Want to get started in Informatics

Just want to congratulate you on how well thought out your plans are! Many approach this from a by the seat of their pants methodology and then wonder why things dont work out. You on the other hand have definately but some thought into this and have done your home work!!! The only thing I have to add is when in these training sessions and meetings learn, learn and learn as much as you can. Utilize the people/IS staff, vendor reps, etc you meet in the training and meetings and learn! Good Luck!!! I have no doubt you will do well!

So, I really feel that I have developed a clear vision for how I want my nursing career to progress. I am starting graduate school in July (MSN in nursing admin and education) and I know that informatics is where I want to end up. Technology and I have always gotten along well, and I am frequently the person that others come to when they have a computer or technology question. My facility is in the process of implementing an EHR. I have brought it to my managers attention that I desperatly want to be a part of as much of the process as possible. To begin with, I have already gotten approval to work as a super user for the system implementation. In addition my manager has already personally asked me to participate in an educational class related to the system. I am also attending work flow meetings on a regular basis. To all you informatics proffesionals, does this sound like a good start to "getting my foot in the door" with informatics? Are there any extra suggestions that you may have to improve my worth or marketability?

This is what I was just wondering, for myself - my OR is supposedly going to computers "soon". I thought that now would be a good time for me to see how the system gets implemented and possibly be a sort-of "go-to" person in my department for the rest of us who will be training on it. I'm not a computer "guru" but I seem to be ahead of most others in my department on how to get through a program that isn't doing what we want it to do, LOL. And we use AS400 right now to enter specimen orders - I've used several different companies' AS400 programs over the years and can't believe how easy some were and how difficult and complicated others can be; just depends on the programmers! Anyway...I am interested in informatics but not sure how to break into it. I'm also interested in getting in on the education side of nursing as well - taking notes as I'm being educated right now. I have to concentrate on just being a new nurse right now (I just graduated and have only 4 months in on my first RN job) - but I have a desire to improve things where I work and bring as much to the profession as I can.

A suggestion - one of the first things to do is learn correct terms.

The AS400 is a server.

What is AS/400? - Definition from Whatis.com - see also: AS/400e, eServer iSeries 400

Servers run applications or programs. Clinical Information systems (those used in a hospital's clinical areas such as lab) run on servers. The AS400 is the CD player and the clinical applications/systems are the CDs. Make sense?

So your clinical application may be running on an AS400 , what system are you "using to enter specimen orders"??? You are using some clinical application system. What is it called? Which application? What is the name of the software system you are using? If you want to enter into this specialty knowing the name of the application, software program and having an understanding the fundamental terms are basics.

You may also find that the system is "easy" because it is DOS based or character driven instead of Windows. Knowing what this means will help you too.

Those who are successful in this field are experienced clinicians (minimally and easily over a year of practice experience or more) so continue to get your foundational knowledge in nursing before attempting to transition into this specialty - similiar to new grads dont go straight to ICU..............they get at the very least 1-2 years in med surg before making such a transition.

Good Luck!

This is what I was just wondering, for myself - my OR is supposedly going to computers "soon". I thought that now would be a good time for me to see how the system gets implemented and possibly be a sort-of "go-to" person in my department for the rest of us who will be training on it. I'm not a computer "guru" but I seem to be ahead of most others in my department on how to get through a program that isn't doing what we want it to do, LOL. And we use AS400 right now to enter specimen orders - I've used several different companies' AS400 programs over the years and can't believe how easy some were and how difficult and complicated others can be; just depends on the programmers! Anyway...I am interested in informatics but not sure how to break into it. I'm also interested in getting in on the education side of nursing as well - taking notes as I'm being educated right now. I have to concentrate on just being a new nurse right now (I just graduated and have only 4 months in on my first RN job) - but I have a desire to improve things where I work and bring as much to the profession as I can.

thanks for the responses! this post really helped out. i am also interested in going into informatics. I have been a nurse for a year now and I have applied to Hopkins new post bacc Applied Informatics Program to get a glimpse at the informatics world along with learning new information about it.

