Nursing Informatics Concentration
3.5-year part-time online program
The D.N.P. program prepares graduates to use outcomes to evaluate practice initiatives, use evidence-based practice to implement change, lead advanced decision-making and strategies to influence health policies and facilitate interprofessional collaboration in health care systems. This program is an option for bachelor's-prepared nurses. Graduates earn a D.N.P. in nursing.
- Leadership development: Graduates take on leadership roles in information technology to address organizational needs
- Tailored career advancement: Custom course of study equips graduates to improve systems through expertise in data collection, management and analysis
- Interdisciplinary learning: Apply information management solutions across disciplines through collaboration with peers in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, public health and more on our dynamic health sciences campus
- Academic medical excellence: Train at VCU Health, a Magnet-designated center integrating research, clinical care and community impact as you work towards bridging the gap between data and actionable solutions for better health care outcomes and systems improvement
Program Details
In the D.N.P. nursing informatics concentration, your coursework will focus on health care database design, human factors engineering, human-computer interaction theories and the use of informatics frameworks to design, implement and evaluate technology systems. You will develop skills to to recognize, gather, process and manage data and information to enhance nursing practice, administration, education and research. Students will learn to apply human factors and human-computer interaction theories and frameworks to design, implement and evaluate technology systems that support the health care team’s work, contribute to patient engagement and improve patient outcomes.
VCU Bulletin is the official source for course and academic program information.
Admission Requirements
Review all required prerequisite courses, supporting documents and other admissions criteria.
Degree Requirements
Review the list of courses that will make up your nursing degree.
Application Info
| Application Opens | Application Closes | Decision Notification |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2025 | July 15, 2026* | Ongoing |
*In order to be reviewed for admission, all components of the application (personal statements, transcripts, etc.) must be verified by this date. Incomplete applications after this date will not be reviewed for the fall semester start.
Complete the following:
- NursingCAS application ($80 fee)
Submit the following materials with your application: - Official transcripts
- Personal statement
- Resume or a curriculum vitae
- RN license
- Proof of English proficiency (if applicable)
- CAS Residency Form ($75 fee)
This fee is waived for current VCU students.
The form will be emailed to you after submitting your NursingCAS application.
We're here to help! Contact us at vcu_nurse@vcu.edu with your admissions questions.
Review the functional and technical standards required for participation in the academic programs of the School of Nursing.
Prospective students with a conviction showing on their criminal history record may not be eligible to participate in clinical experiences at selected sites. This may impact the student’s ability to successfully complete program requirements. Applicants with a criminal history record are advised to review eligibility and licensure requirements for states in which they may seek employment (see Virginia eligibility requirements).
Financial Info
Use the following links to understand what your attendance costs will be and how aid and scholarships can help make your degree affordable.
Advancing Your Nursing Career: Your Path to a D.N.P.
Frequently Asked Questions
This program is for registered nurses who have completed a minimum of a bachelor's degree in nursing.
All lecture courses are fully online. Three practicum courses conduct some in-person instruction in a practice setting.
It is a part-time, three-and-a-half-year program, spanning ten consecutive semesters.
No, the D.N.P. degree is practice-focused, not research-focused. D.N.P. students complete a project during which they identify a systemic problem, implement an evidence-based solution and evaluate its impact on health care outcomes. This project showcases their advanced skills in applying research to real-world practice.
Yes, you can complete your D.N.P. project at your place of employment. The project must be approved by your workplace and the school’s project vetting committee, and an organizational sponsor (not your direct supervisor) must oversee it.