Nursing Informatics

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Hi

I am in my first year of nursing school and it is going pretty well. I seem to like it but I would like to get my master's degree in something and I cam across nursing informatics. I am really good with computers and technology so i think this might be suitable for me. I have many questions about this career that the internet couldnt help me answer. If there are any nurses out there who specialize in informatics please let me know what you do, where you work, do you still get to work with patients or is it more computer work? I know i get can a masters in informatics but i heard about the certificate, what is the difference? Also i am worried about finding a job with this specialty. What is the job outlook as of right now? What are nurses called that specialize in informatics? Do all hospitals hire informatics? I live in NYC and i plan to work there but i am currently in school at buffalo. if someone could help me that would be great! :specs:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

It's a relatively small field, so it might take a while to get some responses.

We do have a Nursing Informatics subsection here which is where I'll move your post. Take some time to check it out.

Good luck in all that you do. :)

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Specializes in Informatics, Education, and Oncology.

Greetings and Welcome babiiprycess,

I've practiced in this specialty for 10+ years and I currently work for a large integrated delivery network (read that as a large healthcare organization composed of multiple hospitals) as the liason between the patient care areas (Lab, Pharmacy, Nursing, Case Management, Rad, Outpt, etc) and IT. I provide no hands on patient care within the scope of my Informatics role.

There are numerous titles/job descriptions for nurses who practice in this specialty.

As an example I have held such positions as: Applications Analyst, Informatics Coordinator, Clinical Analyst, Project Manager, Manager of Informatics, Research Informaticist and Clinical Informatics Speciality.

The outlook for those practicing in this specialty is excellent. I'd say even more so in

large, populated cosmopolitan areas..............such as NYC, Baltimore, DC, Chicago and Cali.

You wrote that you have not finished nursing school yet. Your chances for success in

landing an entry level position in informatics will be increased if you have experience as a practicing nurse.

Take a look at other posts on this forum with similiar questions,

Good Luck and let me know if I can be of any other assistance.

Hi

I am in my first year of nursing school and it is going pretty well. I seem to like it but I would like to get my master's degree in something and I cam across nursing informatics. I am really good with computers and technology so i think this might be suitable for me. I have many questions about this career that the internet couldnt help me answer. If there are any nurses out there who specialize in informatics please let me know what you do, where you work, do you still get to work with patients or is it more computer work? I know i get can a masters in informatics but i heard about the certificate, what is the difference? Also i am worried about finding a job with this specialty. What is the job outlook as of right now? What are nurses called that specialize in informatics? Do all hospitals hire informatics? I live in NYC and i plan to work there but i am currently in school at buffalo. if someone could help me that would be great! :specs:

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Hi!

My title is clinical informatics specialist. I'm an LPN/GN, waiting to take NCLEX-RN, and landed a job in a small rural hospital that is quite technologically advanced for our size.

You will need some clinical experience to be "credible" as a nurse.

The outlook is very bright. Governments are starting to mandate EMR's - electronic medical records - in some areas, and nurses woith clinical and systems skills AND interest in both are rare.

You will not have patient contact, which I miss. I have considered picking up an occasional per diem shift to keep my hand in.

go out to http://www.ania.org, where a lot of educational information is available.

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Hi. I got two degrees, which are BS Computer Science and BS in Nursing. I have 3 years experience, 2 years in ICU and 1 year in Telemetry and I also wanted to take Nursing Informatics as my advanced degree. Do you know any good school in Baltimore for this course? How about an organization where I can join in? Any information will be appreciated. I just want to make sure that I am on the right track. Any suggestions or ideas? Thank you! :)

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Specializes in Informatics, Education, and Oncology.

Baltimore area NI degrees - U of Maryland has a well respected reputation for its NI program.

BANIC - Boston Area Nursing Informatics Consortium and CARING - Capital Area Rountable in Nursing Informatics are both headquartered in the geographical area you speak of.

Good Luck!

Hi. I got two degrees, which are BS Computer Science and BS in Nursing. I have 3 years experience, 2 years in ICU and 1 year in Telemetry and I also wanted to take Nursing Informatics as my advanced degree. Do you know any good school in Baltimore for this course? How about an organization where I can join in? Any information will be appreciated. I just want to make sure that I am on the right track. Any suggestions or ideas? Thank you! :)
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Baltimore area NI degrees - U of Maryland has a well respected reputation for its NI program.

BANIC - Boston Area Nursing Informatics Consortium and CARING - Capital Area Rountable in Nursing Informatics are both headquartered in the geographical area you speak of.

Good Luck!

I am confused about Nursing Informatics and Health Informatics. I inquired to different universities offering health informatics and one person told me that it is different and more broader than nursing informatics. please enlighten me with this. Another, I saw that you are certified NI nurse. what is the difference of taking the masters for NI if you can be certified by taking the minor certification for NI?

Any inputs will be appreciated. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

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Specializes in Informatics, Education, and Oncology.

Greetings pandaboi,

Medical, Nursing, Dental and Pharmacy Informatics are all subspecialties of the broader field of Clinical or Healthcare Informatics. As you can see by the names "Nursing Informatics" focuses on nursing practice,research and patient care where as "Dental Informatics" focues on that clinical practice area.

Healthcare Informatics should not be confused with Health Information Management aka Medical Records.

I am certified in Nursing Informatics by the ANA (American Nurses Association), unlike a certification you would get after taking courses at a University.

I sat for the certification exam after actually practicing in NI for a few years and prior to my entry into grad school.

In order to be eligible to sit for the ANA NI certification exam one must meet one of the following practice hour requirements:

> Have a practiced minimum of 2,000 hours in informatics nursing within the last three years,

or

> Have practiced a minimum of 1,000 hours in informatics nursing in the last three years and

completed a minimum of 12 semester hours of academic credit in informatics courses which

are a part of a graduate level informatics nursing program

or

> Have completed a graduate program in nursing informatics containing a minimum of 200 hours

of faculty supervised practicum in informatics

and

Hold a current, active RN license within a state or territory of the United States or the professional,

legally recognized equivalent in another country

I am confused about Nursing Informatics and Health Informatics. I inquired to different universities offering health informatics and one person told me that it is different and more broader than nursing informatics. please enlighten me with this. Another, I saw that you are certified NI nurse. what is the difference of taking the masters for NI if you can be certified by taking the minor certification for NI?

Any inputs will be appreciated. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

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Can you help me which one should I take? Nursing Informatics or Health Informatics. I don't know what health informatics means. I think that is different from Health Care Informatics? Are they interchangeable? Thanks

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Specializes in Informatics, Education, and Oncology.

Yes Healthcare and Health Informatics are interchangeable terms.

The course content will vary from univesity to university.

IMHO, Healthcare/Health Informatics is broader than Nursing Informatics and might give you a broader course of study and therefore a broader knowledge base and a more marketable degree. Such a course of study might produce a more versatile clinician. If your love is nursing science then Nursing Informatics might be your best bet???

The decision as to which one to choose needs to be made by you after doing your homework and researching the field.

Feel free to e-mail (DO NOT POST YOUR NUMBER IN THE FORUM) me and you can pick my brain over the phone.

Can you help me which one should I take? Nursing Informatics or Health Informatics. I don't know what health informatics means. I think that is different from Health Care Informatics? Are they interchangeable? Thanks
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