Nursing Informatics

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Specializes in Med Surg/Spinal Cord.

I'm planning on going back to school for MSN in Nursing Informatics.  I'm wondering if  Nursing Informatics is the right choice for me.  Are there people here who are  currently doing  Nursing Informatics or who had already graduated?  How is/was the program?  Were you able to get a new job after graduation?  What school did you attend?  Would like to know whatever anyone can tell me.   

Thank you in advance 

Cynchy.

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Specializes in Oncology-Pediatrics RN.

I did my MSN in NI at Walden Uni. 100% online classes except for the internship hours where I had them at my hospital's informatics department. It was pretty easy and I was out of school since 2008 (started my MSN in 2015-2016). I recently moved to the US, and back home I didn't have the opportunity to practice NI. Here, I am still under contract to do bedside care until next year, I am actively searching for a job, no luck so far (possibly because I am bound to a certain geographic area which is NWA). I think if I want to move to other states, it will be easier to find a job. My plan B is going to work for EPIC in Wisconsin.

I highly advice you to get this degree, on the long run and with few years of experience, pay will be decent and you even can-do contracts with hospital to run their projects related to NI.

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Specializes in Med Surg/Spinal Cord.

Thank you Alloush for your input.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Back a few years ago, I was going to do MSN NI. Found out that there's not that many jobs except in few areas. And they prefer experience over degree. I have a BS in programming, which everywhere wanted, but I'm not able to move due to owning a large family farm. Try to get some experience in your hospital, then get the MSN 

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Specializes in Med Surg/Spinal Cord.

Thank you.

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Specializes in ED, Informatics, Clinical Analyst.

I got my Master's at Excelsior college and I really enjoyed the program. I was able to find a preceptor and do my Capstone project with the organization I was working for at the time. I got a job as an Epic ASAP analyst about 5 months after I graduated with no informatics experience, however, I was experienced in emergency nursing which is the area I was going to be responsible for. I absolutely love what I do and have no regrets. There are jobs out there, and some are willing to train people, but finding one may take time.

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Alloush said:

I did my MSN in NI at Walden Uni. 100% online classes except for the internship hours where I had them at my hospital's informatics department. It was pretty easy and I was out of school since 2008 (started my MSN in 2015-2016). I recently moved to the US, and back home I didn't have the opportunity to practice NI. Here, I am still under contract to do bedside care until next year, I am actively searching for a job, no luck so far (possibly because I am bound to a certain geographic area which is NWA). I think if I want to move to other states, it will be easier to find a job. My plan B is going to work for EPIC in Wisconsin.

I highly advice you to get this degree, on the long run and with few years of experience, pay will be decent and you even can-do contracts with hospital to run their projects related to NI.

Did Walden have weekly assignment/discussion requirements?

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I have heard EPIC is a great company to work for, and lucrative. A colleague of mine got a certification that allows him to run "roll outs" for epic when hospitals are changing MARs, although he doesn't work directly for epic that is the majority of his business. Short contract that pay a lot but often cut loose once things are up and running and looking for work again. 

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Specializes in Postpartum/Public Health.

If you want to learn more about Nursing Informatics as a job, feel free to review this AllNurses Article: Nursing Informatics: Job Description, Salary, and How to Become One - Nursing Careers (allnurses.com)

In regards to landing a job, I think it varies depending on which area you live in. I lived in Vancouver, BC prior to moving to Toronto, and during the time I was a student there, we were just implementing EMR, so now there are a lot of jobs there. But Toronto appears to be less as the EMR systems have been in the city for over 10 years.

Best of Luck! 

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