NeilC

Hello all, I am interested in how one might make the transition from an IT career (software engineering more specifically) to Nursing Informatics. It seems that the typical career path begins with one first earning some type of nursing credentials, such as their RN, and then gain at least a couple of years of clinical experience before transitioning into nursing informatics. I have a Bachelors degree in Education and Computer Science. For the past four years I have been working in the software development field. With my IT background in mind, can anyone recommend an ideal approach I should take to start a transition into nursing informatics? Thank you Neil

Hello all, I'm so pleased to have come across allnurses.com and this particular thread whose focus appears to be helping us IT people make the transition into the healthcare field. I've already learned much and hope to be able to make my own significant contribution as well. It seems we're all early in the transition stage into healthcare, even more so myself. Maybe just a few words of encouragment for Chiliwings and any others who have been feeling the pain with respect to the tightness in the IT job market. I've been working for a construction software company that for the most part has managed to escape the accounting hatchet that much of the software industry has experienced over the past few years. I have a good salary (~60K in Arizona where the cost of living is not our of control) and this past 6 months or so of business has been superb. The problem I have is that I recently realized that I pursued my CS degree and got into software development mainly because of its better financial rewards compared to other careers. The process of self assessment has been one of the most difficult things I've had to do. But I now realized that what really motivates me is seeing others' conditions improve, whether these be emotional, intellectual or physical conditions. Although I've always known it, I've been a stronger right brain thinker in a left brain world these past 6 years or so. Although I spend a good part of the day designing and evaluating optimal data structures and algorithms to run our business software, for the most part I've been able to leverage my creativity and interpersonal skills in this math and logics based world in which I work. We've all got bills to pay, and it sounds like most of us have family obligations as well, so I don't think any of us are looking to live a monastic life. I realize a move into nursing would mean a significant decrease in salary. However, it's a sacrifice that I think I am prepared to make so that I may have the more important gain of feeling truely satisfied with my work. Well, that was a bit long winded. I look forward to hearing from you all soon. Neil