Advice on informatics focused reasearch for a phd program?

Specialties Informatics

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Hi all,

I wasn't quite sure whether to ask this in the informatics thread or the nursing research thread, but I am looking for some answers if you don't mind!

I am interested in enrolling in an NP/PHD program and was thinking of the sort of research I might be interested in. I keep coming back to informatics. Specifically I am interested in use of EMR, how adept nurses are at using it, communication between systems (ie with the lab), etc. I see myself investigating topics like that to make practical adjustments in a teaching hospital. My question is would it be necessary to get a degree in informatics? Or would teaching myself be sufficient? Honestly I don't think I am as interested in doing things such as actual coding but I am definitely interested in technology and making systems work together to improve kinks in the health system. I am a bit of a workaholic so my ideal career would be working in the hospital as an NP (leaning towards ACNP) but simultaneously doing research. The PHD seems valuable since it can always offer the opportunity for teaching later on. I like the idea of having the PHD since the university I would be looking to attend offers funding for it and from what I have heard getting both the NP/PHD only takes about 5 years where as there DNP program takes about 4-5 years. To me it makes sense to do both and basically get the NP along the way for free. Plus you get a stipend (14K) to live off of.

I'm sorry if this seems like a jumbled mess and if this is not the appropriate section for this question. I'm just looking for a bit of input.

Thanks!

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Specializes in informatics for 10 years.

You don't say it in your post, but do you have experience in informatics already?

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I'm sorry that it was unclear but I don't. I work in a lab now while going through my program and my interest in informatics has stemmed from the struggle of different hospital systems being able to communicate with each other and the overall lack of understanding many providers have when it comes to being able to order tests, release orders, collect, etc. I don't necessarily want to re-write code or anything like that, but I am interested in a general sense of how it works together and how that impacts patient care. For instance when a provider doesn't collect or release an order we have to go back into other systems for a billing number, sources, etc. This ultimately slows down workflow and impacts results getting back to the floor.

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Specializes in informatics for 10 years.
my interest in informatics has stemmed from the struggle of different hospital systems being able to communicate with each other and the overall lack of understanding many providers have when it comes to being able to order tests, release orders, collect, etc.

You might want to read this article to understand why the lack of interoperability in EMR's. It summarizes it quite well. As far as providers having trouble ordering tests...depends on the UIit seems of the application. Some are a nightmare to use, but others very easy to use.

Maybe you need to talk to somebody who has done a phd in informatics; I would imagine that having informatics experience would make a phd in informatics much easier to do.

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Thanks for the reply! I'm trying to narrow in on what I want to end up doing. I realize that without a legislative action EMR's are going to continue to be private and there wont be the ability to have one consistent system. I would like to work with the challenges in the system as a whole. For instance where I work we use EPIC for our EMR, but when it comes to the lab side it's very clumsy in the way that orders are created and collected etc. For our surgical pathology area there is no communication between EPIC and the system we use for accessioning. I recognize that there is a lot of waste when it comes to getting specimens from the floor and results given back. There are components that I would like to see in EMR systems that have yet to be added. I would like to be a part of making EMR use easier to understand for providers and support the system. So what it comes down to is do I need an informatics degree (my school in mind has a master's program) or would this be something that I could learn on my own? I'm not thinking of getting a PhD in informatics but a PhD in nursing and having my focus on research be about EMR and the impact it has on the nursing practice.

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Specializes in informatics for 10 years.
So what it comes down to is do I need an informatics degree (my school in mind has a master's program) or would this be something that I could learn on my own?

The only way you can learn about an EMR is if you're out there implementing applications. You could go out and get an informatics degree, and that won't really teach you about EMR implementation either, since you will not be out implementing applications, but rather, learning concepts from books. Can you teach it to yourself? I don't think so. Again, you need access to the tools/environment to learn an EMR. You can't simply read the manual and say, yep, I know it.

As far as your experience with your lab system. some vendors out there provide robust lab solutions; but even then, it also comes down to how knowledgeable the implementers of that solution are.

Sometimes vendors send out young analysts to a site, and as a result, that site will get an EMR that is not using its functionalities to the fullest, not because the EMR is lacking components, but because the analysts weren't experienced enough to set up the system properly.

Thus, if I'm reading this right...you want to go out there, get your PhD in nursing, and then do research on something you don't really have experience on?

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I guess that would be correct. I'm not as interested in doing the coding or anything like that but analyzing challenges and making suggestions and doing research for it. From your suggestions it seems that the only way to do that would be to get the informatics degree and then start working as such? I have seen where EPIC hires physicians and nurse practitioners to work on their staff for giving input for innovation. I am interested in something like that as well.

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Specializes in informatics for 10 years.
From your suggestions it seems that the only way to do that would be to get the informatics degree and then start working as such? I have seen where EPIC hires physicians and nurse practitioners to work on their staff for giving input for innovation. I am interested in something like that as well.

Like you said, vendors hire staff, such as nurses and physicians. Many don't have a degree in informatics, although nowadays, as the degrees have become more popular, more nurses have a masters in informatics; however, vendors will hire clinicians and train them in their applications, and many still hire even today, without the clinician having a master's degree in informatics. So technically speaking, you don't have to go and get a degree in informatics and then apply for a job. You could apply for a job even now, without the informatics degree.

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Specializes in nursing education.

Agreed with Ikarus, what I see in practice is that those with a natural aptitude, certification and/or experience in specific applications, and the willingness and ability to spend a weekend learning a new system are the ones who are sought after for informatics work. I have yet to see a job posting looking for a degree in informatics, but rather some combination of the above.

It's really the same both for job postings and those whose work gradually becomes more and more involved with informatics.

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Okay so something like a credentialed trainer would be worth it?

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