Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
Nursing Informatics /

Which degree plan should I follow for Healthcare Informatics?



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 385,808 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.

Jun 17, 2009 11:16 PM

Which degree plan should I follow for Healthcare Informatics?


I'm an RN who has basic computer knowledge who is interested in entering the IT field. I live in Houston, and I'm looking at various degree plans. I don't have a bachelor's degree yet. I'm considering getting my BSN just to have it and so anything past that can be considered postbacclaureate, taking only major-specific classes to go for another degree.

1) BS in Information Systems Technology at UH. This has no healthcare-related classes, but it is a bachelor's degree and I've taken many of the pre-req classes required. This would also come in handy for working non-healthcare related fields.

2) Associate's Degree in Health Information Technology. Health Informatics aren't so hot in the job market right now, and I really want a bachelor's, so I'd maybe do this after getting a bachelor's in nursing or IT.

3) There are certificate programs in HIS for people with bachelor's degrees available, as well as graduate degrees.

Right now, I'm really not familiar with HIS. All I know is that I'm not computer-illiterate (I have a MacBook Pro dual formatted). Should I go for a BSN or a BS in IST?


Share: Submit Thread to Facebook Submit Thread to Twitter Submit Thread to Technorati Submit Thread to Google Submit Thread to Reddit

Search Tags
None
Top

2 Readers Gave Kudos

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Reply
7 Comments
No. 1
Old Jun 17, 2009, 11:42 PM

Default Re: Which degree plan should I follow for Healthcare Informatics?
Originally Posted by PeachPie View Post
Should I go for a BSN or a BS in IST?
Before investing your time and money, learn more about the specialty so you can decide what it is you want to do in IT/Informatics. Also ask yourself if you plan to continue to practice in nursing and IT or just IT?
Good Luck
Top
 
No. 2
from PeachPie
Old Jun 17, 2009, 11:54 PM

Default Re: Which degree plan should I follow for Healthcare Informatics?
Originally Posted by rninformatics View Post
Before investing your time and money, learn more about the specialty so you can decide what it is you want to do in IT/Informatics. Also ask yourself if you plan to continue to practice in nursing and IT or just IT?
Good Luck
I'm trying to get out of nursing because it's so dangerous, although I'll always keep my license up to date. However, I do have healthcare knowledge and it would be a pity to waste it.
Top
 
No. 3
Old Aug 19, 2009, 06:07 PM

Info Re: Which degree plan should I follow for Healthcare Informatics?
I hear ya. I am a RN BSN in the same boat but I am familiar in MS office and pretty computer literate. I do work at 2 hospitals now that use CPOE and cerner millenium and have seen a few types of these clinical apps but still dont know where to start re: the post bac certs so thanks for that link! and good luck as well!
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 4
from Mijourney
Old Aug 26, 2009, 04:33 AM

Default Re: Which degree plan should I follow for Healthcare Informatics?
Hi PeachPie. I have actually decided to pursue a degree in health information management which includes some health care informatics courses in my program. Like you, I don't want to have to always rely on my RN license. I may pursue a MSN in informatics in the future (I'm a school freak). Today, every medical and health related discipline seems to incorporate or plans to incorporate informatics into their curriculum.
Top

2 Readers Gave Kudos
 
No. 5
Old Aug 26, 2009, 02:59 PM

Default Re: Which degree plan should I follow for Healthcare Informatics?
If one already has a BSN, like myself, and a solid clinical foundation, which Masters would be best to obtain? Is there one sole option? ANd/or what is the benefits of the post-bacc certifications I have heard you can get related to HIM/Nurse Informatics? thanks Carly
Top
 
No. 6
from Mijourney
Old Aug 26, 2009, 04:26 PM

Default Re: Which degree plan should I follow for Healthcare Informatics?
Hi angelita1017. My take on your question is that you could pursue informatics from several vantage points that I'm aware of whether that be nursing, health, or public health. Because I also have a BSN, I'm actually in a post-baccalaureate (P-B) HIM program. I was very happy to find I only needed half the required coursework to complete the P-B HIM program due to previous coursework years ago in an HIM program. I may or may not pursue a graduate degree once I complete this challenging program I'm in now. It depends on what type of jobs or careers are out there after I graduate. As rninformatics indicated, you want to know what your goals are before you invest in another educational program. Best wishes.
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 7
Old Aug 27, 2009, 12:15 AM
Updated Aug 27, 2009 at 12:28 AM by rninformatics

Default Re: Which degree plan should I follow for Healthcare Informatics?
The benefits of any advanced degree or certification all depend on what your career goals are.
Maybe you already have a BSN and don't want (or feel you need) a Masters but you want additional education or credentialing in informatics and want to go the route of getting the certification via a college program.
No there is not one single option, as far as Informatics related Masters degrees.
Additonally there is the national certification offered by the ANA.

I've covered the certification question extensively in multiple strings and posts:
http://allnurses.com/nursing-informa...ed-363425.html
http://allnurses.com/nursing-informa...ml#post3361466
http://allnurses.com/nursing-informa...ml#post3237260
http://allnurses.com/nursing-informa...ed-363425.html


To learn more about the CPHIMS exam go to:
http://www.himss.org/ASP/certification_cphims.asp

To learn more about the Nursing Informatics Certification go to:
http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCate...ification.aspx

Originally Posted by angelita1017 View Post
If one already has a BSN, like myself, and a solid clinical foundation, which Masters would be best to obtain? Is there one sole option? ANd/or what is the benefits of the post-bacc certifications I have heard you can get related to HIM/Nurse Informatics? thanks Carly
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
Reply




Thread Tools


Who's Online
149 members
1,606 guests
1,755

8

Doctors-in-short-supply-responsibilities-for-nurses-may-expa...

7

Less regular sleep for ICU nurses may lead to errors

13

Nurse sends unused medical supplies to needy nations

23

Premature Births Are Fueling Higher Rates of Infant...

6

MRSA Strain Linked to High Death Rates

21

RI hospital fined $150,000 in 5th wrong-site surgery since...

63

Nursing: One of the 6 Thriving Jobs that are Here to Stay???

89

Dad Fights Hospital to Keep Baby on Life Support

12

A nurse can dream...about awesome nursing

16

California Nursing Situation - CINHC's plan to help New...



7

Why am I doing this, anyway?

0

Nurse Heal Thyself

7

My Papa, why I am the nurse I am today.

15

I made it through

11

An angel's gaze

13

A Sister Never Forgets

16

Ruby's Marbles

29

What Do Operating Room Nurses Do?

14

My Little Old Jedi

16

I love this job......

23

"I hear voices"

17

Preventing FRUTI (Foley Related Urinary Tract Infection) in...

23

Error and Attitude

10

It's Just a Shower

6

Searching for the Purpose





Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address: