[kateskie08]

HI Gillian0221,

I am really interested in nursing informatics/ epic application analyst, though am in nursing management right now. I don't know how and where to begin.

[kateskie08]

Hi Gillian0221,

Hope you can tell me where to apply to be an epic application analyst. I am really very interested but don't know where to start.
Thanks

[perseus29]

Originally Posted by kateskie08

Hi Gillian0221,

Hope you can tell me where to apply to be an epic application analyst. I am really very interested but don't know where to start.
Thanks

I'm not Gillian, but if the hospital you're working at doesn't have epic implemented or projects going, one way to 'get in' is to scour job boards looking for hospitals that are looking for rn's trying to make a switch into epic implementations; in the past there have been postings from hospitals looking for rns with no experience wanting to get into epic implementations. I must tell you though, those come like once a year---if they come at all.

Of course, another way is to inquire through your friends if hospitals in your area have epic, and if so, you might want to find out who their project manager is, or the person in charge of hiring for the project, and then go talk to them and see if they got any openings....

The easiest way of course, is when your hospital has an implementation going on,because then you can volunteer to be a superuser, or volunteer for anything else going on;

When I switched from clinical nursing to informatics, I spent 8 months going to hospitals, submitting resumes, networking with my friends and I had experience working at a large IT company; i just didn't have the clinical IT experience implemeting projects at hospitals, but I had implemented projects for non health care related companies. Even then, it took me that long to find a job, but my persistence finally paid off.

[rninformatics]

Greetings Kateskie08

FYI you only need to post the same question once.

In answer to your questions. The best way to get a job as an Epic analyst is to go straight to the source -- Epic. The other alternative is to apply for an open position with a hospital that is looking to fill such a position.
Nursing Informatics is not synonymous with being an "Epic Analyst". Is there some reason that even though you have no nursing informatics, clinical informatics, healthcare information systems experience but you "want to be an Epic analyst/Nurse Informaticist"? You may want to investigate exactly what being an analyst (Epic, McKesson, Meditech analyst) or an Informatics Nurse means.
Related to your interest in Nursing Informatics and "where to begin" I'd suggest doing some research on the specialty.
Try starting with the ANA/ANCC website and using the search term: Nursing Informatics, try searching the web using the same search term, purchase a nursing informatics text and learn about the specialty, join your local NI organization and learn and network; read the numerous posts on this forum and learn about the specialty; contact an experienced Informatics Nurse and ask to be mentored; take a look at the websites of ANIA (the American Nursing Informatics Association) and AMIA-NIWG (the American Medical Informatics Association - Nursing Informatics Work Group) to learn more about the specialty. If you do not know how to contact your local NI organization, pm me or e-mail me and tell me what state you live in and I can provide you with contact info.
Good Luck!

Originally Posted by kateskie08

HI Gillian0221,

I am really interested in nursing informatics/ epic application analyst, though am in nursing management right now. I don't know how and where to begin.

[Brownms46]

Originally Posted by kateskie08

HI Gillian0221,

I am really interested in nursing informatics/ epic application analyst, though am in nursing management right now. I don't know how and where to begin.

There are hospitals looking for nurses all the time, and are willing to train them on Epic applications. If you have a 4 year degree in just about anything, and a grade average of more than 3.6, and under 30 years of age, you might be able to get hired by Epic Systems. It is a long process, and requires relocation to Madison, WI.

Otherwise, the only other way to gain epic certification is to be employed by a hospital system or a clinical ambulatory group, that is using epic, and there are many out there in TX, NV, WA, CA, Atlanta, VA, AZ, HI, IL, etc. So post a resume, keep a look out for employers on careerbuilders, and monster.com, and Dice.com for potential positions requiring little or no software background.

I found my first position on careerbuilders, and I had no formal background in IT, but was very pc savy, and was an LPN. I was hired and then the company was both out by a huge healthcare system, that helped me obtain certification. I am very grateful to them!