Nursing Informatics became a part of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in 2009. Informatics drives innovation that is defining future approaches to information and knowledge management in biomedical research, clinical care, and population health. The DNP specialty in nursing informatics program is among the first of its kind in the United States. Under the direction of Dean Connie Delaney, PhD, a Center for Nursing Informatics was established within the school. Along with Dean Connie, Associate Professor Bonnie Westra, PhD, was instrumental in building the specialty within the school and brought the program to national prominence.
A DNP degree with an informatics specialty focus prepares nurses to lead the selection, implementation and optimization of information systems and other technologies to support nursing and interprofessional care as well as assure patient access to essential health information. The nurse informatics area of study provides students with opportunities to work with faculty and students in other disciplines.
Students are prepared in clinical, consumer, and population health informatics including telehealth and mobile technology, systems analysis and design, database design and queries, clinical decision support and evidence-based practice, human factors and usability, and other knowledge and skills. Through the Center for Nursing Informatics, they have access to international scholarly leadership and collaboration with local, national and international partnerships.
The DNP specialty prepares nurses to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification examination in Informatics Nursing.
Prepared by Sandra Edwardson, 2013