Nursing Informatics Preceptorship/Jobs/Certifications

[NycoleParmeter]

I am at my witts end in trying to find a contact to complete my nursing informatics preceptorship and finding a nursing informatics related job.

I finished all my course work to complete my Masters in Science with a emphasis in nursing informatics however I have been struggling for 6 months to find a master's level nurse working in an informatics role in Minneapolis, MN area. The school has been no assistance and I have reached out to several large hospitals in the area. If anyone has any suggestions as to how they completed their preceptorships, I would be grateful.

My second concern is in researching for nursing informatic jobs I have not come across any entry level jobs (with or without a Master's degree). Everyone seems to want 5-10 years experience along with management/leadership experience. I know there are many different arenas for practicing informatics but in my search I am having difficulty finding jobs requiring nursing along with informatics knowledge. Pursing a nursing based informatics job I think would be my way in to an informatics position as a new graduate having limited experience.

I know most nursing informatic roles have been "slid" into but for those who didn't acquire the position out of interest what titles/roles did you work in as a new informatics

nurse either with a degree or without? I see positions for database administrators (non nursing), analysts (non nursing), directors, etc all of which I lack experience for. What are some different titles for nursing informatic roles?

Also from a nursing standpoint seeking an informatics role, would certifications such as the six HIT Pro exams or the more expensive CPHIT, CPEHR, CPHIE, or CPORA certifications hold any value on my resume in pursuing an informatics role or are these geared more toward the non nursing computer/technical side of informatics? I ordered the study guide for the HIT Pro exams thinking that if I can show initiative in furthering my education/knowledge base that it may help me. I have also tried to find opportunities within my current job to pursue EHR related opportunities without much luck (also working night shift does not allow much for networking!).

Thank you in advance to anyone who can provide some insights to an overly frustrated nurse!

[lhflanurseNP, APRN]

Have you tried contacting some of the major companies: Epic, Meditech, etc? They may be able to help you.

[ikarus01]

Everyone seems to want 5-10 years experience along with management/leadership experience.

Depending on the job, you can still apply for it, even if it says 5-10 years of experience.

I've been at hospitals where they put the same type of ad (x years of experience required), yet they get candidates who have never had an informatics job, but have had some involvement as super users, and some of these candidates are considered for the interview.

Obviously, a director or manager type of job, you need the experience. But for analyst roles, I would still apply.

I know most nursing informatic roles have been "slid" into but for those who didn't acquire the position out of interest what titles/roles did you work in as a new informatics

nurse either with a degree or without?

Problem is that employers will many times list the job under the name of the application they are using. So for example, let's assume that a hospital uses cerner. A job title might be, firstnet analyst or powerchart analyst, etc.

So if you know the names of the applications used by vendors, that will give you access to analyst jobs that you can apply for.

And even using the vendor's name will yield jobs, so stuff like, epic analyst, cerner analyst, meditech analyst etc, might find jobs in the field.

Also from a nursing standpoint seeking an informatics role, would certifications such as the six HIT Pro exams or the more expensive CPHIT, CPEHR, CPHIE, or CPORA certifications hold any value on my resume in pursuing an informatics role or are these geared more toward the non nursing computer/technical side of informatics?

In the informatics world per se, don't think these certifications are necessary...I think some of those were to help people with no healthcare background get in healthcare IT, although it has been a while since I read the news release on these. But kind of same problem. Certificate, no experience....not good.

And just out of curiosity, what university are you at?