[Criss RN BSN]

I'm pretty darned excited about the new Clinical Informatics position I just accepted and figure I will be coming here to learn as I get acclimated to my work. I have wanted to move into the Informatics field for a long time and, at last, will be doing so. The job is a new position so I will pretty much be creating it as I go along...what an excellent opportunity to use my 30+ years of nursing experience to impact the clinical uses of information systems.

I am sure there will be a few days where I wonder whatever possessed me to make the change, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Thanks for listening!

Criss

[rninformatics]

Hi Criss

Well you should be excited, Congratulations! So tell us more about what you will be doing in your new role.

Some lessons learned in my 10 plus years in Informatics.

1) Don’t forget your roots. Meaning don't forget you are a nurse and you are valued for your past clinical expertise as well as your newly developing IT skills. Not forgetting your roots does not mean not holding clinicians and all users accountable so don’t let nursing guilt you either - find your balance.

2) Remember that the information systems you are involved in serve to assist the clinicians in doing their jobs, are tools to improve practice and patient care and should NOT be considered IT's systems but the Users' Systems.

3) Be as patient as you can with your nursing colleagues. Many are overworked and under appreciated and intimidated by what they consider to be the "new technology"

4) Many may say they want change but often nobody likes "change" but a wet baby.

5) There will be more than just "a few days" when you "wonder whatever possessed" you to make the change but there will also be more than a few days when you will wonder whatever took you so long to make the change!

Good Luck!!

Originally Posted by Criss RN BSN

I'm pretty darned excited about the new Clinical Informatics position I just accepted and figure I will be coming here to learn as I get acclimated to my work. I have wanted to move into the Informatics field for a long time and, at last, will be doing so. The job is a new position so I will pretty much be creating it as I go along...what an excellent opportunity to use my 30+ years of nursing experience to impact the clinical uses of information systems.

I am sure there will be a few days where I wonder whatever possessed me to make the change, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Thanks for listening!

Criss

[cescvorrn]

Criss,
I am excited for you too! Good luck with your new position. After 20+ years at the bedside I am the newest member of my hopsital's electronic charting clinical development team. Please post any ideas or solutions you run across in your job. Unfortunately I am not on the design end of things (cause I really see some "opportunities for improvement") but I will be teaching staff on implementation & use. Hope we can share some info as you develop your position and strategies.


"Try not. Do or do not. There is no try"
Yoda

[Criss RN BSN]

Thank you both for the welcome. I really appreciate the tips you gave me, Angela....great advice included there! I am so looking forward to the new challenges I face, though I am eager to try to really make a positive difference.

CESCVORRN - congrats to you on the new position. It would be nice to be able to share info and we both learn our way around this fascinating "new world". Education of nursing/physician staff will be part of my areas of responsibility as well, so we may find it quite helpful to collaborate.

Thanks again!

Criss

[azor]

Congrats on your new post!! what a fulfilment it is for you.

[Brownms46]

Originally Posted by Criss RN BSN

I'm pretty darned excited about information systems.

I am sure there will be a few days where I wonder whatever possessed me to make the change, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Thanks for listening!

Criss

Congrats Criss, and for what it is worth, I changed from the clinical side to the IS side, and I have not regretted it for even one second. It took me a while to even believe I even had this position! Yes there have been a few challenges, but nothing big enough to make me wish I had not made the move!

[Criss RN BSN]

Thank you so much for the comments, Brown and Azor! It's good to know, Brown, that you have found the move to IS a positive career move. I am counting on having the same feeling! Challenges? Bring 'em on. I'm an OR nurse...I can take it.

Safe holiday week to all!

Criss