I have been debating since I graduated a little over a year ago what to go to graduate school for in Fall of 11'. After a lot of debate, endless searches on these forums, and talking to many of my nursing administrators I think I have decided to lean towards Nursing Informatics. I will have had over two years of Med/Surg nursing including floating for a year and over a year of ICU step-down under my belt. I have been working with the Meditech system since graduating but I know there is a vast amount of information to learn regarding other systems. I have grown up using computers and even building computers from scratch so I feel I have a grasp on the background of computer knowledge.

My questions is regarding what actual degree to seek a Masters in, whether it go straight for Nursing Informatics or to possibly get a Masters as a Nursing educator first? Also it's not every day you see job postings for NI jobs? Is it something that you find more readily as an internship for schooling or something related to that? Any information would be greatly appreciated as I have to start thinking of where to apply for Fall 11'.

Your Graduate degree concentration depends on what your career goals are. I see jobs posted in NI everyday. Perhaps you are not looking in the right places. Have you looked at the job sites of HIMSS, AMIA, ANIA, Indeed.com, Monster, etc?

The ability to seek out data and information and transform it into knowledge are valuable skills in Nursing Informatics.

Proactively seek out the "data" you need by searching this forum and utilizing the "information" that has been provided by experienced Informaticists who frequent this forum and have shared their knowledge.

Good Luck!

I have been debating since I graduated a little over a year ago what to go to graduate school for in Fall of 11'. After a lot of debate, endless searches on these forums, and talking to many of my nursing administrators I think I have decided to lean towards Nursing Informatics. I will have had over two years of Med/Surg nursing including floating for a year and over a year of ICU step-down under my belt. I have been working with the Meditech system since graduating but I know there is a vast amount of information to learn regarding other systems. I have grown up using computers and even building computers from scratch so I feel I have a grasp on the background of computer knowledge.

My questions is regarding what actual degree to seek a Masters in, whether it go straight for Nursing Informatics or to possibly get a Masters as a Nursing educator first? Also it's not every day you see job postings for NI jobs? Is it something that you find more readily as an internship for schooling or something related to that? Any information would be greatly appreciated as I have to start thinking of where to apply for Fall 11'.

Just an update for guys, I just got hired on as the Informatics Resource Nurse for my facility. While this is a new position and not well defined, at least some of the responsibilities have been outlined. Essentially, I will be serving as the voice of my super users to the system wide clinical analysts, implementing change requests, shadow charting, etc. It is a little scary as the position is brand new (our system is in a period of transition to an EHR, with only some of our 15 odd hospitals being completely live with the system). We currently have the first section of our EHR rolled out (basically only an EMAR with no barcode scanning), it has prepared our clinical leaders for the later roll out phases. It is a little scary for me, but I am very excited about being selected for the position. I will still be working as a clinical nurse for half of time, and the other half of the time, I will be working in the IRN role. I am sure that I will be frequenting this board quite often :)

Welcome and CONGRATES Joshuaha!!!

Please do feel free to frequent this forum and use myself and your fellow informatics professionals as resources!!!

Good luck!!!

Just an update for guys, I just got hired on as the Informatics Resource Nurse for my facility. While this is a new position and not well defined, at least some of the responsibilities have been outlined. Essentially, I will be serving as the voice of my super users to the system wide clinical analysts, implementing change requests, shadow charting, etc. It is a little scary as the position is brand new (our system is in a period of transition to an EHR, with only some of our 15 odd hospitals being completely live with the system). We currently have the first section of our EHR rolled out (basically only an EMAR with no barcode scanning), it has prepared our clinical leaders for the later roll out phases. It is a little scary for me, but I am very excited about being selected for the position. I will still be working as a clinical nurse for half of time, and the other half of the time, I will be working in the IRN role. I am sure that I will be frequenting this board quite often :)