Nursing and Healthcare Informatics is an evolving practice specialty that involves the synthesis of data and information into knowledge, while incorporating the ethical concerns of advocacy, privacy, confidentiality and security related to the use of data and information. The specialty also takes into consideration the impact that technology has on patient safety, delivery of healthcare, quality assurance, and the nursing process and helps connect clinical and technology perspectives. Healthcare organizations are increasingly demanding certification or advanced degrees of their informatics specialists, and the Nursing and Healthcare Informatics Certificate program prepares students for positions in a variety of organizations including hospitals, healthcare facilities, consulting firms, universities and corporations. In addition, at completion of the program the student may independently decide to pursue national certification through the CAHIMS or ANCC certification exam, and the certificate coursework will serve as preparation.
Students can be admitted into a certificate program if they are enrolled in an undergraduate degree program; have earned a bachelor’s degree; or have not earned a bachelor’s degree but would like to earn a certificate. Certificates are official awards. Degree-seeking students will declare the certificate program by submitting a change of program form in SIS and are eligible for aid while pursuing a bachelor degree program. The certificate appears on a student’s official transcript. If you are recent graduate of a UMF bachelor program you do not need to reapply to the university, if you have a completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution you will apply as a transfer student, and if you have been away from UMF for more than one year you will need to apply to this program as a readmit student. This certificate program is not eligible for federal financial aid if a student is not currently pursuing a bachelor degree program. Students completing a certificate only are not allowed to participate in Commencement, however the certificate will appear on a student’s official transcript. An official diploma will be issued for this award and will state the area of the certificate earned.
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