Do i have to have a MSN

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Specializes in none, still looking.

... to be in nursing informatics!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in Informatics, Education, and Oncology.

....................No

... to be in nursing informatics!!!!!!!!
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I'm new to all of this, so forgive me ahead of time! I have a diploma from 1981 - REALLY ready to something new and informatics sounds intriguing. From what I have seen from online course requirements, I need to get a bachelors, but not necessarily in nursing. Then get a masters in informatics?? If not a masters, how else do you get trained in this field? In addition, I'm not seeing jobs in the paper except for ones that require YEARS on informatics experience. At 45, I'm a little concerned that I could spend several years educating myself with little to expect? Thanks so much.

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Specializes in Informatics, Education, and Oncology.
I'm new to all of this, so forgive me ahead of time! I have a diploma from 1981 - REALLY ready to something new and informatics sounds intriguing. From what I have seen from online course requirements, I need to get a bachelors, but not necessarily in nursing. Then get a masters in informatics?? If not a masters, how else do you get trained in this field? In addition, I'm not seeing jobs in the paper except for ones that require YEARS on informatics experience. At 45, I'm a little concerned that I could spend several years educating myself with little to expect? Thanks so much.

Hello Rosie,

Its true you need niether a BSN nor a Masters to practice in this specialty but just like any other area of practice those that have actual experience working in Informatics and or an IT/IS or an Informatics specific degree would be viewed as the choice candidates for available positions. Many Informatics Nurses got their start by being in the right place at the right time. They might have been staff RNs and when their hospital was implementing a new information system they volunteered to be super users or to take part in some other role on the implementation team. You might also apply for an entry level position and obtain experience via on the job training.

I'd suggest you read previous posts on this Forum and reasearch the specialty in more detail.

Good Luck!

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Thanks - Since I'm currently not in a hospital setting, I'm tempted to contact the major local hospitals - and just directly ask about applicants, their education, their recommendations, etc... Which department exactly??? The nursing department looks at me like I'm crazy! Obviously, I could get a Bach in Health Arts and then a certificate in about a year and be done quicker - but to get the Rn-Ms through a place like Excelsior is more like 5-7 years and about 25K (their quote, not mine)....something I'm willing to do if it is truly the right path.

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Specializes in Informatics, Education, and Oncology.
Thanks - Since I'm currently not in a hospital setting, I'm tempted to contact the major local hospitals - and just directly ask about applicants, their education, their recommendations, etc... Which department exactly??? The nursing department looks at me like I'm crazy! Obviously, I could get a Bach in Health Arts and then a certificate in about a year and be done quicker - but to get the Rn-Ms through a place like Excelsior is more like 5-7 years and about 25K (their quote, not mine)....something I'm willing to do if it is truly the right path.

Excellent idea - doing an informational interview via phone is a way to learn about the current job market in your area. Contact the Information Systems (IS) or IT Depts. There are positions in Informatics that report to the Dept of Nursing - at various hospitals - it just depends on the individual organizational/reporting structure at each facility.

I'm not discouraging you from obtaining a certificate or another degree - just be aware that neither will guarantee you a position.

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Yes, I remember reading one post that said the interviewer never really cared about degrees, but did want experience, both in nursing and in informatics - of course I have no informatics at this point, but tons of nursing! Do you think it would be valuable to take a basic computer course, just to get my feet wet and make sure I really like it? I do enjoy "tech" things - use the computer a LOT at home, enjoy research and data collection, but not a "geek" by any means. This website has been so helpful - thanks for your advice up to now!

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Specializes in Informatics, Education, and Oncology.
Do you think it would be valuable to take a basic computer course, just to get my feet wet and make sure I really like it? I do enjoy "tech" things - use the computer a LOT at home, enjoy research and data collection, This website has been so helpful - thanks for your advice up to now!

When you say "a basic computer course" What exactly do you mean? Are you thinking of taking a course in MS Office appliations - Word, Excel, etc? or are you thinking of taking a course in how computers, operating systems and networks function, or are you thinking of taking a course in computer programming? Informatics is a wide and varied specialty. It all depends on what exactly you want to do in it. Decide that first.

If you have a basic understanding of Office applications, Relational Databases and the rudamentary operations of a computer you have some foundational skills but Informatics is far more than this.

So again, do your research on the specialty and what the roles are within it. Join your local Nursing Informatics specialty group, join a NI listserve group, subscribe to journals such as CIN and the OJNI (the On-line Journal in Nursing Informatcs), read Informatics texts, attend conferences, etc This way you can make an educated decision as to what specific role (within Informatics) you might practice in.

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Lots of great advice. I'll start doing some more research, I like the idea of the online journal for now. Thanks again for all your information - I'm sure I'll be back for more!

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Specializes in Emergency Department, Information System.

Hi,

I have been insearch of this type of confirmation, about the need to persue my MSN or not. I have 10 years clinical ER experience and 9 years of high tech communications experience. I have an ASN and a BS Electrical Engineering Tech. I was looking to the future to enter the informatics field but now find myself--forced to rethink the speed to reach my goals. I really appreciate the guidance you provided one another and look forward to my own journey into the field.

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Can you tell me the average salary for a Nursing Informatics Specialist?

Also, does it pay more than a NP?

Thanks!

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