RJMJ87

Hi Koki, I would like to learn more of what you do. I've been an informatics/IT nurse for the past 5 years mainly focusing on workflow and system analysis, design, implementation, upgrades as well as data management and assisting with interoperability between systems. I also have done consulting. I am planning to focus more on the other spectrum of informatics, which is in the data sciences and learning/researching the applicability of natural language processing and machine learning in analyzing healthcare data to predict disease, risk, and outcomes utilizing the large amounts of data from EMRs. This route will need an understanding of statistics, mathematics, and programming. I am in the process of pursuing a PhD.

Since your hospital will be doing a system conversion, this is the best time to get acquainted with your Informatics/IT department by asking to shadow one of them, attend meetings that require end user participation, and become a superuser for them. Get yourself familiarized by them and ask if they have any positions open. You will be able to learn a lot since your hospital is switching to a new system with all the projects and implementations that will happen. Once you get your foot in the door and obtain some experience then decide if you really want an MSN in Informatics.

No, you do not need to know how to do programming or coding to work as a nurse in IT/IS. Most Nurse Informaticists or Clinical Nurse Analysts are either focused in being a trainer/educator or builder/implementation of EMR systems. The need for nurses in IT is to use our knowledge and experience of hospital workflows, clinical processes, and terminology to help design or build the EMR system and/or coordinate and be a liaison between clinicians and IT. However, nurses working in IT are not just limited to these types of roles. IT is so broad it really is up to you on where you eventually would like to end up, and there are so many opportunities for nurses in healthcare IT. A very smart thing to do is to connect with your Informatics/IT department and become a superuser for them and participate in their meetings to expose yourself to what they actually do. Many hiring managers are now looking for people to join their team who have some experience in this area already. Best of luck!

Yeah, I can totally see that. Even some nurse analysts are leaving their hospital employers to join IT consulting companies because of better pay, but of course joining IT companies may require a bit of travelling. But someone from a nursing background who knows EMRs and can data mine and strategize will be golden to any hospital or healthcare employer. A Healthcare system near me is offering in the upper 100k for a senior data analyst, and I thought sign me up! Except I don't quite have the experience in that area just yet, Lol

Yes! Healthcare is behind on analytics since the focus has been on implementing EMRs and meeting meaningful use requirements. There is a need for clinicians to move from implementation to optimization to improve care and patient outcomes through data captured by EMRs. I think there is and will be a shift of the role of the nurse in healthcare IT from EMR implementation to data analysis and process improvement through analytics. However, there will always be a need for a nurse in the maintenance of EMRs and educating the staff on its use. I have been working in Clinical Informatics/healthcare IT in varying roles for a few years, and now I am currently in the process of looking for a good Master's program in data analytics to follow the trend. I suggest you get experience in your hospital's IT department by learning how EMRs work then pursue a Master's. Hopefully by then, MSN in Informatics curriculum will start to include more analytic courses to meet the demands of healthcare and the trend otherwise pursue a non-nursing Master's.

You have an adequate amount of experience in EMR implementation at your hospital, start applying! See if the hospital you are currently working for is hiring a clinical analyst or nurse informaticist. An MSN in Informatics is not necessary to work in Informatics/Healthcare IT. Having an MSN in Informatics will not necessarily get you more salary - it's really DOE. Having an MSN in Informatics without experience will not necessarily get you more opportunities. Many hiring managers want someone experienced. Of course experience + MSN will make you more marketable, but experience alone will still get you job offers. If you still plan to get your master's degree, I don't really think one makes you more marketable. If you're going to work in a hospital setting, an MSN may be preferred. It's important to note that nurses working in these kind of roles may fall under Nursing department or IT/IS department or both. If you fall under IT/IS department, they most likely do not really care for your MSN because they hired you for your clinical knowledge/experience and your ability to relate to the healthcare staff. If you work outside a hospital setting, such as an EMR vendor, they most likely do not care for your MSN either. Experience is still key.

If informatics is something you like to pursue, then getting an MSN in informatics would be beneficial. Is a Master's degree necessary to work in informatics? Nope. My recommendation is to get acquainted with your facility's IT&S/Informatics department and become a superuser for them during implementations or "go-lives." This will give you an idea if this is something you would like to pursue. Also this gives you experience that you can add to your resume. This is an in demand area in Nursing; however, positions are are limited. Most healthcare facilities are looking for individuals with experience in EMR/EHR implementations vs. someone with an MSN in informatics without experience. Based on my experience, the role of the RN in healthcare IT is not consisent across healthcare facilities and may have different titles. There are Nurse Informaticists who specifically provide education and training to the healthcare staff, and there are those who provide overall project leadership regarding the EMR/EHR system design, configuration, and implementation. There are those who serve as coordinators, being the bridge between IT and the healthcare staff gathering the needed clinical design specifications, and there are also those who mainly work the back end doing the configuration and "build" of the system. There are also nurses who work for vendors and travel to different hospital sites and provide assistance in system configuration and implementation. There are nurses who are independent consultant/contractors who travel to and provide support for the hospital's system. I worked as a consultant at a hospital where the nurse informaticists mainly reviewed data, updated policies, and educated the staff and not at all hands on with the design and configuration of the system. They were under the Nursing department. This same hospital also had nurses under the IT&S department and have titles such as clinical systems analyst or applications specialist mixed in with your non-nurse analysts who serve as your second tier support in troubleshooting system issues and also did the system design and configuration. Prior to this, I worked at a hospital where we did everything. I've also met and worked with nurses who were very technical and worked on interface engines and ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding. Personally, I prefer to do everything because it makes it more exciting and keeps me occupied. I'm certainly glad I got into informatics, and I'm sure this is a position you will enjoy as well.

Is that position you applied for titled as a "Nurse Informaticist" under Nursing Administration or was the title something like "Clinical Systems Analyst" or "Application Specialist" with a clinical background requirement under the IT department? I've noticed that if the job falls under IT department, the salary is usually lower. Nevertheless, Informatics/Healthcare IT entry level positions are hard to come by since most hospitals are now looking for individuals with experience in implementing EMR/EHR systems vs. having an MSN in Informatics with no experience. I wish you good luck on your job search!

look into nursing homes, that's where the jobs are available and will take a new grad easily. Hospital jobs for RNs are hard to come by nowadays.

Unfortunately, i heard quite a few hospitals have already filed for bankruptcy. don't know if it's true. if it is, new grads will even have more of a harder time to find jobs since the experienced nurses who were laid off will take the jobs. Nursing homes are always hiring and usually take a new grad on the spot, so try that route so u can get experience.

JCMC. I heard Bayonne Medical is hiring new nurses, have u tried them?

why dont you reapply to the hospitals that you've applied to before. quite a handful are hiring GNs again in NJ. i start my orientation next week =)

What a coincidence. I have a classmate who got interviewed within a week and half ago at both places. And i'm sure you're not him.

I was considering going straight to NMs because from reading around the forums, that's what a lot are suggesting and doing, and others I know have done exactly that. Yes, there has been lack of response from my applications. When I do get to speak to a nursing recruiter, they tell me they're not hiring new nurses, but then I hear from someone who works around the place I applied to that they hired new nurses weeks after I inquire about the position. I understand what you are stating as well, and that's what I am concerned about, visiting unexpected. I don't even know what to do anymore

I'm a GN. I plan on going directly to a couple of nurse managers instead of going through HR to get a job interview. How should i introduce myself? What should the first words out of my mouth should be? and When would be the best time to visit them? Any tips are greatly appreciated and wanted :wink2: