A round about way into nursing informatics

[guest042302019]

I want to get into Nursing Informatics but I've been on an unusual career path so far.

I started in skilled nursing facilities for 1.5 years after I graduated the ADN program. I quickly had my fill as that environment burns you out quickly.

My first job in the hospital was a pulmonary step-down unit with dedicated palliative beds and some medical overflow. I was fortunate to have that job because it's the experience I used to start travel nursing.

I've been travel nursing for about 1 year in primarily step-down units. But, as a traveler, we are always up for floating so I've literally done a bit of everything. We often see more of the hospital than the staff nurses. But, it's great experience.

About 4 years into a nursing career, I'm starting to think of my career long term. I know one thing without a doubt is bed side nursing isn't for me forever. Anyone that does it understands the physical and mental exhaustions it entails. I am amazed at "lifer" bedside nurses. I don't know how they do it.

I've always loved technology and anything related to computers. Prior to travel nursing, I was on the clinical documentation committee for EPIC. It was a volunteer position but interesting.

With my interests, I'm gravitating towards nursing informatics. It makes sense.

It seems informatics is a hard field to penetrate particularly without experience. It also seems to be a timing thing like being at a facility with a EHR conversion (i.e. meditech to epic)

Here's what I'm thinking about doing

I have a BSN so my natural inclination is getting a masters in nursing informatics. However, I've read that doing so doesn't necessarily guarantee a job due to experience and timing.

I've thought about going another route. There are online degrees in information technology or data management that seem VERY useful to a informatics nurse.

For instance, WGU's data management/analytics degree includes information technology, logic, web development, networking, security, programming, databases, machine learning, and other topics.

I understand that an NI position may not use all of data management or computer science degree. However, it could get my foot in the door a little easier.

In addition, I joined ANIA (American Nurse Informatics Association) to start learning more about the field and begin to network.

I guess I'm looking for validation that getting a second degree could be beneficial to getting into nursing informatics. I don't think it would be a waste of time. And, I'm looking for advice in general to move forward into nursing informatics without having any real experience.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

Informatics degrees don't typically provide significant coding, analytics, database management training, and I've yet to see one with any emphasis on networking and security which are huge in the cyber world.

That being said, nursing informatics doesn't seem to do much for the consumer and what it does do doesn't seem to be done well.

We are getting all of that. Right now, one professor was computer science guy before nursing and he is teaching us database, platforms, clouds as well as SQL and Access as examples so we have a basic understanding. (he also helps in the biomedical engineering programs) Other instructor was a nurse manager and our go-live person. Finished her doctorate and now is a consultant helping practices utilize EHRs better. She is teaching us end-user issues.

I feel that it is very well rounded program due to the fact that there are so many areas that nurses can fit, just as there are many types of nurses. I want to do clinical ed and development/optimization (i would be sent to EPIC to be certified) others are interested in research. Some security. We have a WIDE variety of backgrounds in my cohort. It is amazing.

[ikarus01]

Informatics degrees don't typically provide significant coding, analytics, database management training, and I've yet to see one with any emphasis on networking and security which are huge in the cyber world.

Indeed, you're right. An like the previous posted mentioned, an informatics program might give you a basic understanding of these concepts, but is not going to make you an expert in that subject, specially if they are all being introduced in one class as the poster wrote.

It seems to me that the purpose of most nursing informatics programs is to get healthcare professionals ready to help in the implementation of a project, not necessarily in the development of software.

And as mariahfh mentioned, if you want really develop/design software, you do need a more technical degree, like a CS degree. And even then, when you get a CS degree, you kind of choose classes that interest you the most.

For example, for my CS degree, I chose to take the higher end Database classes, rather than take the security and networking classes because I didn't find these interesting. So even if you go to the CS route, you don't cover in depths all the topics you mentioned but you might get to choose those that interest you the most.

[PG2018]

Thank you for helping my understanding. I'm not driven to a career in informatics. I merely want to learn more about the role. Thanks.

[cssilver74]

Great post and I will give you my story as how I broke into the healthcare data world. I currently have 20 years' experience as an RN with the majority being in the peri-operative (surgery) environment from staff nurse, team lead to manager. It was a facility belonging to a eleven hospital healthcare system in central Illinois. I have always been interested in the data analysis piece in regards to decision making processes. About three years ago I decided I needed to refresh my career. I too thought about pursuing a nursing informatics healthcare analytics degree (both great choices) but decided on a different route in case the data world ended up not being a good fit. I ended up getting a MSN in Nursing Systems Administration. While the core course work was geared to leadership concepts I integrated data management and analytics into almost all my course work projects and discussion.

