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Undergraduate Certificate inNursing Informatics

Summary Courses Careers Costs and Aid

Learn to support the implementation and use of informatics tools in technology-rich health care environments. The curriculum in this online certificate program includes courses in electronic health records, clinical decision support tools, and other topics geared specifically for registered nurses who work directly with technology.

100% Online

Complete your Penn State course work at your own pace and 100% online.

Apply by August 17 to start August 25

9 Credits$632/$678 per credit

Gain Skills to Integrate Information Technology Innovations into Health Care Delivery

  • Employ computer and health care technologies for nursing applications in selected areas of nursing practice.

  • Develop and evaluate ethical frameworks for dealing with selected healthcare informatics and dilemmas.

  • Use the competencies, skills, roles, and standards of informatics nursing practice in your daily work.

  • Support organizational knowledge management to promote public health.

  • Manage private health information within the context of HIPAA, the HITECH act, and other legislation.

This 9-credit course series provides you with informatics knowledge and can prepare you to support, promote, and assist in the implementation and efficient, ethical, and safe use of health informatics tools in information- and technology-rich health care environments.

Course work includes electronic health records, clinical decision support tools, and database management. Through this dynamic curriculum, you can learn new skills, including system evaluations, strategic planning, quality improvement, and patient safety — and you can immediately apply these new skills to demonstrate your competency and advance your career.

Courses in the certificate emphasize the use of informatics tools such as:

  • electronic health records 
  • clinical decision support tools
  • database management and data mining
  • clinical information systems
  • smart pumps
  • patient care technologies such as Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) and RFID

This certificate may be earned as part of the RN to BSN program or as a stand-alone certificate. To earn this certificate, you must successfully complete all courses with a grade of "C" or better.

Prescribed Courses (9 credits)

  • 3
    credits

    An introduction to nursing informatics focusing on technology applications to the nursing profession.

  • 3
    credits

    A case-based collaboratory designed for the exploration and analysis of the ethical dilemmas facing health care informatics practitioners.

  • 3
    credits

    An exploration of clinical informatics tools to support informatics practice.

Course Availability

If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.

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You can use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in the integration and expansion of informatics tools through all levels of health care.

Career Opportunities for Graduates

Steady job growth in health care is projected for the next several years. As a graduate of the nursing informatics certificate program, you could obtain a position within the informatics area of various organizations, including:

  • hospitals
  • corporate offices of health care systems
  • consulting firm or health care vendor
  • home health agencies
  • managed care or insurance companies
  • government military facilities

Career Services to Set You Up for Success

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From the day you're accepted as a student, you can access resources and tools provided by Penn State World Campus Career Services to further your career. These resources are beneficial whether you're searching for a job or advancing in an established career.

  • Opportunities to connect with employers
  • Career counselor/coach support
  • Occupation and salary information
  • Internships
  • Graduate school resources 

Upcoming Events

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Ready to Learn More?

Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.

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Learn more about this program

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Ready to take the next step toward your Penn State undergraduate certificate?

Apply by August 17 to start August 25. How to Apply 

Learn about this program's tuition, fees, scholarship opportunities, grants, payment options, and military benefits.

Undergraduate Tuition

Undergraduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register and the number of total credits you have accrued at or transferred to Penn State.

Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.

2024–25 Academic Year Rates

Tuition Rates for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 Semesters
How many credits do you plan to take per semester?If you have 59 or fewer creditsIf you have 60 or more credits
11 or fewer$632 per credit$678 per credit
12–19$7,678 per semester$8,288 per semester

2025–26 Academic Year Rates

Tuition Rates for the Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 Semesters
How many credits do you plan to take per semester?If you have 59 or fewer creditsIf you have 60 or more credits
11 or fewer$638 per credit$685 per credit
12–19$7,755 per semester$8,371 per semester

Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19. 

Paying for Your Certificate

Students pursuing a certificate are considered "nondegree," a status that is not eligible for federal student aid, including the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program. A private alternative loan may be an option to consider.

Additionally, Penn State offers many ways to pay for your education, including an installment plan and third-party payments. Penn State World Campus also offers an Employer Reimbursement and Tuition Deferment Plan. Learn more about the options for paying for your education.

Students pursuing a degree and meeting all other eligibility requirements may qualify for financial aid.

Military Benefits

Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.

Additional Cost of Attendance Details

To view the detailed list of cost of attendance elements:

Who Should Apply?

If you have a valid RN license and wish to enhance your professional credentials or take courses that can provide an introduction to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing's online nursing informatics certificate program may be right for you.

Head Start toward a Bachelor's Degree

As you work to complete the nursing informatics certificate program, you can apply 6 of the certificate credits toward electives in Penn State's online RN to BSN degree. In addition, courses in the certificate program may satisfy continuing professional education requirements.

Prepare for National Certification

The curriculum in Penn State's online nursing informatics certificate will help prepare you for national certification and you will receive a certificate from Penn State upon successful completion of the courses. However, you will still need to pass the official certification exam and meet all of the eligibility requirements in order to be awarded the national credential.

