At WGU, progress through programs is driven by your ability to prove what you’ve learned. How—and how quickly—are largely up to you. Once you’ve mastered the material, you prove what you know through tests, papers, projects, or other assessments. Demonstrating mastery is how you pass a course, and passing courses is how you complete degree programs, so learning what it takes to be outstanding in your career is at the heart of WGU’s MSN – Informatics curriculum.

Other universities' online M.S. programs may give you the convenience of distance learning; WGU's online programs take that flexibility further—many steps further!

"I loved the program! All of the classes were relevant to my degree and I had support from my mentor, course instructors, and fellow students along the way.”

—Ashley
M.S. Nursing – Informatics

CAREER OUTLOOK

An Online MSN Degree Program for an RN to Drive Data-Based Decisions

First things first: What is nursing informatics? Simply put, it’s the juncture of information technology, medical practice, and medical research. It uses data science, statistics, and research to make smart decisions that improve healthcare, providing patients with more timely, personalized care and giving facilities and systems a clearer view of how to improve processes and outcomes. In a survey of 576 healthcare professionals, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society found that respondents overwhelmingly felt informatics nurses had a significant impact on the quality of care patients receive, especially on implementation, optimization, workflow, and patient safety.

And as a nursing informatics specialist, you’ll play a crucial role in elevating the level of care in your facility and in today’s healthcare industry as a whole. You’ll empower your colleagues and management to make decisions, implement policies, and perfect practices that are proven to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities.

Return on Your Investment

On average, WGU graduates see an increase in income post-graduation

Average income increase from all degrees in annual salary vs. pre-enrollment salary. Source: 2022 Harris Poll Survey of 1,542 WGU graduates.

Survey was sent to a representative sample of WGU graduates from all colleges. Respondents received at least one WGU degree since 2017.

28%

The number of positions for medical and health service managers is projected to grow by 28% from 2021 to 2031. 

—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Inform the Crucial Decisions that Improve Care, Empower Communities, and Save Lives

This RN to MSN Nursing Informatics degree prepares you to play an integral role in enhancing the level of care offered by their health care facilities. With an RN to MSN degree in nursing informatics from WGU, you will be prepared to deliver and coordinate improved care across multiple settings. Take your nursing career to the next level and change the future of health care with nursing informatics. Once you have completed your MSN – Nursing Informatics degree online, you will have the knowledge and skills it takes to be an outstanding informatics nurse.

Job Titles

  • Chief Nursing Informatics Officer
  • Informatics Director
  • Nursing Informatics Specialist
  • Informatics Analyst

Diverse Industries

  • Hospitals and Healthcare Clinics
  • Healthcare Systems and Vendors
  • Insurance Companies
  • Long-term Care Facilities
  • Local, State, or Federal Government
  • Colleges and Universities

Major Employers

  • Healthcare Corp. of America
  • Kaiser-Permanente
  • Anthem
  • Cigna
  • UCLA
  • Atrium Health

WGU Grads Hold Positions With Top Employers

Hospitals and clinics around the country know the benefit of a degree from WGU, so your healthcare degree is valuable.

ADMISSIONS & TRANSFERS

Admissions Requirements Unique to This Nursing Degree

To be considered for this online RN-to-MSN bridge program, you must

  • Possess an associate’s degree or diploma in nursing, such as an ADN or ASN degree, from an accredited institution. 
  • Possess an active, unencumbered RN license:

1. In your state of residence, or
2. In your state of employment.

Prior to your clinical placement, you must submit to a criminal background check through American Databank and provide proof of current immunizations. Additional fees apply.

NOTE: RN licensure in your state of residence or employment is required to successfully complete clinical experiences. You must be licensed in the state in which you will complete the project or clinical experience. Compact licenses must be endorsed by your state of residence. More information about compact licenses.

Get Your Enrollment Checklist

Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.

Get Your Questions Answered

Talk to an WGU Enrollment Counselor.

