RN Needed for Nursing Informatics?

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2008

CrusadersFan, I know that what got me my job here was my LPN license AND the fact that I was going on for the RN. I'm in a rural area and became a nurse after my job as a mainframe programmer was outsourced.

I would not have gotten this job on my systems credentials alone.

Look into www.excelsior.edu. As an RRT you are eligible to do their distance learning ASN.

rninformatics, DNP, RN · Nov 5, 2008

Greetings CrusadersFan,

I've never heard of such a thing!

Unless of course the position title was specifically for a "Nursing Informatics" role??

If the roles you are seeking are heavy in support of clinicians perhaps thats the disconnect? The powers that be may not feel your skill set is strong enough in multi-disciplinary clinical practice/change management, process flow or that you are not knowledgable enough about the areas that would support multiple clinicians practices??

I dont know of any specific RRT apps.............

I would guess it also depends on the organization's culture, strategic goals,etc.

As you well know there are many positions in HIT/healthcare informatics that do not require an RN degree. Perhaps you should contact a recruiter who supports a more varied client base? Are you only applying for clin doc or analyst positions that support nursing applications?

I have hired non-RNs (Rad Techs, Pharmacy Techs, LPNs) as analysts and project managers. Perhaps not to support clinical documentation applications or apps heavily used by nursing but yes to support Radiology, Lab, other clinical areas, etc.

You wrote that you have a great deal of experience with systems, programming, implementation and project management. Is that with clinical or financial/bussiness apps?

The Director's role may be heavy in operations and administration. Do you have experience in the business side of managing a department, product line or division?

Please feel free to contact me off line (via PM or e-mail) if I can be of any further assistance.

I am an RRT who has worked in Informatics for over ten years. During that time I've accumulated a wealth of knowledge about computer systems, programming, project management and implementation. About six months ago our Director left for a consulting job and I was turned down for advancement because I was not an RN. Since that time I've been told by recruiters and other hospitals that they will not speak with me unless I have that RN credential.
At this time, I'm looking into going through EC to complete the RRT to RN program.
Has it been your experience that most hospitals would not hire or advance an applicant with medical and technical background due to not having the RN credentials?

CrusadersFan · Nov 5, 2008

Thank you for the reply, RNInformatics. The largest hospital system in my home state, approximately 4,000 beds total, will not take any application for Informatics unless the individual is a licensed RN. They have IT positions (systems analysts, programmers) but not Informatics. And, of course, IT positions have dozens of apps for every one. I've had supervisory experience (directing RT and IT departments) and most of my programming and PM work is in the clinical realm. However, there is a strong preference for RNs to head clinical departments and NI is considered one such department at most hospitals in this area. I spoke with two recruiters who prefaced their conversations with "are you an RN" and then advised that their customer specifically wanted an RN. One even asked if the lack of being an RN has impeded my ability to go into other NI jobs and advised me that most of what she gets specifies that the applicant must be an RN. This is why I have toyed with the idea of getting an RN (in addition to the security that comes with the RN degree) to add to my resume. Thank you again for the response.

jjjoy, LPN · Nov 5, 2008

Having an RN license along with your experience would definitely open more doors for you. However, since you don't already have an RN license, the question is is it worth it to invest in it now, given where you are and what you want to do. It would just seem to me that there are enough informatics-type jobs out there that could use your experience even without the RN license and that it would be a lot less of an investment to keep applying to positions that interest you until you find a position that will hire you than to go back to school full-time for at least two years or part-time for longer so that you can qualify for a few choice NI positions out there. Even if you did earn the RN and were then qualified for the NI positions, there'd still be the question of respect from clinical nurses if you don't invest another few years working AS a clinical nurse before taking an NI position.

It may very well be worth it to you pursue an RN. Just food for thought!!!