Masters in Informatics and Job help?

Specialties Informatics

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Hello Everyone!

I need to start my masters at the end of this year. I am contemplating on getting my NP in Family or go for my Informatics Nursing.

Can someone please explain to me who is working as an informatics nurse how your typical day is? What does your job entail?

Do you enjoy it? Is it flexible for having little kids? Is there any work from home options?

I am computer savvy and a young nurse. How is the job outlook? Where and what exactly is the position title for a person with a degree in informatics.

Anyone have any online cheap school they recommend that is accredited? Thanks so much!

Any good websites or reading material that would help me in my research will be good too.

Sorry for the many questions!

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

My organization has many Nurse Informaticist (MSN) positions - at least one in each facility & larger facilities may have several. Their primary purpose is to serve as the 'voice of nursing' for any sort of technology. They ensure that our information systems are structured to support nursing workflow. For instance, they keep an eye on any changes that would increase documentation requirements - preventing those dreaded 'double charting' situations. They figured out how to support the documentation of 'double check' and 'double signature' requirements for high risk meds and procedures. They continuously evaluate user interfaces to enforce effective design standards. NIs are involved in the integration of new clinical technology - to determine how it should be incorporated into our current data stream and workflows - e.g., 'smart' nurse call/communication systems.

They teach/facilitate classroom training in the computer lab. Our NIs develop curriculum for all 'technology training'... some of them also help develop e-learning, although this is not a part of their job.

All of our NI positions are salaried (exempt). Travel is sometimes involved, if they are needed to help with on-site training in a location other than their 'home base'. I know of 3 NIs who have been promoted into management/supervisory roles in our Health Informatics department; one has been promoted into a full-time project manager role focused on installations or changes in current systems.

Does that help?

Specializes in Quality Improvement / Informatics.

As for school: I attended the MSN in Informatics program at Walden University. I felt is was a good program (completely manageable with work) and it is accredited. In fact, many of their faculty are trailblazers in the Informatics specialty. Right now it looks like they are offering a lot of scholarships and reduced tuition rates.

Nursing informatics resources: I highly recommend starting with 2 national organizations - HIMSS (Health Information and Management Systems Society) and ANIA (the American Nursing Informatics Association). While both have membership costs, there are many articles with survey results and white papers available out there from the organizations that speak to job descriptions, functions and satisfaction and the future outlook for nursing informatics.

There is so much to do in this specialty, and from what I've seen the future is very bright for those who enter the field. There is also a national board certification for Informatics Nursing from the ANCC.

Good luck!

hi

I'm also interested with nursing informatics. Can I do just the certifications, or do I really in the MSN to land a job on that field?

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