What is a Super Users?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 23, 2017

Our Nurse Manager emailed us if anybody is interested to become a superusers. What exactly is a "Super User"? I have been reading stuffs but there is little information about this so I can't really understand the duties and responsibilities

A super user is an employee who has received special training on a computer program, a device, a protocol, a change in documentation requirements, etc. They are expected to then participate in training other employees on the material. For instance, I'm a super user on left ventricular assist devices. I've attended special training classes presented by the manufacturers approximately every six months. Along with other LVAD super users, I teach classes three or four times a year for certification of new nurses and annual re-certifications of experienced nurses. The classes range from half an hour (plus a written exam and a hands on demonstration) for experienced LVAD users and four to eight hours for new users.

Some of my colleagues are super users for our dialysis machines, pacemakers, intra-aortic balloon pumps, and other devices. When a new computer program is introduced, when our IV pumps are replaced or the software is upgraded, when there are important new protocols, the call goes out for super users. The time requirement and the requirement for training and teaching varies for device, protocol, etc.

Find out the requirement for your education as a super user and the teaching requirement so you understand what you're getting into. Find out if the training and the teaching is reimbursed as straight time, as over time or not at all. If you're at all interested in the subject -- the device, computer program, or whatever -- it's a great way to become an expert on your unit. It looks good in your employee file, on your annual review and your resume. Teaching helps you to clarify and consolidate the information in your own mind, and it's a great way to get to know your colleagues, both new and old. There is a time requirement, but I've always found it to be worthwhile.

khaleesi123 · Oct 29, 2017

Thanks for the explanation. One thing is not clear for me though. When you are a superuser, are you still a regular nurse on your unit only with more training and knowledge about a certain program, equipment, etc?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 30, 2017

Thanks for the explanation. One thing is not clear for me though. When you are a superuser, are you still a regular nurse on your unit only with more training and knowledge about a certain program, equipment, etc?

YUP. Still a nurse on your unit, only you're an expert about your "thing." You will find that people seek you out when they have questions about your "thing", and sometimes, you won't know the answer. That's OK. That's when you call the company representative or the committee that wrote the new policy or whatever and bounce the question to them. Then you learn . . . it's a lot of fun, being a super user. I was one of the first superusers for left ventricular assist devices in my large teaching hospital. I got to help write the policies and protocols, design and teach the classes, do the hands-on training for both new hires and semi-annual skills days and research questions asked by the staff.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 9, 2017

That is how I got interested in Informatics. When we transitioned to EPIC, I found that I had great affinity to it. I am kinda the "go-to" person (along with others) for EPIC related issues. We have mini "champions" in many areas. I am also the diabetes champion, we have one for pain, one for falls/lift equipment, one for skin, etc,

I go to meetings to find out about new updates and communicate them back to my unit. I am graduating in a few weeks and not sure what I want to do! I really love working with the nurses to help them feel more comfortable using the technology.