Nursing Informatics from Outpatient nursing

[Jennifer George]

Hello! I've been a cardiac nurse for almost 2 years in NYC, and the stress of juggling NP, PA, doctors, and management overloads of work has just pushed me out. I've just gotten a job as a family RN at a primary care clinic (private business with multiple locations)- I do love the job description and team, but I've just got such a strong desire for tech. I was honestly debating if I should just get a tech degree and try to start over, but it seems smarter to just use my nursing degree and prior experience to pivot. That being said, I feel like my biggest obstacle from getting informatics related jobs is my lack of experience (many wants 5 years bedside). I DO NOT want to go back to bedside. I am truly interested in helping companies out from the background from a technical perspective. What is the smartest direction for me to take to pursue this goal? 

I don't think I should get an MSN in informatics since it's definitely not what they look for in a candidate. I shadowed the tech department at my old hospital, and there was only one informatics nurse who said she wasn't leaving anytime soon... and they ghosted me afterwards. My goal is to get experience, but I just don't know how to access that initial experience. Perhaps I could try to develop a new informatics position in the company I currently work at? (Although I have no idea how I would even start that). I would appreciate any advice or direction!

[Alloush, BSN, MSN]

Since there is a huge deficit in NI nurses, many hospitals and EMR tech companies hire nurses and they train them to do the informatics part. Ofcourse with the lack of experience and degree the salary will be on the low side but after 2 years in Informatics you can change institutions or you can ask for a better pay and a better position. In NI there are many levels of expertise and many roles, with experience and degree (if present) you will be able to climb the ladder. If moving is an option, I would highly recommend EPIC in Wisconsin, they do hire nurses with no experience or degree, as I said before, you will start from the bottom of the ladder, but it is a good choice on the long run. Especially when you get your EPIC certificate, you can use it for better positions later.