What is informatic nursing and how do I get into it?

RNAnalyst · Jun 19, 2005

I have been a nurse for 1 years and have some experience with computers. Nurses are always asking me how to do things on the computer. I didn't know about this type of nursing until I saw it on this list. It sounds interesting. What is it and how do I get into it?:balloons:

Hi, Becky

Like you, I was a nurse that was very interested in computers and what they could mean in nursing. I had been using computers in healthcare for quite awhile when the hospital I work for decided to expand their use of the Meditech system. It included brining the ED into the computer documentation era, and as I was working in the ED, I went to MIS and became involved in the implementation. That lead to a full time position in MIS, and after 11 years of emergency nursing, I was ready for the change. I have been doing it for 5 months now, and I have to day, I love coming to work again!

Good luck. If you really want it, go for it and make it happen!

RN Analyst

BeckyJN · Jun 20, 2005

Hi, Becky
Like you, I was a nurse that was very interested in computers and what they could mean in nursing. I had been using computers in healthcare for quite awhile when the hospital I work for decided to expand their use of the Meditech system. It included brining the ED into the computer documentation era, and as I was working in the ED, I went to MIS and became involved in the implementation. That lead to a full time position in MIS, and after 11 years of emergency nursing, I was ready for the change. I have been doing it for 5 months now, and I have to day, I love coming to work again!
Good luck. If you really want it, go for it and make it happen!
RN Analyst

I'm sorry, what is MIS?

RNAnalyst · Jun 20, 2005

Management of Information Systems, just a fancier way of saying IS department, I guess.

I actually fill an NIS (or nursing information systems) position, which incorperates my nursing skills into the implementation of the system.

I must admit, I haven't had this much fun at work in I don't know how long. I truly do enjoy getting up in the mornings again.

Good luck!

rninformatics, DNP, RN · Jun 20, 2005

Hi Becky,

In answer to your first query. Nursing Informatics is the specialty that combines nursing science and computer science to improve the practice of nursing and patient care. Read multiple previous postings on this forum and do some research - its an awesome specialty!

In answer to your second query. MIS stands for Management Information Systems.

I'm sorry, what is MIS?

ksmith1963 · Jun 21, 2005

I have been a nurse for 1 years and have some experience with computers. Nurses are always asking me how to do things on the computer. I didn't know about this type of nursing until I saw it on this list. It sounds interesting. What is it and how do I get into it?:balloons:

Hello Becky and all interested in nursing informatics,

There are a number of ways to get into nursing informatics. One way is to volunteer to work on projects in you institution around nursing informatics (perhaps a work flow group or learning to be a superuser). Another way is to talk to the nurses working in the nursing informatics department (if you have one) or nurses working as clinical analyst in the information systems department.

For a good primer on nursing informatics, please visit Susan K. Newbold's webpage: http://www.nursing.umaryland.edu/%7Esnewbold/sknfaqni.htm

Join a nursing informatics networking group like ANI, CARING or ANIA. For a full listing, see http://www.nursing.umaryland.edu/%7Esnewbold/skngroup.htm

Another way to learn about nursing informatics is to attend a Weekend/Weekday Immersion in Nursing Informatics (WINI). For more information about WINI please visit http://www.winiconference.net

Good luck and come join the growing field of nursing informatics. If we are to have an electronic health care record (EHR), we will need many more skilled nurses speaking up for the creation and use of the EHR.

Welcome to the field.

Kathleen Smith, MScEd, RN,BC, FHIMSS

http://www.winiconference.net

http://www.icce.us

MKL65 · Jul 24, 2005

The best way is to volunteer, with testing, teaching, proctoring, and let the people in information systems know you are interested. That is how we recruit most of our people. Everytime there is something going on with IS/NI get involved.

da_nurse · Oct 10, 2005

Hi Becky,

I got involved in our hospital's Information Systems Department during the implementation of a new application for orders, documentation and medication charting. They needed a nurse liason to help in gathering "the data needed" (what nursing wants and current state information) to build the application. Now that is very simply put, and it is way more the just "gathering data". But to mirror what RN Analyst said, I also enjoy going to work again. After 18 years of Critical Care Nursing, (and I love nursing) but I was looking for something out of the CCU arena. I found it as a RN Clinical Analyst. I have always enjoyed computers, technology and how they can help improve our lives as nurses.

