Informatics

[sailor444444]

I am interested in getting involved in clinical nursing informatics. Is there

anyone on site that has worked for a vendor that can give me an idea what

it is like-I know a lot of travel is involved, but do you stay in hotels all week, and come home on the weekend? Does the company pay for hotels and travel

expenses? I was wondering how different people got started. Also, I was

wondering how that experience compares with working at a hospital.

Thanks!

[rninformatics, DNP, RN]

whether or not an RN (who does not hold a technical degree) is qualified for an "analyst" position depends on what is required by the hiring organization. The term "analyst" can be used interchangably by both vendors and hospital IS depts. This particular ad appears to be looking for an RN to configure the system at the site after the system has been purchased from the vendor. Part of working in informatics/healthcare I.S. is learning the language............ but dont get hung up on some of the terms as you could ask a room full of IS people what one term ment and each one would have a slightly different definition. This is common to some extent.

You may be getting thown off by the terms - "factory", "field", "analyst" - dont be as these terms are sometimes used interchangeably or depending on the vendor, hospital IS dept or even the generation you come from have slightly different meaning(s). Your best bet is to find out from the recruiter or hiring organization exactly what is required and what the position entails - as different organizations have different requirements.

Thanks Mariah,

I had another question. I'm just getting into informatics (learning about the field), so when you say Nurses with a nursing degree (including the one I have mentioned), will not be qualified for an Analyst position without years of experience as an informaticist or a technical degree does this include the following job title and description?:

Implementation Analyst

"Implementation Analyst, IDX Care Manager or LastWord 4.1.8. CPOE Application. User oriented RN preferred but will accept strong clinical skills. 4-6 month contract position in Southern California."

Thanks for your response.

-Tiff

[MR. DJ]

Hi Angela,

I'm a new grad RN hoping to get a job in Nursing Informatics, if that is at all possible for someone with no clinical experience. Before becoming an RN, I was an analyst\programmer. I have more than 8 years IT experience behind me, and I've worked with medical laboratory information systems software and PACS systems and server software used in digital radiology, DICOM standard. Unfortunately, I don't have much experience with hospital clinical information systems like MEDITECH, IDX and the like.

My question is, do you think there are employers out there who might consider my qualifications good enough considering that I don't have any clinical nursing experience yet? If so, would you know of any hospitals or companies that may be able to help me get into the N.I. field? I just feel that it would be easier for me this way, though I'm sure that most companies would prefer someone who has had at least 2 years of clinicals. Any leads would be highly appreciated. Thanks.:)

Hi Sailor,

First, "clinical nursing informatics" is not limited to practicing in the vendor world.

Yes, depending on your position travel can makes up 80-90% of the job. If you are involved in the implementation or sales divisions of HIS vendor's you may be doing a great deal of traveling. It also just depends on the particular vendor - some employees leave out on a Sunday and are back home on a Thursday or Friday some do travel on weekends some don't, some stay at a particular location/site for anywhere from 2-6 weeks, some have been able to negotiate travel restrictions...such as they never travel on a weekend or they are not gone for more than 2 weeks out of a month ... it all depends on the vendor and the type of project you are working on.

Additionally there are positions with vendor organizations that do NOT require travel.

Related to travel reimbursement. Some vendors have a particular travel agency that they work with and flights, car rental, hotel reservations, etc are set up through that one agency; Some vendors have their own division/dept that handles all the travel arrangements; Some vendors have their employees pay for the travel with the employees personal credit card then reimburse the employee upon their return; Some vendors provide their employees with corporate credit cards for travel espenses.

Some organizations utilize P.O.S - purchase orders - there are numerous ways this is handled - and again it all depends on the vendor/organization.

Comparing working for a vendor and working for an acute care facility.......... check the board as I know there are a couple of previous posts that answer this question - personally for me. PROS: Working for a vendor and the purks that come with it can be glamours ...... for a while..... CONS: the constant travel and living out of a suitcase soon looses its luster. PROS: You have the opportunity to see cities and meet people you might never have met. CONS: As you have to establish and re-establish relationships and repoire with new groups of people to be as effective as possible this requires great people skills and the discipline to be constantly "on" - not to mention the "dog and pony shows" and "meeting and greeting" that is normally required of vendor folks. :chuckle

PROS: Being employeed by an acute care facility where travel is minimal or nonexsistant allows me to establish and continue to build on working relationships. You get to know people - who you can depend on to follow through and who tends to drop the ball, etc.

CONS: Sometimes familiarity breeds contempt :rotfl:

Angela

[alleykat]

hi, angela

i am continuing my education in the fall in an rn to bsn program. my program advisor said that after the second semester, we will sit down and make course goals for the last two semesters (which involves research and a practicum). she believes i would make a great risk management/quality assurance nurse based on results from a personality test called myers-briggs. i was an isfj... are you familiar with it, by chance?

i know i love computers and have always had excellent writing skills. i have actually thought of leaving nursing due to the shortages (that have left me in unsafe situations). however, my wonderful younger brother talked me out of that... saying "don't throw away what you worked so hard to achieve".. refering to my nursing. thus, i am looking at options ... to integrate my interest and skills with nursing... to complement each other.

i have not found any threads related to quality assurance and risk management. my advisor said i would be trained as a nurse educator. so basically, at this point, i am researching areas of interest and/or possible interests... such as, nurse informatics, qi/rm, or nursing, cns in women's health/ women's studies...

can you assist me ... please....

allison

[rninformatics, DNP, RN]

msdeeva,

as the positon posting reads "user oriented RN preferred but will accept strong clinical skills". That tells me a technical degree (CIS, CS, IT, etc) is not a mandatory requirement for the position. The organization does seem willing to consider applicants without specific formal IT/IS education provided they either have past user experience and or strong clinical skills. So in answer to your question - it all depends on the hiring organization as to the specific qualifications.

