Informatics? Please help me because I'm 100% lost

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So this is actually going to sound really stupid (I know that there are people out there who might tell me to search this forum and find answers on my own - I hear ya, I've got Asperger's/HFA so bear with me) but what exactly is nursing informatics?

Under specialties for Nursing Informatics on this website it states "Nursing informatics is a specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge and wisdom in nursing practice.

I mean from what I'm reading it says nursing + computer & information science that leads to (->) nursing data/information/knowledge/wisdom. Aren't all four of these words synonymous to each other and describe one single concept? What the heck does that even mean?

I don't mean to insult anyone who is a nurse informaticist, I got my BSN and I'm actually thinking about going back to get my MSN in health/nursing informatics.

But if you had to put it into words, what is nursing informatics? What do you do while you're at work? What does a typical day look like? Do I need to know how to write computer code? What should I look for in informatic school programs that will help me be most successful?

Specializes in Nursing Informatics, Med-Surg, ICU.

As super user at your facility, you are providing value and service that is helpful to your colleagues and ultimately to your patients, and that is commendable. It could also be a starting point to a career in Nursing Informatics. That is actually how I started in my career as a nurse informaticist -as a super user for a couple of EHR implementations.

There are many roles to fill in the Nursing Informatics field, and not all of them may need prior background in IT or computer science, although those could be helpful for certain roles/jobs. Some nurses don't even move departments when they take on an NI role - they can be "embedded" nurse informaticists within their own nursing department, such as Periop. For example, nurses can function as facilitators and coordinators whenever a change in the electronic health record (EHR) needs to be implemented, or they can even initiate the change themselves by identifying a gap and recommending a solution. Other nurse informaticists are in charge of creating and maintaining reports and using data analytics to identify issues/possible problem(s) and their solution(s). Still other nurse informaticists may be responsible for configuring or customizing off-the-shelf EHR software in order to meet the needs of the clinicians, while others coordinate various projects to improve both the electronic documentation tools as well as the data/information extracted from those tools. There's a lot of things that nurses can do, learn, and contribute to in NI! :-)

A typical day would really depend on what role you're filling. For example, an "application analyst" (usually someone who configures/customizes the off-the-shelf EHR software) may spend a large part of their day in front of a computer tweaking and optimizing the software (there is training for this) as well as collaborating with clinician subject matter experts (SMEs) to test and validate their work output. An EHR trainer/educator may be spending their day creating/updating training plans and tip sheets, as well as teaching clinicians how to use the system (in a classroom setting or in smaller groups/one-on-one). Project managers such as myself may spend a lot of time identifying areas of improvement, doing analysis of the root causes of issues, and coordinating the various aspects of a project aimed at improving documentation tools, workflows, or a combination of those. In many of these examples, there may be a LOT of meetings to attend and emails to write! :-D

There are many more roles that nurses can fill in the NI field (and some nurses even create their own roles), but I hope I've given you enough examples to help you get started on your evaluation of where you want to take your career next. You may also want to volunteer for internal informatics-related projects such as electronic chart audits, or participate in your organization's nursing informatics council, if there's one, so you can get a better "feel" for the kind of discussions nurse informaticists participate in and the decisions they need to consider/make. Good luck!

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I had my eyes on informatics and research BEFORE I applied to nursing school. I've only been a nurse four months now, and I don't have much experience, but I've been encouraged to go straight into my wanted specialty if I know that's what I want to do.

Do you believe that a new nurse needs to "pay dues" on the floor before pursuing informatics?

BTW, I've had my eyes on Western Governor's program due to cost and NLN accreditation. What are your thoughts?

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I had a similar question, but you answered it here. Many programs have an RN to MSN program, but I think now I'll start with the BSN and then see how things go from there.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I completed an MSN in Informatics. Do not feel like I was prepared to jump into the job market. My classmates that have been successful all were working in some capacity already. I am still bedside.

I think if I really applied myself, I could step up. What I really want to do is teach bedside charting, optimizing the programs and helping nurse NOT hate computer charting. That is not a position currently a paid position where I am. I am the "go-to" person, but that's about it.

I probably should have done an NP specialty .

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
RedInPurple said:
I had my eyes on informatics and research BEFORE I applied to nursing school. I've only been a nurse four months now, and I don't have much experience, but I've been encouraged to go straight into my wanted specialty if I know that's what I want to do.

Do you believe that a new nurse needs to "pay dues" on the floor before pursuing informatics?

BTW, I've had my eyes on Western Governor's program due to cost and NLN accreditation. What are your thoughts?

It's not a matter of paying dues, it's a matter of developing that clinical competency and experience that becomes the reason they'd like a nurse in an informatics role.

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I am an RN and I also have a masters in health informatics. I loved bedside nursing and I also love what I do now as a transformation specialist. I work with nurses, physicians, pharmacist, blood bank, labs, and allied health. My typical day involves meeting with some people from the interprofessional groups I've listed to discuss a change request they submitted to gather more information about an issue they're having with the EHR system or with the order sets physicians are using when they admit patients. Sometimes I'll shadow clinicians to understand a system we are trying to improve, then create business process mapping of the "now situation" and "future situation" after the problem is solved. After stakeholders (usually clinician and clinical practice leads) agree to the "now situation" and "future situation" of change request we have designed, I meet with IT department and we plan how to accomplish the change - all this involves many weeks of meetings, designing, researching, and testing with leads from any programs that will be affected by the new implementation or optimization. I could go on and on but this is all I can remember at this 3:30 am Saturday morning.

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mmc, what do you mean in terms of your classmates were already working in some capacity already? Are you meaning that they were a nurse, working in an IT field before they jumped into informatics? Also, have you found it impossible or not likely to find a job in Informatics without the prior IT experience (only the degree)?

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

Alien05, they were either super-users, on an informatics committee as I was, several were working part-time with EHRs. A few had worked in the IT field before becoming nurses (so many nurses are second career). Some were already in a position and wanted the higher education and certification.

As time has gone on, many of my classmates have gotten higher level positions or lead positions in Informatics. 3 of them were military and I guess they are trying to upgrade the very old EHR system the VA has.

i have been working, volunteering, to be on our informatics task force to optimize flowsheets, help with care plans, teach the new upgrades. I am getting ready to move to a clinic position so now I need to learn the ambulatory system. I am basically using my MSN as a requirement for an advanced position, not in my specialty or informatics. Do not regret the education, but I feel that I was not prepared to go from floor nursing to an Informatics position.

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Well, I know two people with two different paths.

#1- a BS in Nursing and got a Masters in Medical Informatics. (Director of Clinical Analytics) She makes 130k!!

#2 - a BS in Health Information Management and did an Accelerated BSNprogram in one year. (Informatics Registered Nurse) She makes 108k a year!!

(yeah, I did ask the salary provided because I did it as a research project in college for Freshman Seminar.)

Recently, I was trying convince my friend who has gotten rejected from the Nursing program thrice to get a BS degree in CS/IS/CIS or something highly tech related then do the Accelerated BSN program in one year. The nursing programs at the regular pace are HIGHLY competitive. The Accelerated BSNprograms are still competitive but not as competitive as the regular paced ones. Moreover, the sole focus is on nursing and gaining clinical experience. Not the college campus experience.

I, too am considering an Accelerated BSN program. I am finishing my degree in Computer Science soon and I am interested in Nursing Informatics.

Two things stood out to me as important when talking to these people:

1 Clinical Experience.

2. IT knowledge and Skills Sets (Programming ability in SQL, Java, Python, etc.. and Data Analytics)

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On 1/21/2019 at 11:36 PM, JMR85112 said:

Well, I know two people with two different paths.

#1- a BS in Nursing and got a Masters in Medical Informatics. (Director of Clinical Analytics) She makes 130k!!

#2 - a BS in Health Information Management and did an Accelerated BSNprogram in one year. (Informatics Registered Nurse) She makes 108k a year!!

(yeah, I did ask the salary provided because I did it as a research project in college for Freshman Seminar.)

Recently, I was trying convince my friend who has gotten rejected from the Nursing program thrice to get a BS degree in CS/IS/CIS or something highly tech related then do the Accelerated BSN program in one year. The nursing programs at the regular pace are HIGHLY competitive. The Accelerated BSNprograms are still competitive but not as competitive as the regular paced ones. Moreover, the sole focus is on nursing and gaining clinical experience. Not the college campus experience.

I, too am considering an Accelerated BSN program. I am finishing my degree in Computer Science soon and I am interested in Nursing Informatics.

Two things stood out to me as important when talking to these people:

1 Clinical Experience.

2. IT knowledge and Skills Sets (Programming ability in SQL, Java, Python, etc.. and Data Analytics)

Hello! These two people that you mentioned - did they receive their education and get their jobs in Canada or in the US? Thanks!

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37 minutes ago, nurseleer said:

Hello! These two people that you mentioned - did they receive their education and get their jobs in Canada or in the US? Thanks!

United States

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