Just entering Nsg Informatics

agldragonRN · Sep 14, 2007

What are the best ways to enter this specialty in nursing?

I am also interested about this. I am a senior LPN student with A.A.S. in Computer Science. So I would like to be a Nurse Informatics as well...

Thanks,

Angel

rninformatics, DNP, RN · Sep 25, 2007

I dont think there is a "best" way to enter into this specialty.

I am also interested about this. I am a senior LPN student with A.A.S. in Computer Science. So I would like to be a Nurse Informatics as well...
Thanks,
Angel

perseus29 · Oct 6, 2007

I have seen this question asked many times on this board and many answers have been given; you can browse thru the older topics and find them or you can always do a search.

But to answer your question....and I disagree with the previous post about not an easy way to enter the specialty...

Here is one easy way or maybe the easiest way that I have seen at many hospitals, and hell, i have been to quite a few, and been abroad too, and it works the same way in the USA, London and France: work at a hospital that is using some type of EMR (electronic medical record), and get familiar with the software and maybe volunteer as a superuser.

A lot of the nurses I work with in the informatics department started by getting assigned to being a superuser, and since they had no choice, they had to learn the software and eventually they were given the position; they never took any informatics course, or did any computer univ training.....

Of course, the common most expensive way is to go to a univ and get trained on healthcare informatics, or nursing informatics. Advantage to this is that maybe you will learn computer terminology, database courses, etc; but you can always learn database on your own and database is essential as sometimes you need to do reports, and if you have this skill, you're golden...

Also, you can always apply for jobs, but if u have no experience could be harder, but many companies just love to have a nurse on the staff as they figure they can learn the software later; so maybe thats why is best to enter a hospital that has an emr and get that type of experience.

hope that helps!

maro · Oct 7, 2007

I agree with you to a certain extent. But I think you still need an advanced degree down the road to climb up the ladder faster. Else, you are just going to be a builder.

I myself am trying to get in and do some clinical builder stuff but I am in school also.

Good luck guys

I have seen this question asked many times on this board and many answers have been given; you can browse thru the older topics and find them or you can always do a search.
But to answer your question....and I disagree with the previous post about not an easy way to enter the specialty...
Here is one easy way or maybe the easiest way that I have seen at many hospitals, and hell, i have been to quite a few, and been abroad too, and it works the same way in the USA, London and France: work at a hospital that is using some type of EMR (electronic medical record), and get familiar with the software and maybe volunteer as a superuser.
A lot of the nurses I work with in the informatics department started by getting assigned to being a superuser, and since they had no choice, they had to learn the software and eventually they were given the position; they never took any informatics course, or did any computer univ training.....
Of course, the common most expensive way is to go to a univ and get trained on healthcare informatics, or nursing informatics. Advantage to this is that maybe you will learn computer terminology, database courses, etc; but you can always learn database on your own and database is essential as sometimes you need to do reports, and if you have this skill, you're golden...
Also, you can always apply for jobs, but if u have no experience could be harder, but many companies just love to have a nurse on the staff as they figure they can learn the software later; so maybe thats why is best to enter a hospital that has an emr and get that type of experience.
hope that helps!

perseus29 · Oct 10, 2007

I agree with you to a certain extent. But I think you still need an advanced degree down the road to climb up the ladder faster. Else, you are just going to be a builder.
I myself am trying to get in and do some clinical builder stuff but I am in school also.
Good luck guys

Yes, it might be that a position requires a master's degree to be in management; I've seen a few hospitals that list a position for management and it requires at least a master's degree; however, I work for a company that has people in management, just with a bachelor's degree. There are exceptions I would imagine depending on how good people are. Matter of fact my manager last year was a 26 year old guy that well, was just incredibly sharp and all he had was a bachelor's degree, and he made it past the monkey building stage. But since the question was what's the easy way to enter, I would still insist that there is a possible easy way to enter informatics. Good luck! :)

Brownms46 · Dec 16, 2007

Yes, it might be that a position requires a master's degree to be in management; I've seen a few hospitals that list a position for management and it requires at least a master's degree; however, I work for a company that has people in management, just with a bachelor's degree. There are exceptions I would imagine depending on how good people are. Matter of fact my manager last year was a 26 year old guy that well, was just incredibly sharp and all he had was a bachelor's degree, and he made it past the monkey building stage. But since the question was what's the easy way to enter, I would still insist that there is a possible easy way to enter informatics. Good luck! :)

I agree with you perseus, as I have seen the same scenarios. But my entrance was even quicker. And please no knocks about builders, as I LOVE building! And no you do NOT need a BSN to be in management, however it may get you there faster. From what I have seen, it depends on the person and their expertise.

jmgrn65, RN · Dec 16, 2007

You may need a BSN but I don't any higher degree is required right now. I saw the position posted and applied. I didn't have any advanced trianing in informatics, however I am a quick learner. This is a fairly new field and growing.