Hope that helps.

Angela

Thanks Mariah,

I had another question. I'm just getting into informatics (learning about the field), so when you say Nurses with a nursing degree (including the one I have mentioned), will not be qualified for an Analyst position without years of experience as an informaticist or a technical degree does this include the following job title and description?:

Implementation Analyst

"Implementation Analyst, IDX Care Manager or LastWord 4.1.8. CPOE Application. User oriented RN preferred but will accept strong clinical skills. 4-6 month contract position in Southern California."

Thanks for your response.

-Tiff

[rninformatics, DNP, RN]

I'm sure there are employers out there who would be willing to take you on board without the clinical practice foundation BUT you are doing yourself and your potential users/clients a disservice if you go this route. Why go to nursing school if you do not intend to practice clinically?

You also will be less effective in informatics as you will not be speaking from past clinical knowledge, you wont know how the system (healthcare) works, what are realistic solutions or what realistic expectations should be. You also might not be viewed as a true clinician and most vendors leverage that and you will find this increases both your marketability and your ability to speak to users with authority on clinical informatics issues.

Hi Angela,

I'm a new grad RN hoping to get a job in Nursing Informatics, if that is at all possible for someone with no clinical experience. Before becoming an RN, I was an analyst\programmer. I have more than 8 years IT experience behind me, and I've worked with medical laboratory information systems software and PACS systems and server software used in digital radiology, DICOM standard. Unfortunately, I don't have much experience with hospital clinical information systems like MEDITECH, IDX and the like.

My question is, do you think there are employers out there who might consider my qualifications good enough considering that I don't have any clinical nursing experience yet? If so, would you know of any hospitals or companies that may be able to help me get into the N.I. field? I just feel that it would be easier for me this way, though I'm sure that most companies would prefer someone who has had at least 2 years of clinicals. Any leads would be highly appreciated. Thanks.:)

[rninformatics, DNP, RN]

alleykat,

i encourage you to read the threats within this forum, do a web search using terms: nursing informatics, informatics nurse, health care informtics, etc.. locate your local ni professional organization, attend a meeting and network with ni in your area. utilize all these available resources to proactively research and learn more about this specialty. if you have additional and specific questions, feel free to post them here or e-mail me.

hi, angela

i am continuing my education in the fall in an rn to bsn program. my program advisor said that after the second semester, we will sit down and make course goals for the last two semesters (which involves research and a practicum). she believes i would make a great risk management/quality assurance nurse based on results from a personality test called myers-briggs. i was an isfj... are you familiar with it, by chance?

i know i love computers and have always had excellent writing skills. i have actually thought of leaving nursing due to the shortages (that have left me in unsafe situations). however, my wonderful younger brother talked me out of that... saying "don't throw away what you worked so hard to achieve".. refering to my nursing. thus, i am looking at options ... to integrate my interest and skills with nursing... to complement each other.

i have not found any threads related to quality assurance and risk management. my advisor said i would be trained as a nurse educator. so basically, at this point, i am researching areas of interest and/or possible interests... such as, nurse informatics, qi/rm, or nursing, cns in women's health/ women's studies...

can you assist me ... please....

allison

[senimoni]

I'm sure there are employers out there who would be willing to take you on board without the clinical practice foundation BUT you are doing yourself and your potential users/clients a disservice if you go this route. Why go to nursing school if you do not intend to practice clinically?

You also will be less effective in informatics as you will not be speaking from past clinical knowledge, you wont know how the system (healthcare) works, what are realistic solutions or what realistic expectations should be. You also might not be viewed as a true clinician and most vendors leverage that and you will find this increases both your marketability and your ability to speak to users with authority on clinical informatics issues.

I just asked this same question from someone at Vanderbilt b/c I am considering there Direct Entry Masters Program in Informatics. She too said it would be possible, but now I'm not so sure.

How much experience do you think one should ideally try to get before switching, I was thinking maybe 2 years at least.....

[rninformatics, DNP, RN]

You will need how ever long it takes you to go from a "novice" clinician to an "experienced" one. Everyone is different. Your other option ( if you have never practiced in nursing) is to work/practice as an RN at the same time that you are enrolled in an informatics program. Now this is the hard way but you will gain both hands on nursing experience while getting your degree in informatics, IS, IT, etc.

Good Luck

Angela

I just asked this same question from someone at Vanderbilt b/c I am considering there Direct Entry Masters Program in Informatics. She too said it would be possible, but now I'm not so sure.

How much experience do you think one should ideally try to get before switching, I was thinking maybe 2 years at least.....