I also interviewed for and was offered a position as a nurse informaticist specialist”. My past leadership experience and the fact I was an EPIC super-user was a plus when interviewing. This position helped my refine my data analysis skills and understand how the front end design of the EHR / EMR impacted the reporting end of ocean of data being entered. About 1 year into my position I was asked to be on an organizational wide team to develop a multi-dimensional web-based analytic tool / explorer to standardize decision support metrics for procedural areas across the organization. About 3 months in to the project I was approached by a leadership sponsor of the project asking if I ever thought about working at an organizational / corporate level. Two months later I was hired on as a Senior Clinical Analyst” for the organizations Analytics Division, still loving it.

My suggestions for you:

If you are wanting to get into the programming side of healthcare, work for EPIC, Cerner writing code for their HER's then a programming degree may be the right path but also probably the most constraining long term. What I have found the mere fact you have a clinical degree and experience is a huge plus in the healthcare data world. Having someone who understands and speaks both the clinical and technical languages to bridge communication gaps is highly coveted. One who can relate to both the frontline clinicians and the technical needs and requirements of the report developers, database admins, etc.. This is where I see the most growth for nursing in the data world. The person who serve as the consultant and subject matter expert during project initiatives or everyday data challenges. In these regards sticking with an advanced supplemental healthcare related degree may be the most beneficial long term. Similar to WGA, UIC (University IL Chicago) offers an online Masters in Healthcare Informatics giving a broader experience not just confined to nursing.

One way to get a taste of the technical side is to learn SQL. Utilizing SQL is a significant piece of my daily workflow requirements. Not too hard to learn and because of your clinical background will be seen a rare and highly coveted skill set combination.

In the short term try and make a contact within your organizations IT , Analytics or Data-management department. Ask about opportunities and experiences such as sitting on a project committees. Let them know your career aspirations in regards to data management. Networking is key when breaking into specialized healthcare areas, the right people need to know who you are.

Best of luck on your journey, if it is anything like mine it will be challenging but a ton of fun. If you are interested in a unique working environment check out these video links below. This is where I currently work and I couldn't ask for a better work environment and work – live balance. Media Center | Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center https://www.facebook.com/pg/OSFInnovation/videos/?ref=page_internal

[foggnm]

Dude, I totally hear you. I'm approaching 8 years in the field of nursing and almost all my experience has been critical care/ER/hospital though I've done enough outpatient type nursing work as well to know it isn't any better (other than being less physically demanding). The 'mental exhaustion' you speak of is not just about what comes in taking care of sick people, it is the whole field of nursing. It is how it has been set up. It is the silly ways we think we need to create a form or document for the smallest little unimportant things. It is how we treat each other. It is the lack of respect from others. It is how we very educated people are under the thumb of someone else all the time with little autonomy or decision making power. It is how we have to take a 2 hour class to do something as simple as take a capillary glucose because the machine is new. Ah, I could go on...

As far as informatics, I don't have experience with the field to say do this or do that. However, I've looked in to some of the informatics certificate programs (as I already have 2 bachelors and a masters, not going to get another masters) and what I generally see is about a 5 course certificate program that is fairly expensive. For example, Capella's online certificate program would run you about $10k. Personally, I would consider getting some IT training at a community college before doing a nursing informatics degree and just explain on your job application why you went that route. I could get a whole associates degree in a specialized area of IT at my local community college for under $5k. Not only would that give me training relevant to informatics, it would give me training to a whole broader range of IT jobs. If you get a certificate in informatics or spend $30k+ on a master's degree in informatics, you're going come out having more nursing training and not making any more money. Personally, and I say this from my own perspective, I would take IT course work and try to volunteer myself for an electronic health record projects I could get involved with while in school. I think you could save yourself a lot more money and get education that is actually more 'valid' in the IT world.

[annet3176]

Food for thought: Nursing Informatics is project based; meaning Nursing Informatics is routinely asked to participate or lead projects for implementing equipment and/or processes that are a component of nursing work flow and interface into the EHR. I'm in Informatics. A Professional Project Management Certification is in demand by hospitals and companies selling & implementing technologies. Also a Nursing Informatics Certification is desirable. Both are less time consuming and less expensive than a MSN. Both have professional prerequisites for obtaining the Certificates. Take a look and see if you could obtain one of those. Don't be put-off by the project management; most local Technical Colleges offer a project management class that you may can take for your resume & project management experience building.

[doune]

i am also highly interesting on the nursing informatics .i refuse to pay a fortune for it by going to a private school. could you tell me the name of the little school that's in Florida. thanks