Worth it to get computer support certificate?

[thinkingcap]

Hello all! I am just beginning my nursing journey, working on my pre-requs at my local community college. I am interested in many nursing roles, but eventually I see myself moving away from the bedside into either informatics or research (or both). Right now I have the opportunity to complete a certificate of applied science in computer support (essentially the first year of the associates degree) while I finish my pre-requs. It would be some extra time and money but nothing that feels out of reach. However, I wanted to get some input on whether that is the sort of thing that might help kick start an informatics career, or if it is too minimal a degree to really have much impact. Any thoughts would be most welcomed. TIA.

[ikarus01]

Do you know what classes are offered for that certificate and if so, what are they?

[thinkingcap]

Here is a list of the required courses

Intro to Business

Fund of Computer Science I

Intro to Computer Modeling

Network Operating System – Desktop

Computer Repair and Maintenance

Commands & Scripts

Computer Fluency

CCNA 1: Exploration

Professional Certification

If those aren't the right sort if classes can you give me an idea what classes would be most most helpful. The actual certificate would be easier to put on a resume than just a collection of classes, but if they are better ones to take I will do that and just mention them in my cover letters.

[ikarus01]

Maybe intro computer science might be a helpful class, and maybe the commands and scripts class might be helpful but given the list of courses, I don't think that certificate would be that helpful.

You're not out installing networks or doing computer maintenance or repair, or dealing with the operating system in most informatics jobs. Usually there is an IT group within a hospital that deals with that.

I would say an intro programming class (any programming language but maybe c or c++) would be helpful, and then a database class would definitely be more applicable to informatics.

In fact, in an informatics job you're not really programming, but a programming class helps you to understand the concepts of the logic used when writing an application and as you work configuring applications, sometimes that logic might be helpful.

And programming you can really learn on your own. I taught myself C long ago just write some scripts for my pc, and I didn't take a formal class for that. But C introduced me to the logic of thinking to solve "application" problems and i think that has helped me in my job. But be aware that many nurses work in the field and they have never taken a programming class so this is not really a requirement for an informatics job.

Then a database class might be very helpful as all jobs in informatics always have a reporting piece. Some jobs even let you have access to the database and you can write your own queries to solve some problems. But some vendors don't even give you access to the database so yea, another "not required" class, but definitely nice to know concept. You can also learn databases on your own.

My broken record advice, once you get a nursing job, just try to get involved with informatics any way you can and that experience usually is what's valuable when trying to find a job in the field. Obviously, i have no idea how things will be 4, 5 years down the road...