Start in Nursing Informatics dilemma

BeachsideRN, ASN · Dec 29, 2015

Just a thought ... Why another bachelor's and not a masters? Getting a masters in public health (many programs have informatics tracks) or MS informatics may be more beneficial than another BS.

BeachsideRN, ASN · Dec 29, 2015

Another thought is to look into "Clinical Data Analyst" positions with research organizations.

KDuncan890 · Dec 29, 2015

I have thought about this as well, but have been unable to find a MS program that will give me a strong background in applications such as SQL, javascrip, and other things.

ikarus01 · Dec 29, 2015

I hope there is a way I can incorporate nursing and data analytics. I also wonder if this would give me an advantage when applying for clinical analyst jobs. Anyone ever heard of a RN getting a BS in data analytics?

Within nursing informatics, data analytics I think is a great niche to get into. A clinical analyst job is not really the same as a data analyst job...in other words, most clinical analysts don't have it in their job description to go in and create data reports, although some might, but a data analyst job is definitely is another job description onto itself as it requires another set of technical skills that most clinical analysts probably don't have, unless they taught themselves those skills.

With that said, you could start as a clinical analyst and on your own, get into data a analysis/reporting position. Of course, you would have to find a job that allows you to dabble into data reporting while working as a clinical analyst.

I've been in hospitals that won't even let the clinical analysts come near the databases and only the data analyst/report analyst person is given access to the databases. Any report needs have to go through this analyst, and yea, that can be limiting and annoying. Other hospitals will give you access as long as you can justify why you need the access.

So taking a clinical analyst position hoping to get in and then learn reporting might happen or it might not, depending on the employer, although you could obviously ask about the type of database access while interviewing for the role.

As somebody else mentioned though, you could go for a master's degree maybe in health informatics, and maybe you would pick up some community college courses on data analysis, data mining. I know some nurses who started as clinical analysts and switched over to data reporting but they trained themselves for the jobs by taking outside courses and just simply creating their own reports at work. They don't have degrees in data analytics, but now they have plenty of experience in this niche.

So to answer your question...is really up to you what you want to do. Get a BS in data analytics. Go for a masters in informatics and then hope to get a job where you can actually learn data analytics while working as a clinical analyst or just get a clinical analyst position after getting a master's.

ikarus01 · Dec 29, 2015

I have thought about this as well, but have been unable to find a MS program that will give me a strong background in applications such as SQL, javascrip, and other things.

You could just get a masters and take additional programming courses at a community college or teach yourself these languages. I have a bachelors in computer science and back when I was in school, my program only had one intro course to Java. I took additional Java courses at the community college and in fact, the teachers at the community college turned out to be better teachers than my pHD professors at my university because the CC instructors were working in the field and they would give us real world assignments to code. But then again, I learned C on my own and now, plenty of online help to learn some programming.

KDuncan890 · Dec 29, 2015

Thank you everyone for the advice. Taking additional courses at a community college would be a great option to learn about data analysis along with programing platforms. I am currently trying to teach myself somethings, such as javascript , online through code academy. I wanted to start something by March. To be honest, I would like to get a master's instead of getting another BS but I like the structure of the program. I also thought a internship of some sort would be good since I only work weekend option right now.

TinaCerda · Dec 30, 2015

An IS/nursing expert should be a hot item right now. Hospitals need experts to tweak their electronic medical charting programs.

RJMJ87 · Dec 31, 2015

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.

ikarus01 · Jan 2, 2016

Yes! Healthcare is behind on analytics since the focus has been on implementing EMRs and meeting meaningful use requirements.

hmmm...ever since i've started working in the informatics field, hospitals have been looking for data analysts, but one problem they face, is competing IT companies who pay higher salaries with better benefits.

Obviously, hospitals claim they offer stability since IT companies love to offshore their workers, but know ex-colleagues in the data analytics field who have gotten hospital offers and they said the fact that hospitals wouldn't even consider letting them work from home was a deal breaker. Lower salaries also didn't help.

RJMJ87 · Jan 2, 2016

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

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 2, 2016

We need hands-on nurses to help with the EHR that is part of the problem and why nurses are needed to help tweak the programs. We know what we need but not necessarily how to fix it. that is why I am going into informatics. None of us know how to standardize a care plan for a specific issue. I work in ortho and we have some great carep plans, but nothing is easy to find if we have an off-service pt. No easy way to find a care plan for a SBO or an amputation. Data, we have a good handle on that-how to run report and filters, we need more translational research that means something to the care nurse.