JAG_RN10

I disagree. Having 1 or 2 years of floor experience is useful in Informatics. I have lead RNs with 1 year of experience and they do wonderfully in the Informatics world. I have worked with RNs with several years of experience and were not cut out for Informatics. It all matter of their education, skills, knowledge and desire to excel in their work.

Many Nurses with a 1-3 years of experience on the floor go into the Informatics realm and do wonderfully.

You have asked about Informatics before on this board. Many of the RN who believe that technical skills and prowess is not needed for employment, are most likely Narrow-minded and therefore, are not open to the ideas of the tech advancements. Many of you on here cannot see Nursing beyond the scope of your limited mindsets. Just because your employer doesn't require it now, doesn't mean it won't matter in the future. And the Future is staring at you dead in face everytime you use a machine to do your job! What are you going to do with your informatics degree when Machine Learning does most of work? Look up: https://hitconsultant.net/2019/02/07/health-catalyst-series-f-funding/#.XJPMHRNKjdQ

Let's remain positive and bring forth encouragement.

That's wonderful! Best of luck.

Congratulations and welcome to the field.? I am a IT Nurse Leader. However, I started as an RN-Informaticist Don’t be afraid of doing something outside of your comfort zone and be open to learning. Learning about technology is no longer a choice. IT must be used through the continuum of care. If you don't have training or experience in IT or project management, take some courses or get a degree in tech related field, obtain certifications and join professional organizations within Informatics; this will afforded you opportunities to contribute to the advancement of nursing informatics. What is your MSN focused on? *~* Jes *~*

You sound incredibly bitter about the Informatics field. The OP is obviously interested in this speciality and I am sure there are nursing students that are interested in other specialities besides Informatics. Go check other topic areas on this site, instead of being a negative nancy. OP, look on LinkedIn and make connections there. Also, I would suggest reviewing articles written by those in the field and reaching out to them.

Remember there are people with Masters Degrees and experience in the field hustling for that job too. There are no guarantees whether it be a degree or a connection made. Just because a person made a connection doesn't guarantee the job either. ? But whom am I to say anything with my two masters degrees, my over 120k yearly salary, and my position as an IT Nurse Leader at a Leading Hospital in Cali .

You are correct a masters in Informatics is not needed to gain entry the field, but it is highly preferred. Meaning, if you have it, you will be shortlisted and interviewed even with or without connections. Networking Skills are always a plus and very much needed in any industry. But, you can still be successful without a hoard of connections. However, if OP wants long term value in her career investments in this field, Masters in Information Systems/Management of Information Systems/Information Technology/Computer Science/Information Science is the way to go.

As a CS grad, you will be a major asset, if you are able to apply the theories taught. Many moons ago, I considered CS for my second Masters but I preferred the applied aspects of Information Systems. Information Systems is more applicable to Informatics workforce. If you are proficient in the required programming languages like SQL, you will be favorable within the industry.

Long term? If you are interested in becoming more than just a RN-Informaticist at some point in your life then, yes go for the Masters Information Systems or technical related degree. If you are interested in becoming a IT Nurse Leader or even a Chief Nursing Information Officer, The knowledge and skills within the technical domain will be essential. Even if you remain a RN-Informaticist, the technical knowledge and skills provided by Masters programs focused in Technology will still be applicable and useful within the field. Please feel free to message me if you like. All the best in your journey and whatever you aspire for!

I have two Masters. A MSN in Nursing Education and a Masters in Information Systems from the University of California system. I understand why you wouldn't pursue a masters degree in a Technical field because the level of your job may not require it at the moment.

Hey BG.RN, I understand where you are coming from. There is substantial value in a Masters Nursing Informatics for current hiring demands in EHR. However, I do agree greatly with JMR regarding the limited nature of Nursing Informatics programs. Although, her/his views are more future orientated, they are very much valid because of the various technological shifts in the medical field in general. I have a BSN, MSN in Nursing Education and another Masters in Information Systems. As an IT Nurse Leader, I as well, interview new nurses alongside HR and other managers. When filling Informatics positions, I am the go to person. Having a Nursing Informatics Masters does not hurt but I am more inclined to shortlist Nurses with backgrounds in IT or/and IT-related masters degrees. (which are very few might I add.) Why you may ask. Well, A nurse can be trained in EHR management quite easily, I suppose to the point where it is not valued so greatly. However, being able to think and understand the technical aspects are valued far great because there is so many who have not developed these skills or understanding. There is such a demand for these types of employees as our systems become more sophisticated. Especially, in Informatics domain. From the Nursing Informatics programs I have reviewed, they lack much in technical terms. OP, feel free to reach to me if you have any questions via video chat or online. Cheers, *~* Jes *~*

Please message me on this site and I will gladly help you.

I don't usually post on the internet. but....... Working in the Nursing field since 2004, Nursing Informatics specialty since 2008. Back in the days, there wasn't much demand in the field for RNIs as it was relatively a new speciality in the field. I wanted a challange from being on floor all the time.... Back then you were trained from within, gave your clinical expertise and was put on teams with the MIS dept. to find technical solutions to issues within the dept. It is like being on a committee. I did not have a MS degree in Nursing Informatics.... I don't think it even existed tbh... I got my BSN/MSN though. After awhile there, I was advised by a good friend in the MIS dept that I should pursue a masters in technology.... Me?! Yes, I did eventually. ? & Never. Have. I. Ever. Regretted. IT. It was a truly a good investment on my part. I learned on the job, but my MS allowed me to put into practice alot of stuff that was not taught on the job but still was useful. For example, we were working on a optimization project to make our system more user-friendly...& everything I learned from Systems Analysis & Design, Data Mining & Data Warehousing and many other grad courses allowed me to give so much more of myself as clinical professional because of the technical knowledge from grad school. Not too knowledgable on Nursing Informatics programs. But, I will say that Information Systems is a good major if you want to do Informatics in Nursing or Healthcare. I love my line of work and working with different depts. on different projects. I am very proud to be apart of these things and say I worked on improving that application! Oh yeah and consulting firms tend to pay MORE for RN~Informatics specialist than hospitals. ? Cheers, *~* Jes*~* //BS/MS in Nursing from UC //MS in Information Systems from UC // Salary: 122k a yr. after almost 8 yrs on the job as an RN~Informatics Specialist & now a IT Nurse Leader & in the future Chief Nursing Information Officer.