possible transition from bed side nursing to informatics?

ikarus01 · Feb 24, 2013

Hello overtonis,

The good thing about the 16 week go live is that it allows you to update your resume with pertinent experience in the field and it gives you something to talk about in your interviews. Finding a job after, is up to you.

When I worked as a consultant, I've met plenty of nurses who were doing their first go live as super users, and then months later, I heard from them and they told me they got a job.

The ones I know who got a job after the superuser gig, were those who got very agressive about finding a job. In other words, they updated their resume and they applied to thousands of positions and eventually they landed a job. Ok, a thousand positions might be an exaggeration, but the point is that they were out there hustling for a job and they weren't waiting for somebody to come to them with one.

Now, this about 3-4 years ago and what has changed is that nowadays I see more resumes with master's in informatics but quite a few don't have informatics experience, and even people with master's degree are overlooked when a candidate has actual, relevant experience. About 2 months ago one of the hospitals I work with, hired an entry level analyst, mainly because she had super user experience, and she was competing against a few candidates with masters degrees in informatics, but no experience.

So i say your chances of finding a job are high, but you have to go out there and really look for jobs, apply for jobs, network for jobs---in short, hustle for jobs. That 16 week experience will probably land you a job, but again, you have to do the searching, the applying, the interviewing, and well, you have to be persistent, and I'm pretty sure you will find one. Others have done it, why couldn't you?

Also, a relevant resume is always a good thing to have. I'm still seeing resumes which emphasize clinical experience an I wish I could tell these candidates, "you're applying for an informatics position, not a bedside nursing position." In my site, i had one post about what to have on a resume, but looking back, didn't really make it clear that people should really emphasize their informatics experience, if they have one. Guess need to update or write a new post, but too lazy! :whistling:

Congrats, and I think is just a matter of time when you'll be able to get away from bedside nursing!

HeatherD · Feb 28, 2013

An IT department can teach you how build and use their systems; they can't teach you how to be a nurse and what the end users go through. That is where your nursing comes into play. Informatics nurses need that bedside/end user long term experience behind them to be an advocate for the patients and the nurses on the information side of it.

ICU2IT · Mar 4, 2013

Overtonis,

After this Go-Live, I think you will have a great chance in getting a position in this field, especially being a nurse. After the initial build and Go-Live there is always maintenance, enhancements, and Upgrades!!! Someone needs to do it, might as well be you. You can also apply at EPIC. I hear they love people with clinical experience. You can be your own consultant. That's the beauty of nursing. Nurses have so many options.

I've been working with EPIC for more than 8 years. I am a trainer/analyst. I'm EPIC certified in Inpatient Clinical Documentation and working on Ambulatory Certification.

Good luck!!

sufernan · Mar 12, 2013

Hello there!

How do you get EPIC certified? What are the requirements? Thanks in advance!

ArtisticNurse · Mar 18, 2013

Overtonis,
After this Go-Live, I think you will have a great chance in getting a position in this field, especially being a nurse. After the initial build and Go-Live there is always maintenance, enhancements, and Upgrades!!! Someone needs to do it, might as well be you. You can also apply at EPIC. I hear they love people with clinical experience. You can be your own consultant. That's the beauty of nursing. Nurses have so many options.
I've been working with EPIC for more than 8 years. I am a trainer/analyst. I'm EPIC certified in Inpatient Clinical Documentation and working on Ambulatory Certification.
Good luck!!

Do you need to move to Wisconsin? How is it?

guest2210 · Mar 19, 2013

Do you need to move to Wisconsin? How is it?

No, you do not need to move to WI. Your facility needs to sponsor and pay the way for you to get certified. Depending on the application you are to get certified in it could take any where from 2-4 trips, minimum. More trips for other certs is not unusual. Your facility may also require a time commitment from you before you can go the consulting route.Generally, it is 18-24 months.

oneLoneNurse · Mar 25, 2013

I think your chances are 100%. I am just finishing off a 5 months contract, but am starting permanent full time in Meditech on April 8th. I don't have the skills I would like from my first exposure to Meditech, but 'I have what I need.' I have taught classes to end users which translates to knowing the user side inside out, and know how to builde several modules such as Physician Care Manager (PCM), Patient Care Services (PCS), and Customer Defined Screens (CDS). Anything I don't know I will expect the future employer to help me with.

Good luck!

pie123 · Mar 28, 2013

was recently contacted about assisting with 'go-live' for EPIC computer system in california for late March. Currently, I am super-user for Sorian Clinical and recently helped the hospital I am per diem with go live with their medication reconciliation.
My question is....after this 16 week 'go-live' for EPIC what are my chances of finding future employment in this area. I know getting EPIC certification is huge but I would need company to sponsor me for that. I have bachelors degree in Business & Nursing and have been looking to transition out of bed side nursing for about year now.
Thanks in advance everyone
Carl

I sent you a private message...

angelbaby1118 · Apr 24, 2013

ICU2IT,

Do you like working in the epic ambulatory area? I just applied for a job in that area. I have been a super user for the past 2 years..working at 2 different hospitals outpatient surgery centers.

samchloe · Apr 28, 2013

I am a new clinical nurse informatics and we are on the second week of go-live for soarian clinicals. Any advise? Does anyone know if there's a training for soarian?