Anyone with experience in Nursing Informatics?

Specialties Informatics

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Hello, I am an ADN considering going back for RN - MSN. The college near me has 3 choices of RN to MSN. They are Executive, Educator, and Informatics.

I don't feel like I would be interested in the first two, but informatics sounded somewhat interesting after doing some reserach on it. However, even after reading through several websites and forums I am still a little bit confused about what exactly your day to day job is, and pay seems all the board.

Does anyone with experience in this have any advice or recommendations, or some more specifics pertaining to this degree?

informatics is very limiting. I am so grateful for my foundation in Computer Science. It has prepared me for the industry tech takeover. I don't think people understand that soon there will be robotic nurses (automation) and other technological advances that will force people out of jobs. Say goodbye to CNAs. Nurses will need a decent level of technology savviness to survive throughout these changes. Informatics will not prepare any nurse for those changes in demand for tech skills.

https://theconversation.com/nurses-of-the-future-must-embrace-high-tech-86042

1 Votes
Specializes in Healthcare Informatics.
23 hours ago, JMR85112 said:

I would not recommend WGU. It's reputation is viewed as a diploma mill with no connection.

(Look at the discussion on the boards.)

Nursing informatics study tracks are not going to set you apart in the applicant pool nor prepare you fully.

Tech is the future. You will see. MOST of these Nursing informatics track nurse will be prepared POORLY for the changes in tech and nursing. Information Systems/Robotics all these things are shaping nursing and these nurses can't code.

JMR85112, you have an interesting perspective, but I would have to respectfully disagree on your statement about "Nursing informatics study tracks are not going to set you apart in the applicant pool nor prepare you fully". During my 18 years in healthcare/nursing informatics field (22 years as a RN), I have been active in the hiring process for a number of EHR-related positions. When these positions are posted, it is not uncommon to receive dozens of applicants. Nurses with clinical experience and informatics background are always shortlisted and interviewed, so I can confidently state they do have an advantage.

Have there been studies that support your claim that "MOST of these Nursing informatics track nurse will be prepared POORLY for the changes in tech and nursing"? I find this to be quite illogical and absolutely flawed. I have worked with many talented nurses with nursing informatics background who have thrived and continue to excel in clinical informatics amidst the continuous technological changes in health care.

There are so many roads a nurse with healthcare/nursing informatics preparation can take. I agree with you that the nursing informatics track does not focus on programming; it might only cover the basics in programming. However, a nurse who wants to be more engaged in programming would probably want to consider computer science, as opposed to nursing informatics. I actually think that a nurse who prefers to do more technical work would benefit from pursuing a degree in (healthcare) data analytics.

1 Votes

You are only specialized in Nursing Informatics with a focus on hiring on EHR related positions. As a Technologist/Engineer, who works at one of the top medical centers in the U.S., I work cross functionally with all departments to assist with their tech needs. Although, I may not be a nurse yet, at my job my colleagues and I see the lack of preparation a degree in Nursing Informatics has. This is constant conversation at work as well. It will not prepare RNs for automation that is slowly but surely permeating their industry. Nursing Informatics applies tech very lightly, where it is only used for data related management. I know for a fact a Nurse with a Computer Science degree is more highly sought because my dear friend, a Director of Nursing, has a Masters degree in Computer Science as well as a BSN degree. She is the one who advised me to go for the one year BSN program after I graduate with my CS degree.

DO some research you will soon discover that technology is constantly changing the workforce landscape in such a way, workers will have to adapt to a new set of skills for each technological wave. NOT getting a Computer Science/Tech degree is illogical. The world we live in is revolutionized by technology on a everyday basis.

Having a Computer Science or Computer Engineering background allows a RN to ride that wave smoothly, where they have a greater advantage vs. others who don’t have a CS foundation and will have to play catch up or become unemployable.

The informatics industry is booming but eventually, that boom will die down and nurses will have to adapt another set of tech skills needed. This why I say Nursing Informatics programs are too limiting. They are only a speck in the giant sea of Technology. Right now, you may be shortlisting and interviewing Nursing Informatics majors. But, I assure that Nursing Informatics will not be prepare nurses for Robotic CNAs which will need to programmed by RNs. Nursing Informatics will not prepare nurses for VR/AR/XR where they will need to develop or support for dying patients. Nursing Informatics will not prepare nurses for embedded sensor networks which will used in Call Systems for more efficient nursing workload.

http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-18-2013/No2-May-2013/Impact-of-Emerging-Technology.html

I will leave you with this link from the ANA and a quote from there, “The capacity to manage human knowledge, and to convert it into useful products and services, is fast becoming the "critical" leader skill of the age (National Defense University, n.d.). Leadership skills that will be required of nurses to appropriately respond to emerging technologies include being able to use technology to facilitate mobility, communication and relationships; having expertise in knowledge information, acquisition, and distribution; and understanding and using genetics and genomics in nursing (see Table 2 for select examples of these skill sets).”

At the end of the day, a nurse’s job is to help people and save lives. Technological advances are making their jobs easier and advancing care for patients. Why not become highly technologically literate/skilled to the point where you can make the greatest impact, get better promotions and make money despite what wave of technology we may be in?

1 Votes
19 hours ago, BG.RN said:

a nurse who prefers to do more technical work would benefit from pursuing a degree in (healthcare) data analytics.

Actually, This is UNTRUE. tech is very expansive. Data Analytics is just Excel gone fancy. But, nonetheless, it could be useful for RNs who are in a management roles or informatics roles.

Computer Science is more than just programming; it is about coming up optimal solutions to various real world computational problems. Soon, a baseline understanding of CS will be required for every job. Those without it will be left behind.

Those with a solid CS knowledge will be apply their studies to any position or speciality.

1 Votes
Specializes in Healthcare Informatics.

JMR85112, it sounds like you're solidly audacious with your convictions and assumptions about nursing, nursing informatics, and the technological future of health care. May you be successful in your educational pursuit and career path!

1 Votes
1 hour ago, BG.RN said:

JMR85112, it sounds like you're solidly audacious with your convictions and assumptions about nursing, nursing informatics, and the technological future of health care. May you be successful in your educational pursuit and career path!

These aren't assumptions. They are evidence based convictions and facts.

2 Votes
Specializes in Nursing informatics/IT.

Hey BG.RN,

I understand where you are coming from. There is substantial value in a Masters Nursing Informatics for current hiring demands in EHR. However, I do agree greatly with JMR regarding the limited nature of Nursing Informatics programs. Although, her/his views are more future orientated, they are very much valid because of the various technological shifts in the medical field in general. I have a BSN, MSN in Nursing Education and another Masters in Information Systems. As an IT Nurse Leader, I as well, interview new nurses alongside HR and other managers. When filling Informatics positions, I am the go to person. Having a Nursing Informatics Masters does not hurt but I am more inclined to shortlist Nurses with backgrounds in IT or/and IT-related masters degrees. (which are very few might I add.) Why you may ask. Well, A nurse can be trained in EHR management quite easily, I suppose to the point where it is not valued so greatly. However, being able to think and understand the technical aspects are valued far great because there is so many who have not developed these skills or understanding. There is such a demand for these types of employees as our systems become more sophisticated. Especially, in Informatics domain. From the Nursing Informatics programs I have reviewed, they lack much in technical terms.

OP, feel free to reach to me if you have any questions via video chat or online.

Cheers,

*~* Jes *~*

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