Data Manager to Health Informatics without nursing?

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Is it possible to go from a Data Manager in a field unrelated to nursing, into the nursing field with an AA in Health Informatics, without experience?

I would like to take my career and experience into a different field, and still do some of the stuff I do. I am IT savy with data manager experience and would like to use my experience in the medical arena.

I guess the more appropriate question would be, do I need to be a nurse first? or have medical experience?

Thank you,

Trish

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Specializes in Informatics, Med/Surg.

People in healthcare informatics have a wide variety of backgrounds. Some are clinicians and some are not. Those that do not have a clinical degree/license tend to work on the technical side. Although you are not a clinician, there is certainly a place for you in the area of healthcare informatics. Many hospital IT departments as well as healthcare IT vendors are looking for IT people. Many come into the field with little or no healthcare exposure. You already have a head start with your AA in healthcare informatics. If you are interested in starting in the IT department of a healthcare agency/vendor, then you don't need any initial healthcare exposure. It helps to have some, but the main focus is IT support, not healthcare. So there is a place for you in healthcare IT. However, only a nurse can be an informatics nurse. That usually requires a RN license at least.

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Thank you for your information, much appreciated.

What is informatics vs information in a hospital environment? Will I still be in the mix at the hospital? or will I be locked in some cubicle with computers and paperwork?

I love the medical field and would like to be more involved, I just don't want to start over financially. An LVN license starting fresh out of school would cut my pay considerably.

Thank you,

Trish

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