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Whether you are looking to finish your program as quickly as possible or balance your studies with your busy life, Penn State World Campus can help you achieve your education goals. Many students take one or two courses per semester.

Our online courses typically follow a 12- to 15-week semester cycle, and there are three semesters per year (spring, summer, and fall). If you plan to take a heavy course load, you should expect your course work to be your primary focus and discuss your schedule with your academic adviser. 

To Finish Your Certificate in Less than a Year

  • Take 1–2 courses each semester

To Finish Your Certificate in One Year

  • Take 1 course each semester

Timelines may vary based on course availability.

 

Convenient Online Format

This program's convenient online format gives you the flexibility you need to study around your busy schedule. You can skip the lengthy commute without sacrificing the quality of your education and prepare yourself for more rewarding career opportunities without leaving your home.

A Trusted Leader in Online Education

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Penn State has a history of more than 100 years of distance education, and World Campus has been a leader in online learning for more than two decades. Our online learning environment offers the same quality education that our students experience on campus.

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Apply by August 17 to start August 25

Application Instructions

Deadlines and Important Dates

Complete your application and submit all required materials by the appropriate deadline. Your deadline will depend on the semester you plan to start your courses.

  • Fall Deadline

    Apply by August 17 to start August 25

  • Spring Deadline

    Apply by December 22 to start January 12

  • Summer Deadline

    Apply by May 10, 2026, to start May 18, 2026

Steps to Apply

  1. To apply for this program, you must be a high school graduate, or have completed your GED.

    If you are already enrolled in a World Campus degree program, you can complete this certificate along with your degree program.

    If you are not enrolled in a World Campus degree program, you may still pursue this certificate as a nondegree student. Students pursuing a stand-alone certificate are classified as nondegree. (Nondegree students do receive full college credit for all courses taken in nondegree status; however, financial aid is not available to nondegree students.)

    Additionally, persons who want to enroll in any or all of these courses must be a currently licensed registered nurse.

  2. If you were previously enrolled in this certificate or another program, you may need to submit the Undergraduate Nondegree Enrollment Form instead of the Undergraduate Certificate Application. See if one of the following applies to you and contact us if you need confirmation of the best step to take.

    • If you were accepted to this certificate program for a previous semester and wish to continue your studies, please submit the Undergraduate Nondegree Enrollment Form. 
    • If you have previously been accepted to a different certificate program and you would now like to enroll in this one, you will need to apply for this certificate using the Undergraduate Certificate Application in Step 3. 
    • If you have been accepted to a degree program and would like to enroll in this certificate, contact your adviser.

  3. 3. Complete the application.

    Undergraduate Certificate Application

Admissions Help

If you have questions about the admissions process, email [email protected] or call 814-865-1146.

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Have questions or want more information? We're happy to talk.

For questions about admissions and applications, please contact World Campus Central:

World Campus Central
Phone: 814-865-1146
[email protected]

This certificate is offered through Penn State World Campus in collaboration with the highly respected Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. Our courses are taught by distinguished faculty who have special training and experience teaching in an online environment.

The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing has been designated a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing in recognition of the college’s work creating and sustaining environments that promote the pedagogical expertise of the faculty.

Faculty

  • Darlene Clark, RN

    • MSN, Penn State
    • BSN, Penn State

    Darlene Clark's teaching interests include physical assessment; legal, ethical, and genetic issues in nursing; the senior clinical capstone experience; Women's Leadership Initiative faculty liaison; and fundamentals of nursing. Her research interests center on the nursing shortage and labor-management cooperation in the nursing workplace, in both the United States and in Scotland.

  • Lisa Firestine, RN

    • MSN, Indiana University
    • BSN, University of Michigan

    Lisa Firestine has been a nursing instructor with Penn State World Campus since 2008. Prior to joining World Campus, she taught in a traditional classroom at Penn State University Park, as well as at Purdue University. She has taught courses in medical-surgical nursing, health assessment, nursing ethics, informatics, nursing research, and leadership. She has also developed several electives in such areas as medical-surgical nursing, critical care nursing, and health assessment. Her thesis focused on the relationship between perceived threat, coping, and coping effectiveness of individuals with coronary artery disease. She has also published in the area of psychosocial issues in cardiac patients.

  • Mary Alyce Nelson

    • DNP, Penn State
    • MSN, Bloomsburg University
    • BSN, Villa Maria College

    Dr. Mary Alyce Nelson is the coordinator of the Penn State World Campus RN to BSN program and an assistant professor/undergraduate nursing coordinator at Penn State University Park. She has held various administrative roles in inpatient, outpatient, and educational settings, and her areas of expertise are mental health and health care leadership. Her research area of interest is alternative models of mental health treatment in rural outpatient clinics.

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Ready to take the next step toward your Penn State undergraduate certificate?

Apply by August 17 to start August 25. How to Apply 

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