LPNs in nursing infromatics

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hi all. i am currently an LPN (working on my RN) and i have found that one of the wonderful things about nursing is how vast the field can be. i love that i am not limited to just bedside nursing although the experience there is priceless. i have a nice amount of long term care experience but since i've come out of school two years ago most of my experience has been in the hospital working with nursing informatics and IT to help facilitate the change from paper charting to a computerized charting software. i basicly train and provide technical support as well as trouble shoot any issues that may come about from physicians, nursing, secretaries, radiology, lab, etc. for awhile i thought that i was working to become a CRNA but then someone mentioned to me nursing informatics as a good choice. strangely- i never considered it (or knew it existed for that matter.) so how did some of you decide that this was the career for u? or did just find it calling ur name as it is calling mine since nursing school??? what are some of the best parts about the job (besides the absence of scrubs:yeah:)? how competitive is the market. it's amazing that i've always felt like i had a pretty good idea about where i wanted my career to go, but this is the first time EVER that i feel drawn to a specific specialty. how often o u see LPNs in nursing informatics and are theses realistic aspirations or should i continue working along side informatics and the analysts and find a job after RN school????

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I are one.

Definitely continue on for your RN. It is a vastly growing field but certifications require the RN and in many cases the BSN.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

moved to nursing informatics

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Specializes in Informatics, Education, and Oncology.

Greetings ndynrs,

I agree - Nursing is such a versatile profession. You can never get bored which the variety of specialty practice areas available.

Take a look at the forum and read other Informatics Nurses' stories on how they got started in this specialty. See the link below for my story.

http://www.womenemployed.org/index.php?id=64

I'd say market competition depends on the geographic area you are located in and supply and demand.

I've primarily practiced in metropolitan/urban areas Chicago, Seattle, New York, L.A.

and have seen a few LPNs in this specialty but primarily (90%) are RNs with BSN degrees if not MSN or MBA degrees. The number of RNs with advance IT, IS and Computer Science degrees is increasing. An advance degree is not a requirement for this specialty but any advanced degree or certification increases your marketability

no matter the nursing specialty. So in answer to your last question, I'd say continue your work in informatics and get your RN.

Good Luck and WELCOME!

one of the wonderful things about nursing is that i am not limited to just bedside nursing

so how did some of you decide that this was the career for u?

how competitive is the market?.

how often o u see LPNs in nursing informatics and are theses realistic aspirations or should i continue working along side informatics and the analysts and find a job after RN school????

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Specializes in Everything except surgery.

There are LP/VN out here working in IT, but I would advise you to continue with your RN. Or you could move into a consulting positon right now if you wanted to. As for getting a certification in an application you do not need to be an RN. However it does help to be more marketable for sure.

I believe you should always go for your dreams!

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There are LP/VN out here working in IT, but I would advise you to continue with your RN. Or you could move into a consulting positon right now if you wanted to. As for getting a certification in an application you do not need to be an RN. However it does help to be more marketable for sure.

I believe you should always go for your dreams!

To clairfy, one does not to be an RN to get cert in certaint applications. To get certification (not necessarily a job) as an informatics nurse the RN is obligatory.

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Specializes in Everything except surgery.
what are some of the best parts about the job (besides the absence of scrubs:yeah:)? how competitive is the market. it's amazing that i've always felt like i had a pretty good idea about where i wanted my career to go, but this is the first time EVER that i feel drawn to a specific specialty. how often o u see LPNs in nursing informatics and are theses realistic aspirations or should i continue working along side informatics and the analysts and find a job after RN school????

Best parts for me is the flexibility, and the feeling of accomplishment when you troubleshoot an issue, and find a resolution. I got into this by answering an ad to change careers. The day I found that ad was an answer to a longtime prayer. A friend of mine told me years ago, that someone would pay me for what I knew about pc, and I just totally didn't believe him.

I love the fact that I actually have input into the work I do. Ror the most part, I work with people I respect. Unfortunately many times in nursing this was not the case! I find that I have become a work aholic, as I am a GEEK thru and thru and I love it.

I did not wish to be an RN, even though in some instances it would be benefical. I prefer to go the IT route. However, I believe everyone must find the way that makes sense to them, and not what others believe should be their path. Application certification is highly prized and many time required whether you have an RN and/or informatics certification nor not.

With an application certification you could command a 6 figure consulting position with your current experience.

Good Luck!

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The best part for me is that I hated the floor and IT was where I had been before my job was outsourced in 2002.

I love data diving and extracing those numbers - GOTCHA! I knew you were in there!

;)

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Specializes in Everything except surgery.

I think many LP/VNs do not get into IT, because they don't know the opportunity exists. About 10 years ago I started a online forum for LP/VNs to find out about travel nursing. Now many know they can travel, not to mention even CNAs, MAs, and lab techs are traveling. But there are still many who do not know this is an area that is open to them.

Same with IT, but I believe as more and more facilities implement EMR applicatiom tnis will soon change. I have run into HUCs (unit secretaries) who have become analysts. The world is changing!

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