Online MSN: Health Informatics
- Online
Develop Expertise in Health Informatics for Nursing Practice
The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with an Emphasis in Health Informatics can allow you to pair your clinical expertise with technology competencies, with the goal of improving patient care through systematic health data collection, management and utilization.
Offered by the College of Nursing and Healthcare Professions, this nursing health informatics program is designed for BSN-prepared nurses interested in the BSN to MSN transition while being taught to apply technology to streamline the delivery of care, improve the quality of care and enhance their own academic credentials in nursing. You can build a foundation in advanced nursing practice and health informatics systems while refining your leadership style in healthcare.
Save 10% off tuition when you start your program, if you qualify.(See disclaimer µ)
Online: $610 per credit [More Info]
Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission.
Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
Why Choose GCU for Your MSN: Health Informatics Program?
The MSN: Health Informatics emphasis at GCU is delivered within a learning environment that integrates ethical leadership with advanced healthcare technology. You’ll learn to apply health data and informatics systems in ways that support informed decision-making, improve care delivery and strengthen healthcare operations. Grounded in GCU’s mission and commitment to academic quality, this program can prepare nurses to work at the intersection of clinical practice and data-informed strategy. GCU encourages MSN students to prioritize evidence-based practices by supporting the emerging healthcare research of scholar-practitioners.
We’re committed to making graduate education affordable for nurses. Explore our competitive online tuition rates and investigate institutional scholarship and grant opportunities.
As a private Christian university, GCU offers degree programs grounded in Christian truth. In this MSN in informatics, there is a focus on professional ethics and servant leadership within the nursing health informatics specialty. We encourage our students to advance healthcare through faith-based values and excellence.
For greater flexibility, you can take your nursing informatics classes online.(See disclaimer 1) As an online student, you can access GCU’s interactive learning platform from virtually anywhere while engaging in stimulating discussions with your fellow learners and instructors. Continue to meet your professional commitments while advancing your education.
MSN: Health Informatics Coursework
This degree focuses on the improvement of patient care and outcomes through applied technology while also enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of healthcare organizations. Discover how to serve as a nurse leader in your hospital as you study clinical data analytics, healthcare data management, health informatics systems and professional ethics.
Along with didactic coursework, this MSN online(See disclaimer 1) program includes a practicum with 200 field experience hours. Expect to apply your nursing informatics, leadership and project management skills as you demonstrate your progress in this degree program.
Topics you will examine in the nursing informatics curriculum include:
The role of leadership, health informatics and organizational policy in supporting patient care
The critical evaluation of evidence from epidemiology, biopsychosocial and biostatistics
The application of information systems in healthcare settings
Healthcare information resources, including the use of relational database management software
Techniques used for extracting, evaluating and applying health data
The implementation of technology in rapidly changing healthcare environments
Explore Other MSN Emphasis Options at GCU
GCU supports the diverse career objectives of our graduate nursing community by offering a wide selection of MSN emphasis programs. Explore emphases in nursing education, leadership and healthcare systems, public health nursing, adult-gerontology and other nursing specialties.
What Can You Do With an MSN: Nursing Informatics?
Nursing informatics can be an exciting specialty for nurses with an affinity for technology and a passion for improving patient care through better data access and decision-making. A nursing health informatics specialist may be responsible for many different tasks, including automating clinical care, building new operational data systems, training healthcare workers in the use of computer systems or collecting and analyzing data to improve patient care.
As a future informatics nurse, you may choose to work in a variety of settings, including:(See disclaimer 3)
Hospitals
Informatics nurses help optimize hospital electronic health record systems and support data-driven patient care decisions.
Urgent care facilities
Fast-paced urgent care environments rely on informatics nurses to maintain efficient digital systems for patient documentation and care coordination.
Ambulatory care offices
These offices use informatics expertise to manage patient information systems and support coordinated care.
Electronic medical record companies
These organizations employ informatics nurses to guide the design and improvement of electronic health record platforms.
Healthcare product companies
Informatics nurses may collaborate on the development and evaluation of digital health technologies and medical software.
Research facilities
Informatic nurses analyze and interpret health data in research facilities to support studies and evidence-based healthcare findings.
Government and military agencies
Public sector organizations use health informatics expertise to guide population health initiatives and policy decisions.
Median annual salary for computer and information systems managers as of May 2024(See disclaimer 2)
Estimated job growth for computer and information systems managers from 2024 to 2034(See disclaimer 4)
Earn Your MSN From an Accredited University
GCU is proud to be an institutionally accredited university that emphasizes quality, industry-aligned curriculum and instruction. The Higher Learning Commission has continually accredited GCU since 1968.
For more information on institutional accreditation and other university approvals, please visit our University Accreditation and Regulations page.
Online MSN: Health Informatics FAQs
Read through our frequently asked questions and answers to learn more about graduate-level opportunities in the field of nursing health informatics.
Is an MSN: Nursing Informatics worth it?
How do I get certified in health informatics?
What is nursing health informatics?
How difficult is nursing informatics?
Program Curriculum
Core Courses
Support the quality of patient care in your organization by studying health informatics.
(See disclaimer µ) MOU 10421: The New Master of Science in Nursing Student Scholarship is only valid for those admissible applicants who submit a complete application, meet all requirements for acceptance and start their program. If you enroll in a Master of Science in Nursing program (all emphases are eligible), we will award you 10% off the tuition per course for your program. This scholarship excludes Nursing Concurrent Enrollment Pathways. This scholarship will be applied at the same time the tuition charges occur. This scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other GCU scholarship. This scholarship will be applied toward your tuition only, and you will not receive funds in excess of your charges.
Clinical, practicum and immersion hours completed locally.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Computer and Information Systems Managers, as of May 2024, retrieved February 2026. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as computer and information systems managers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It is very unlikely that a median salary will reflect an entry-level salary. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
- Gaines, K. (2025, May 27). What Is Nursing Informatics? Salary and Career 2026. Nurse.org. Retrieved February 2026.
- COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective August 2025, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Computer and Information Systems Managers, retrieved February 2026.