Nursing Informatics...once there, no going back?

[OldITgeek]

Howdy...

Need some input from some seasoned Clinical Informatics nurses.

Background on me first: Prior military, BS in Info Systems, tech analyst for the military, and private sector for 15 years prior to getting laid off. CNA-> LPN -> RN working float pool and Informatics. Doing well with both, but I find myself working more C/I than the floors.

A position is open (full-time) on the Informatics side, and the other f/t analysts I work with are REALLY encouraging me to apply.

My question is...once a C/I nurse, can you ever go back to clinical/bedside nursing? Is it a matter of "going over to the dark side" and nobody wanting you as a clinical nurse because you've "lost your skills" teaching/supporting your organization's EMR efforts? I would like to hear from C/I nurses who have struggled with the decision to switch to full-time analysts, and especially those who have left C/I, their reasons why, and any challenges they had returning to "traditional" nursing.

Thanks!

-Geek

[lhflanurseNP, APRN]

Most definitely! I think most IT nurses wind up wanting that patient/nurse interaction. While an IT nurse for 5 years in a 15-hospital wide Meditech program...all but 1 of us went back to patient care about the same time. It was a little daunting (mostly the meds) at first because we had been away from the bedside, but found it's like riding a bike. Good luck. At times I wonder what if I had stayed, but most times I don't regret it one bit.

[Kabin]

It might be good to keep your clinical experience fresh. In the not too distant future the electronic medical record boom will slow and there could be a bunch of excess NI folks playing musical chairs.

[lhflanurseNP, APRN]

It might be good to keep your clinical experience fresh. In the not too distant future the electronic medical record boom will slow and there could be a bunch of excess NI folks playing musical chairs.

I don't know about "NI folks playing musical chairs". As long as electronic records remain, the need for nurses to maintain the systems, change to adapt to new core measures, and update and improve processes, there will always be an IT nurse because the actual IT techs don't have this knowledge.

[angelrun1]

I have done several things during my nursing career, although not full time informatics. After several years of management I decided to go back to direct patient care. I found that if you have a license, it is not difficult to get work with an agency. Also, any military experience is a HUGE bonus in the job market.

Also, I do agree that IT nurses will always be needed. At least in my lifetime. The changes that are being required are vast. Our hospital has four different EMR programs and the ICU is still all on paper. Additionally, both ASCs have separate programs. I will be long retired before that gets that straightened out.

[Kabin]

I don't know about "NI folks playing musical chairs". As long as electronic records remain, the need for nurses to maintain the systems, change to adapt to new core measures, and update and improve processes, there will always be an IT nurse because the actual IT techs don't have this knowledge.

True enough, but new projects become low priority when the budget hits the fan.

[ikarus01]

I used to work as a clinical nurse, then got a full time job in IT. At the time though, many IT companies were doing layoffs so i figured best for me to continue working PRN on the side just to keep clinical skills.

Then once I realized my IT job was safe, I quit doing PRN nursing completely. Then about less than a year later, time my old nursing manager called me desperately to see if i wanted to work some shifts as they needed help.

As I was being offered some top money, I signed up and biggest mistake ever. Thank god I only went in for a 4 hour shift, because I was so inefficient and I just felt I didn't belong there. I had to go back and tell the manager that I couldn't do it, and that was my last stint in clinical nursing.

I only know of one colleague of mine who still does clinical nursing once or twice a month but she works in the OR and she loves going in for her shift. I just know that I was gone from clinical nursing for less than a year and when I came back to it, I felt as if I had lost of lot of my skills and speed. Obviously, if i were to work every day, they would come back, but definitely wouldn't want to go back! :)

[mydesygn]

Don't miss bedside nursing one bit. Once I left bedside nursing, i never looked back. As a pediatrics nurse, I miss caring for the patients but I gladly accept the long IT hours to the long nursing hours. I feel much more valued as a clinician in IT than I ever did as a staff nurse. It has been nice to be valued as a professional. Would I go back to the bedside - only if I had to.