Nursing Informatics Masters - should I take the plunge? - Page 2

Most facilities want people with the clinical background. My being an LPN for the past 30 years has done me well for the degree requirements. I just finished a project where the builders for the training environment didn't know that ativan is not given IV push. And for a term labor admission, stated she had had an epididymectomy as part of her surgical history. I told that person it was to be an appendectomy. The students in the classes got a chuckle out of it. Those with the clinical experience are more apt to be more precise on creating various scenarios that the staff they are training may actually see.

I know this thread is dated but I will offer my two cents. What I'm seeing is strong endorsements by both the health informatics and nursing profession for graduate degrees. It's not clear to me that a graduate degree in health informatics or MSN in informatics is needed at this time. Most if not all employers want new hires to come in ready to do business with or without a graduate degree. That means experience is required. Consider working in a variety of clinical settings providing direct patient care. Consider working in management to learn that perspective. Become a superuser and network heavily. The culmination of clinical and management experiences over time will make you a better performer in informatics. Having wrote this, I would not discount pursuing an MSN because it may come a time that even with experience, a graduate degree is needed to stay competitive in the health and medical workforce.

I agree with Mijourney. I think experience is needed to get into informatics and a MSN in informatics won't hurt once in the field. That is kind of how I got into the specialty. I volunteered as a super-user and on a few projects. I also started my MSN informatics program after becoming a super-user. I recently landed a job as a nurse informaticist. Although I don't have my MSN yet, I believe it will be valuable in the future, especially if I want to get into a coordinator or manager role. Plus, a lot of people are looking to get into the specialty, and although I do not think informatics is saturated at this time, it may be in a few years. The MSN degree along with experience may be to one's advantage in the future.

Go ahead and do your MSN-Nursing Informatics. Nursing is going to continue to require more as patients are sicker ....along with managed care. That is why I return to school to transition myself from the bedside but continue to contribute to evidence based practice and quality care...I have become burned out from having high pt ratios and very little hands. I'm currently in MSN-Nursing Informatics program will finish spring2014. I to love computers and was turn on to it by a super user. But if you decide to teach its nice to have your MSN to pad your future, so you will not be a burned out bedside nurse... you will have options. Nurses need to look at the whole picture and include yourself....there will always be patients ...it's only one of you live your dreams and treat yourself well. I work out, eat healthy but I still needed a transition because I was seeing what was occurring on the unit and in other states. Also many places continue to raise the education standards for management positions. If everyone has a BSN on a unit...and you have your MSN-Nursing Informatics you will engage into a better market and travel positions from all over...also be used in bio informatics, consumer health, information technology, develop programs, consulting firms for new hospitals and clinics and workflow improvements....the list goes on. Especial with the push to have every place go electronic by 2014....which I don't see happening I think many places will end up paying penalties and receive less reimbursements if they don't comply with the standards. Everyone tells me but your young you can continue to hang on the floors...I smile at them and say I'm looking at the big picture and my own health. I want to reflect back on my career and realize I took many leaps to have self rewards. Also I want to pad my future into other areas of nursing...as the years role by. I wish you the best and good luck with your travel assignment.