Nursing Informatics

Master of Nursing and Master of Science in Health Informatics Double Degree 

Graduate from Canada’s only nursing informatics degree program. This unique online/distributed program educates nurses to move into nursing and health informatics roles.

Nursing informatics is a specialty that integrates nursing science and health information science to identify, define, manage and communicate information and knowledge that supports nursing practice. You’ll graduate with two degrees: a Master of Nursing and a Master of Science in Health Informatics. The program schedule permits students to complete required coursework in two years and requires additional time for conducting the research for a thesis or research project

Graduates of this program are prepared for careers in practice, education, research, administration and consultation. They can work in public, private, or corporate settings. There is a growing demand for knowledgeable nurses who can select, develop, implement, and evaluate information technology.  

Explore the courses you will take

This program requires a completion of a total of 31.5 units of study, including a research project or thesis. All course requirements must be completed prior to proceeding to the final oral examination. Students will have a supervisor from each School. Students with an overall A- average may complete a thesis, with the approval of both supervisors, the Director of the School of Health Information Science and the Associate Director, Graduate Education in the School of Nursing. Completion of a Master's degree with thesis is encouraged for students intending to pursue Doctoral studies.

Students are expected to be enrolled full time for the duration of their program. Cooperative learning experiences must usually be undertaken outside of a student's current employment setting.

Thesis: 31.5 units

Course sequencing for thesis option

Six units of electives in total are required to meet program requirements.

  • NURS Electives (1.5)
  • HINF Electives (3.0)
  • NURS or HINF Elective (1.5)
  • Electives are chosen in consultation with the program supervisors.
The electives may be taken at any time throughout the program. They have been identified above to provide guidance for students t etermine when they may best fit with their program of studies.

Available electives options for Nursing graduate students

 Research Project: 31.5 units

Course sequencing for project option

The 31.5 units consist of 7.5 units of Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) foundational courses, 6.0 units of required HINF courses, 6.0 units of co-operative learning experiences, 9.0 units of electives and a 3.0-unit research project.

Guidelines for research projects

Prepare for your co-operative learning

As a double degree student you'll bring your studies to life through co-operative learning.

Your program includes a mandatory co-op component that lets you combine your academic terms with two paid co-op terms in positions related to your field of study: one nursing and one health information science. Co-op lets you combine your research, analysis, critical thinking and communication skills in workplace settings.

While on co-op workterms, you'll use the knowledge gained in the classroom and apply it to real world experiences in the workplace. You work with real data, and real clinical and nursing informatics projects.

See the co-op information for health information science students.

Please contact our Co-op Coordinator at at least four months before the desired placement term.

Read about the program objectives

As a graduate of the double degree Master of Nursing and Master of Science in Health Informatics program you will:

 

  • Develop advance practice competencies in nursing, health informatics, and health research.
  • Have the knowledge, skills and attitudes to identify concerns, design safe and usable systems and address nursing practice issues before and during technology implementation.
  • Upon graduation, be able to advance nursing practice by ensuring that intelligent and quality-based health information technology is adopted into use in patient care.
  • Be prepared to successfully implement the technologies (e.g., electronic health records, nursing information systems, telehealth) that require nurses working at all levels of care to integrate computer skills and informatics knowledge into their nursing practice.
  • Be able to refine and improve health information technology designed for nurses and other health care professionals.