I wrote into this nursing forum when I first got involved in the project I discribed above and the people here are wonderful about providing all the leads you could need to direct you into this specialty. I would recommend going to your hospital's Information Systems Department and introduce yourself. Many of the IS departments out there are realizing the value of having RNs in there application analyst group. In talking with the non-nursing analysts I work with , there is some difficulty understanding the needs of clinical areas without a nursing background. Good Luck in your search.

Da_Nurse

Hi, Becky
Like you, I was a nurse that was very interested in computers and what they could mean in nursing. I had been using computers in healthcare for quite awhile when the hospital I work for decided to expand their use of the Meditech system. It included brining the ED into the computer documentation era, and as I was working in the ED, I went to MIS and became involved in the implementation. That lead to a full time position in MIS, and after 11 years of emergency nursing, I was ready for the change. I have been doing it for 5 months now, and I have to day, I love coming to work again!
Good luck. If you really want it, go for it and make it happen!
RN Analyst

30andconfused · Nov 10, 2005

As Always How much do they make?

nickola · Jan 1, 2006

The hospital I used to work at changed to the Meditech system & they were looking for a person to head up the team for the nursing part. I applied, & was picked to interview, along w/10 other applicants. Each one of us went to a private interview w/8 MD's, the DON, as well as the IT dept. I was thrilled to be their 1st choice & offered the job. They would pay for my training, as well as expenses to commute to get the training (3 hrs away in a larger city). I would be expected to take call for problems w/the system, work wkends & holidays, until the implementation was complete & the bugs worked out. For all this they offered me $1/hr more to 'start'!! I had 2 young boys at the time, and was a single mom. I turned it down, (although had I not had children might not have) and eventually left that job w/in the next yr to move to another state. Now my ex has married an RN who is team leader for informatics for a large hospital corp. She makes 6 figures, and was recently given a large raise to head up an implementation of a newer computer system for all the hospitals she deals with. Before this she worked out of home most of the time, and had some travel involved. Now she leaves home at 7 a.m. & gets home about 10 p.m. every night except Sat/Sun & this schedule will continue until the project is finished- at the end of summer 2006. Sometimes she sleeps at the office. While the money is great, and she has alot of job-related perks (free laptop, free Blackberry, paid job-related expenses such as meals, travel, hotels) I prefer my schedule & smaller pay w/less stress...... Just my opinion.

WDWpixieRN, RN · Jan 20, 2006

Question: I am still waiting to get in to an RN program -- have been accepted for Fall '06. I am currently a systems (IT) analyst for a large company where I have worked for 5+ years.

Are there positions in this informatic field that are part-time or will allow you to also do regular nursing?

I think once I had some RN experience, I would be able to contribute in this field, but prefer not to be bound to a desk again!! :eek:

AC439 · Feb 3, 2006

I, too, retired from a 17 years of IT career into nursing. Although the money was good, I had no life. I was never able to get away from the computers. I had no Sat/Sun for myself. When I was home, I had a laptop connect to the corp network. When you are managing 35+ sites in different timezones, you know what I mean. I was called on my cell phone when I was driving to my vacation destination. Also, many maintenance routines, especially DB related, have to be done when there is nobody using the system. This means you can't work on it until everybody goes home and you're stuck at night.

In nursing, when you are off from work, you are off from work. They won't call you back to the hospital to flip a switch or reboot an IV pump. The nature of the work is so different.

I talked with a local hospital's MIS dept, telling them my dual abilities in IT and nursing. They don't seem to be much interested in my nursing background but they are a more interested in my IT background. Basically, they asked me to pick one - IT or nursing, but not both. Also, they don't ever have a nurse informatics positions. That came into my surprise because the hospital is quite large with multiple buildings and over 700 beds.