Is Informatics Nurse a degree program?

It's a Master's degree program and how long it takes usually depends on how many classes you take at a time. Most people start working as an RN and then go to grad school, taking 1-2 classes a semester, for about 3-5 years before they get their Master's degrees. I don't think you can call yourself skilled at Informatics until you've graduated and worked in that particular field for at least a year. That's pretty much how it is for any job out there, nursing or not - a year of experience is pretty standard before you can start calling yourself skilled.

In Australia RNs can do a 1 year 'Bachelor of Nursing Informatics' Central Queensland University.

Otherwise anyone can do postgrad study in health informatics mix this with a nursing background and viola! Nurse Informatition.

Hi everyone, I am a newbee here and searching if there's anything about informatics and here there's some. I am a nursing student but I already have a degree in Computer Information Systems, would this qualify me to a Nurse Informaticist when I get my degree in nursing? I have 1 year work experience as a software developer. Thank you.

Hi everyone, I am a newbee here and searching if there's anything about informatics and here there's some. I am a nursing student but I already have a degree in Computer Information Systems, would this qualify me to a Nurse Informaticist when I get my degree in nursing? I have 1 year work experience as a software developer. Thank you.

No, you'd still have to do courses in nursing informatics. Most programs also want nursing experience as well. Just having a BSN and a degree in computers isn't going to be enough, I don't think.

Hi RN4all,

With your current status as a nursing student and past experience in CIS yes you could potentially and theoretically secure an entry level position.

I write "potentially and theoretically" because to truly be successful and fully marketable you would still need foundational knowledge and experience as a practicing RN. I'd suggest you get several years of nursing practice experience under your belt first. Holding a degree (or having taken course work) in Nursing Informatics is not what qualifies one exclusively as an Informatics Nurse. There are many practicing Informatics Nurses who are neither certified nor hold NI/IT/CIS degrees. For a hiring manager the bottom line is frequently what skill set do you bring to the table, what past experience do you have implementing systems, or in project management?

Good Luck!

Hi everyone, I am a newbee here and searching if there's anything about informatics and here there's some. I am a nursing student but I already have a degree in Computer Information Systems, would this qualify me to a Nurse Informaticist when I get my degree in nursing? I have 1 year work experience as a software developer. Thank you.

Thank you so much for your replies, it gives me something to plan on. It makes sense to me what explained in your responses. Thanks again. I'm so glad that I found this website. I looked around and a lot of people here trying to help others....:cheers: :cheers:

Please purchase and read the ANA Scope and Standards of Practice in Nursing Informatics. http://nursingworld.org/books/pdescr.cfm?cnum=3#INFPKGCS

This is a valuable document that describes our speciality field. In addition, you might find interesting the Staggers, Gassert, & Curran, Informatics Competencies at all levels of practice. Nursing Research Nov/Dec 2002. You can read the competencies at this link http://www.nurs.utah.edu/informatics/competencies.htm

Join a local nursing informatics networking group. See Susan K. Newbold's pages for a listing of groups (Many of these are international) http://www.nursing.umaryland.edu/%7Esnewbold/skngroup.htm

You will also find a frequently asked questions on her website http://www.nursing.umaryland.edu/%7Esnewbold/sknfaqni.htm

You can obtain a Masters or PhD in Nursing Informatics, get a post masters certificate in Nursing Informatics, or you may find a path that gives you "on the job" experience in NI.

Good luck

KSmith1963

i have BSN in Telecommunications and working on my ADN. You guys are so helpful. I love the nursing community