Quick certs to spice up resume for Epic application analyst job

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.

Trying to figure out what the next step in my career will be. Before my nursing career, I was an aspiring IS guy, but never snagged a job higher than helpdesk support. I missed the 90s IT bubble and by the time I'd gotten into the field in the late 90s/early 00s, everyone wanted a CS degree.

Nursing informatics has always been interesting to me. I know it's not a true IS job, but I think I'm definitely prepared experientially for a position that bridges the gap between nursing and IS knowledge bases.

Now, my organization is expanding -- just bought four hospitals in another region -- and thus our EHR group at corporate is expanding. They're hiring for Epic application analysts with RN experience. The only problem that I foresee is that the job listing states "training in information systems required".

So, the question is -- are there any somewhat valuable certifications that I can get to validate my IS/IT knowledge, to make me more competitive for the job? I'm not talking about cramming for some IT cert that I have no knowledge in, just to get some paper. I mean something that will validate intermediate-level IS experience that I already have, that could apply to a nursing informatics/application analyst position.

In the stone age of my career, I got my A+, Network+, and a few other certs, but those aren't really applicable and they're all outdated anyway. I was thinking about CompTIAs Healthcare IT Technician, but is there anything better?

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Specializes in Informatics.

I am actually interested in knowing the answer to this question myself - Google searches are relatively fruitless.

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.
I am actually interested in knowing the answer to this question myself - Google searches are relatively fruitless.

Since I didn't get any input here, I turned to a non-nursing forum that I regularly post on. A member there suggested that I look on LinkedIn for people who have similar jobs to see what their background is. This turned out to be great advice, because I found that NONE of the Epic clinical analysts that I looked at (about 20) had ANY technical background or certifications -- they were just RNs, lab techs, and other clinical personnel who just jumped into Epic. Their only certs were Epic certs, which you can only get by working for Epic or being sponsored by your organization.

So, I just decided to forget about stressing myself out with additional certifications and send my application in as-is.

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Specializes in informatics for 10 years.
I found that NONE of the Epic clinical analysts that I looked at (about 20) had ANY technical background or certifications -- they were just RNs, lab techs, and other clinical personnel who just jumped into Epic. Their only certs were Epic certs, which you can only get by working for Epic or being sponsored by your organization.

So, I just decided to forget about stressing myself out with additional certifications and send my application in as-is.

You're absolutely right. You don't need any IT certifications to get involved in nursing informatics. As you found out, most people in the field simply jumped in, and maybe the one group that might be a bit more technical is people working interfaces, but I can't think of any certifications that will give you an advantage if you're trying to get in the field. A somewhat relevant article is here.

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.

Just a quick update -- I got the job offer and it came with a pretty decent raise. I'm 99% sure I'm going to take it, but will have to talk it over with the wife because I'd have to travel 3 or 4 times to Epic HQ in Wisconsin for about a week at a time to get Epic certified.

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Specializes in informatics for 10 years.
Just a quick update -- I got the job offer and it came with a pretty decent raise. I'm 99% sure I'm going to take it, but will have to talk it over with the wife because I'd have to travel 3 or 4 times to Epic HQ in Wisconsin for about a week at a time to get Epic certified.

Congrats!

Tell the wife you can video message with her. If I were you, I wouldn't pass up this opportunity.

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I interviewed (did not get) a job where I would have to get EPIC cert. It would be difficult, but I think I would try to figure out a way to make it work. EPIC cert is very useful.

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Congratulations! I'm doing the exact same thing. Just going for it...

Hope you accepted, and would love to hear how it's going. Best wishes!

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Hey I do the same thing in Wisconsin I have epic certs in amb, beacon. I'm going back in spring for ASAP, Stork and IP. :) epic is great :) I hope you enjoy your job!! :)

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.

I did end up accepting the job. I'm actually flying out to Madison tomorrow evening for my first training session at Epic HQ. Wish me luck!

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Good luck! Make sure to go down the slide in the heaven building :) totally walk around and explore as much as you can!!! The food is awesome too. The coffee is the best around :)

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.

Quick update for anyone following this thread. I've spent the last two weeks traveling back and forth for Epic training. The Epic campus is really amazing and, yes, as sweetlilwolf said, the food and coffee is amazing (Magic Coffee ftw). I think I gained 10 pounds while I was there.

The classes go fast, but I think the trainers do a pretty good job of reinforcing all of the education and giving lots of opportunity for hands-on work in the training environment.

Sadly, my flight for my last class this week was cancelled due to weather, so I'll have to wait until at least February before I'm able to get Epic certified. I'll still officially transfer into the new position next week, but won't be able to actually do any of the real work until I'm certified.

I'm so glad I was able to jump onto this opportunity. I wish I had done it a few years ago, but that's just how it goes. Just putting all this out there to say that if you're thinking about going for an informatics/IT job at your organization, pull the trigger now.

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