informatics education advice

rninformatics, DNP, RN · Apr 9, 2008

i have been an RN for 12 years, I am going back to school for a certificate in medical informatics from UWF ( its is 4 graduate courses in informatics) with the intention of applying for the masters in informatics after receiving a job in the field. How difficult or easy is the job market for entry level informatics but experienced RN? i have an BA and MA in the field of counseling/guidance as well. thanks!

In all fairness "how difficult" or easy it is to obtain an informatics position (without prior informatics experience) is very subjective. It all depends on the geographical location, the professional climate, the current job market, the candidate, the hiring manager and the position requirements. When I interviewed for my first informatics position (10+ years ago) I did not even own a computer but I promised the hiring manager that if she gave me the job I would have a computer by the end of the week. She gave me the job. I purchased my first PC, brought it home, assembled it myself without any prior experience and taught myself MS Office along with designing the organization's computer systems curriculum, training staff, implementing OASIS, performing server upgrades and on and on.

I really am a true believe in anything is possible and if you want it bad enough it will be yours!

Good Luck!

leggendario · Apr 9, 2008

In all fairness "how difficulty" or easy it is to obtain an informatics position (without prior informatics experience) is very subjective. It all depends on the geographical location, the professional climate, the current job market, the candidate, the hiring manager and the position requirements. When I interviewed for my first informatics position (10+ years ago) I did not even own a computer but I promised the hiring manager that if she gave me the job I would have a computer by the end of the week. She gave me the job. I purchased my first PC, brought it home, assembled it myself without any prior experience and taught myself MS Office along with designing the organization's computer systems curriculum, training staff, implementing OASIS, performing server upgrades and on and on.
I really am a true believe in anything is possible and if you want it bad enough it will be yours!
Good Luck!

That's inspiring, if there is a will there is a way. Everything can be learned if you have the right interest and enthusiasm for what you are doing and what you want to learn.

judytheoldrn · Apr 11, 2008

I am also thinking of going into the NI field - I have 35 years of Critical Care/Ventilator Stepdown (8y) experience and we are currently setting up a new computerized documentation system. We have purchased the software and are in the process of getting the charting elements into the computer in various forms. Quite exciting and would love to be able to market myself with a certificate in the field.

rninformatics, DNP, RN · Apr 11, 2008

Being involved in a project at your current organization is a great way to get your foot in the door and obtain free on the job training. Definately put your involvement in this project on your resume. Certification in Informatics can be obtained from a university or via ANA-ANCC. Related to ANA-ANCC certification in Nursing informatics you will have to provide proof that you have either done a certain amount of class work (in informatics) or have worked a certain number of hours/yrs as a practicing Informaticist.

Good Luck!

I am also thinking of going into the NI field - I have 35 years of Critical Care/Ventilator Stepdown (8y) experience and we are currently setting up a new computerized documentation system. We have purchased the software and are in the process of getting the charting elements into the computer in various forms. Quite exciting and would love to be able to market myself with a certificate in the field.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2008

Geography matters.

I have a strong systems background - mainframe and PC programmer/developer with a diploma in it with over 10 years' experience. My job was outsourced and I became an LPN. I was accepted into school for the RN but though the commute would kill me. Enrolled in Excelsior for the RN. Got a job at the local NH which is part of a CAH. Was fired. Worked at another NH. Saw an ad for a clinical informatics specialist and applied at the first place. They jumped in the air and did cartwheels when they saw my application - it's hard enough to get a systems generalist up here let alone a nurse with a systems background.

I love love love what I'm doing, and they love love love me. I can talk clinical AND geek. And I expect my users to be, well, users, and not have a clue about what happens after they touch the keyboard. I have been working with our infection control nurse to set up a patient database for her and she didn't know she could just capture pertinent information into ONE record pet patient and then use it to generate discrete reports and analyze trends and performance. And sometimes I just tell the DON, "Gimme that. I'll type it." I'm pretty much creating my own job, and now they know how much they need me whereas a couple of months ago they (the clinical staff) had no idea that IT could be anything but a PITA. The CEO asked me for a report that no one knew if it could be done and from my clinical background I knew I could drill down into system A and extract the information he wanted. Now he was told that isn't enough so I just told him I'd delve into another system to get him the data - which could result in our getting close to another $100k into our annual budget. It's a lot for a tiny CAH.

Get a year of clinical experience. Learn about relational databases. And set up a LAN at home. You'll be hired in a heartbeat, I think.

Can you tell I like what I'm doing? I love it. I can't believe that I stepped into this.

:)

Kangaroo_RN · Apr 13, 2008

Yes my story is similar. I have been an RN for over 30 years with background in nurse education, OHS, QA. (never too old Judy)

I was sent to one of our facilities to deliver some education. I found after a few short days that there were some problems with the electronic care planning/record systems. I have some IT background as well and am the only female owner of a fishing forum in Australia! I often wished that I could combine my 2 passions, nursing and computers into one job.

I was asked to project manage the piece of software that was in use and introduce it across several sites. Since then I have been involved in managing other projects such as piloting a medication management system, trialling various devices which have application in all sorts of other areas such as emergency fire and safety management, wound management etc. I have evaluated pieces of software and produced reports to board, worked with financial software and interfacing.

With the huge advances in technology and the movement towards e business/e health all healthcare facilities will need teams of people to manage the processes. The software is powerful and capable of re-engineering the clinical workflows and outcomes. Trends can be easily identified. A nursing background is essential to understand the complexities of care planning and documentation.

I too enjoy using my teaching, computer and clinical experience to assist staff to input meaningful data that will capture and reflect relevant and up to date information about patients.

Go to your health informatics department and introduce yourself and offer assistance. It is difficult to find people suitable and you may find yourself becoming a "super user" and helping others to navigate their way around. It is not always about a diploma/cert or degree.

It is an interesting field and it is not going away :nuke:

Cheers from downunder

eltrip · Apr 18, 2008

I can talk clinical AND geek.

I love this line! I'm the one in our telephone triage/health information office who likes the technical aspect of dealing with our software. I'm the one who volunteers to talk with our tech support folks because, "I speak geek." I've learned how to modify most of our reports/letters using SQL. It's been very interesting. It makes me want to go to grad school so I can be an "official" Nurse Informaticist.

judytheoldrn · Apr 19, 2008

Great news - I've been placed on another committee - actually two more if you count the two halves. I am also looking at becoming a superuser really soon - training is this summer and I think I am accepted at the department!! Is there a certificate that I could get online, or even some courses that I could take so I could understand some more of the language that they (IT guys) use - or perhaps a book?

:levcmmt::levcmmt::levcmmt:

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2008

Judy, can you give me more of an idea of what you want to understand? Maybe a phrase they have used? A term? That can help me determine what type of book you need. Also, what current level of computer knowledge do you have? Do you know, for example, what a network is? An operating system?

There are lots of good resources out there but I don't want to refer you to a book on building clocks if you need to know how to paddle a canoe.

:)

rninformatics, DNP, RN · Apr 19, 2008

Greetintgs and congrats Judy,

Try these resources.

Medical Informatics: Practical Guide for the Healthcare Professional 2007 by Robert Hoyt MD

The Nursing Informatics Implementation Guide (Health Informatics) by Eleanor Callahan Hunt, Sara Breckenridge Sproat, and Rebecca Rutherford Kitzmiller

Informatics for Healthcare Professionals

by Kathleen M. Young

Essentials of Nursing Informatics

by Virginia K. Saba

Many of the terms the "IT" folks are using may be related to Implementation ("Go Live", "production enviroment", "RFI", "RFP"), Project Management (" project scope", "deliverables") or purely technical ("LAN", "WAN", "wireless network", "router" ) terms. It all depends on who on the IT team is speaking. There is no shame in asking "What does that mean?" as long as such questions do not monopolize the work sessions. I'd also suggest finding a mentor at your organization who you feel comfortable asking questions of. Join your local Nursing Informatics group to locate a mentor and peers who are in the same boat as yourself. If you need help locating your local NI organization - private message me and I can assist.

Good Luck!

Great news - I've been placed on another committee - actually two more if you count the two halves. I am also looking at becoming a superuser really soon - training is this summer and I think I am accepted at the department!! Is there a certificate that I could get online, or even some courses that I could take so I could understand some more of the language that they (IT guys) use - or perhaps a book?
:levcmmt::levcmmt::levcmmt:

judytheoldrn · Apr 19, 2008

Thanks, Sues! I know how to paddle a canoe, LOL! But I do find kayaks a bit easier to control.

I have not started working directly in the department yet, but I have been selected as a super user and we are getting the system up and ready for use - we purchased the software by Keane and are in the process of first revising the paper forms and then giving them to the programmers to put into format for computer documentation. I am currently on 4 ommittees and am hearing all the terms from the nurses in informatics like "building" "logic" "fields" vs "tables" etc. and would just like to have an overview of what all the terms mean so that I don't look too computer illiterate, LOL. I know how to use Access (databases, forms, mailmerge), Excel, Word, etc. so I am fairly computer literate with the programs that are commonly used. I know that an operating system (os) is like vista, windows, dos, etc. I guess what I really need to know is what does it take to get the paper forms into an electronic format (not scanned, but built into a system such as Keane). Would like this: :typing to be me!