Transfer Credits

More About the RN-to-MSN Nursing Informatics Program

A nursing informatics professional has many potential responsibilities in the health care organization. Some examples of what nursing informatics specialists do include:

  • Data recovery
  • Patient health chart organization and maintenance
  • Data security
  • Telenursing
  • Imaging informatics
  • Test results
  • Decision support systems

 

Informatics nurses can have many different responsibilities including:

  • Managing paper or digital health records
  • Developing an information system based on current care standards
  • Developing electronic health record interfaces for patients
  • Analyzing health record data to identify how the system is working
  • Working with government agencies to ensure laws and regulations are compatible with healthcare needs
  • Developing unique systems for the organization to serve patient needs
  • Representing the hospital or clinic in making important decisions

 

You'll likely need a master's degree in nursing informatics to be qualified for this role. This means you'll need a BSN and an MSN, as well as some nursing experience. From start to finish it will likely take 6 years to become a nursing informatics specialist, but if you're already an RN, you can finish your MSN program and get started on the path sooner than you think.

In order to care for patients, doctors and nurses need all their information. Medical histories, test results, medication lists, and more are all vital to understand a patient's health. Nursing informatics play a vital role in improving health care technology to provide doctors and nurses with the data they need to make decisions for patients. Communication, technology, and regulations all play a part in ensuring that health care providers have the information they need. Nursing informatics is focused on using software and technology to document and secure patient data and information so it can be accessed when needed, and is safe from threats. 

Yes. Nursing informatics is a growing field that is certainly in high demand. Just as the need for nurses is growing, so is the demand for nursing informaticists. As healthcare moves increasingly online, demand within the nursing informatics field is expected to grow even more over the coming years. In fact, from 2019 to 2029, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects there will be 221,900 additional jobs for registered nurses. A similar trend may follow for nursing informaticists.  

In order to be successful in the field of nursing informatics, in addition to having an understanding of nursing, you should possess skills in the following areas:

  • Management
  • Data analytics
  • Computer science
  • Design and development
  • Information systems

 

Admissions requirements vary widely from program to program and from school to school. Nurse practitioner programs—including Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and post-MSN NP certificate programs—can be among the most competitive. One factor commonly considered for enrollment in post-graduate nursing programs is grade-point average (GPA) from previous college work. The nature of WGU’s competency-based model means WGU graduates do not have a GPA when they earn their degree. WGU will work with you to help other institutions understand our model.

However, other factors beyond GPA are considered by many programs across the country. WGU provides opportunities for students to students to demonstrate excellence beyond a GPA, including participation in nationally recognized honors programs, real-world projects that you complete as part of your program that you can showcase in your post-graduate applications, and letters of recommendation from WGU faculty or leadership.

The WGU non-NP MSN courses do not satisfy the requirement for three separate courses in Physical Assessment, Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology.  These are often referred to as the “3 Ps” and are required for national certification and licensure as a nurse practitioner.

You will need to work closely with the nurse practitioner program, national certification organization and licensing agency to be sure you have completed all requirements before certification and licensure.

For any aspiring graduate student, it is important to maximize your own qualities as well as do the research to understand the schools that offer the programs you seek to join.

You can start your research by reviewing post-graduate programs that have admitted WGU alumni in the past. Look on LinkedIn for WGU nursing alumni who have gone on to become nurse practitioners, and check their profiles to see which schools they attended after graduating from WGU. Contact the school to ask whether they enroll students from competency-based programs like WGU’s. And talk to your WGU Enrollment Counselor. WGU can provide alumni with a letter they can share with graduate schools, explaining our competency-based model. This letter has helped WGU alumni be accepted into a variety of graduate programs in a number of fields and disciplines.

WGU is approved to offer federal student aid. You will need to apply using the FAFSA, which is used to determine your eligibility for aid. WGU’s FAFSA school code is 033394.

Scholarships are available for new WGU students and returning graduates. This video shows more about scholarship opportunities and how they can help you pay for school. Get information on:

  • How to apply
  • Eligibility requirements
  • Examples of scholarships
  • What happens after you apply
  • FAQs
  • Other financial aid options

WGU's tuition is a flat rate that is charged every six months. You can take as many courses as you are able in that six-month term—with no extra cost. You simply pay for the term and do as much work as you can or want to during that time. This means that finishing faster helps you save money—a major benefit you won't find at most other schools. 

Ready to Start Your WGU Journey?