Missed opportunity for an easy way into epics anayltics

[luv2shopp85]

Last fall my manager came to me and asked if I"d like to get involved in the Epics integration into our hospital. The job was very vague and she did not know much about it. All she could tell me was that it would start in February and would be for 2 years. Also that I would not be doing floor nursing for 2 years but would still have a position when I returned. I knew the job would be M-Fri but not sure of hte hours or how far of a drive it would be. I had been an RN for 6 years. At that time I still had a year and a half left for my BSN.

Right now I'm really kicking myself for not taking this position. I know that school is important but this experience would have been unique and would have offered me informatics experience that is invaluable. I've heard that many nurses who did this ended up just working in nursing informatics and not going back to hospital nursing. I would love to do nursing informatics but I do not think I could handle another 3-4 years of school for my masters.

Is there any other ways to get into nursing informatics? Any ways to get more involved in the Epic integration? Or is it required to have your MSN before any job will even consider hiring a nurse?

[ccweisbard]

It depends on the position and how you sell yourself. I am currently a clinical information analyst and only have a BSN and 13 yrs bedside experience. It depends on how you sell yourself and potentially how desperate they are, I got lucky, my current job was pretty desperate

[ikarus01]

You don't need to have an MSN to get into informatics. If that was the case, then how come there are LPN's working in the field? Now, if you want to eventually become a manager or director, then that's a different story. But for starting out, definitely no master's is required.

Also, I have seen some jobs that will say something like, master's optional, but again, plenty of other jobs that don't even bring this up.

As far as getting involved, is your hospital going through the integration now? Can you volunteer to participate in anything at all? I would talk to whoever offered you that job and see if they need help.

But yea, that opportunity you had, many out there would kill for. And indeed, many who get into this field don't even continue to a master's, unless like i said, you want to become a manager or director, and those job roles do require a master's. But if you're happy being an analyst, again, you don't need to do any other nursing schooling.