MSN Information please

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Specializes in Informatics, Surgery.

Good morning!

I am seeking information / opinions regarding MSN programs (online). I have also posted this on the CARING listserv, but am seeking the wisdom of my allnurses colleagues, as well.

My preference would be to find a program that has a Nursing Informatics specialty track, though I know that not all programs have that component. I am also confused by the various accreditation organizations out there related to education. I have been told that whichever school I end up at, be sure it is accredited by CCNE.

So, what is your experience on this topic?

Thanks in advance for your help. Have a great weekend.

Criss :nurse:

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Specializes in Informatics, Education, and Oncology.

The degree, institution and program concentration you choose will depend on your specific professional and career goals.

In order not to show any bias for one institution over another I'll just say that there are several excellent on-line MSN (with a focus in NI) programs out there - The University of Maryland, Duke University, Univeristy of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Excelsior College and Loyola University all have excellent reputations, offer on-line course work and are all accredited regionally and nationally.

Program accreditation is confered per the georgraphic region and national accreditation such as ANA-CCNE.

To see if a paricular school is accredited by CCNE:

http://www.aacn.nche.edu/CCNE/reports/accprog.asp

I dropped out of Grad school to go to Europe 5 years ago. 5 countries and 2 continents later my wonderlust has not been satisfied but my grad school advisor continues to check in with me to see if I'm "ready to come back yet?" I admire your educational goals and Good Luck with your search. Let me know if I can be of any assistance as several of my collegues, mentors and friends have either taught, currently teach or have graduated from the above institutions.

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Specializes in Informatics, Education, and Oncology.

Additional information I just learned related to accreditation.

"Regional accreditation is the primary type of institutional accreditation used in the United States. Some institutions hold national accreditation rather than regional accreditation because they are unwilling or unable to meet the rigorous standards of regional accreditation. Prospective students must be aware that many educational institutions holding regional accreditation do not recognize credits or degrees earned at institutions that are nationally accredited. Therefore, regional accreditation may be important for transferring from one institution to another partway through a degree program, or pursuing additional degrees at different colleges."

Quoted from the website of Chicago's Northwestern University, Masters in Medical Informatics Program

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Specializes in orthopedics.

Hi - I am currently at Excelsior College. They have an online MSN in Nursing Informatics. I just finished my first class. My intention is to do the MSN in Education but would like to take additional courses in Informatics as well. Excelsior is a great school and they have been really helpful. They also have a Healthcare Informatics Certificate which is I think 6 courses. I would consider doing a double major MSN with Education and Informatics if they allow it. We'll see how long it would take etc...etc..I would recommmend Excelsior when looking for MSN - Informatics programs. Hope this helps!

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Try American Nursing Informatics Association:

http://www.ania.org/Education.htm

Also, I've heard Walden University has an NI program online.

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Specializes in CVICU, SICU, Tele, NI, PACU.

Vanderbilt University also has a Masters' program for Nursing Informatics. Most of the program is online/distance but you do have to go to the school occasionally for one or two classes (completed in about 2 days) and complete 280 hours of a practicum or internship in your area.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

Duke University in NC has a Nurse Informatics MSN.

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Specializes in Home Health, Primary Care.

Walden University also has a MSN in NI program.

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Specializes in tele; neuro/stroke; neurosurgery stpdown.

Does anyone above have any input on the value of the accademic reputation of the school being an important factor in work or not? is is the name just a name and where you got ur MSN not very important?? how do you feel about that? thanks.:-)

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Specializes in Informatics, Education, and Oncology.

To some extent the place where you got your degree is meaningless...........but that all depends on what you want to do. I also wouldnt suggest you getting it from one that has no past reputation in that degree specialty. Some folks still frown on on-line degrees. Those who do Nursing Research, practice in large organizations or for teaching institutions etc value school names. There are some who say having a degree from an Ivy League school is "THE" Gold Standard.

IMHO your school should have a good reputation for the quality of the program and the quality of the graduates it puts out.

In 24 years of nursing practice and 10+ years of HIS practice I have never had an employer question my degree granting institution................. but some do have more clout than others. Who wouldn't want to say they graduate from Duke or Yale?

As a former hiring manager I've never chosen one candidate over another because of which college they attended.

Institution is jmean

Does anyone above have any input on the value of the accademic reputation of the school being an important factor in work or not? is is the name just a name and where you got ur MSN not very important?? how do you feel about that? thanks.:-)
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I was wondering if the Excelsior program has the 200 hour faculty-supervised option that will allow one to sit for the NI certification.

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