Master's vs. Certification in healthcare/nursing informatics

[nocheapones]

I'm currently enrolled at a university where one of my classes is an introductory programming course. In the fall I will be going to a community college to get my associate's in nursing, and after I plan on working and getting my BSN online through the university I am currently attending. I am becoming increasingly interested in health care informatics, as it seems to meld two things that I am really interested in. The school where I will get my BSN does offer a healthcare informatics certificate, but I was wondering, how much of a difference does it make to get the certificate vs. getting a master's? Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

[rninformatics, DNP, RN]

IMHO national certification (from ANA/ANCC) vs. that obtained from a university/college is the better choice..... an advanced degree (Masters or Doctorate) is preferable over a certification from a university/college. Your choices will depend on what your career goals are and what/where you are currently practicing.

See the requirements to sit for the ANA/ANCC certification exam. If you are not currently practicing in NI you need to obtain a certain number of educational credits (via a degree program or certification course) before and in order to sit for the national exam. If you have been practicing in NI for a minimum of 2000 hrs (check out the ANA-NI cert website to be sure) and you hold a bachelor's degree, then you are eligible to sit for the national certification exam.

Being a grad school drop out myself, but still believing strongly in the benefits that an advanced degree provides, I always encourage everyone to get their masters. An advanced degree is not the be all and end all (look at me :)) but it definitely add to your marketability.

Good Luck

I'm currently enrolled at a university where one of my classes is an introductory programming course. In the fall I will be going to a community college to get my associate's in nursing, and after I plan on working and getting my BSN online through the university I am currently attending. I am becoming increasingly interested in health care informatics, as it seems to meld two things that I am really interested in. The school where I will get my BSN does offer a healthcare informatics certificate, but I was wondering, how much of a difference does it make to get the certificate vs. getting a master's? Any comments would be greatly appreciated.