Just 10 years ago if someone had told you their job title was a Nursing Informatics Clinical Project Manager or Clinical Informatics Specialist you probably would have starred at them and said “What?”
This specialty in nursing has exploded over the past decade and will continue to grow as nursing moves into the information technology world.
What is Nursing Informatics?
The informatics nurse is someone who is involved in activities that focus on the methods and technologies of information for nurses, combining information science, computer science, and health care to create resources, devices, and methods required to optimize the securing, storeage, retrieval and use of information in healthcare. This helps nurses to manage data effectively in the direct care of patients/clients.
What do Nursing Informatics nurses do?
Their job responsibilities vary- they can include being a project manager, health information manager, helping or designing the software for nurses, educating nurses on how to use the software/program, writing training programs or implementing the clinical information systems for an organization.
To read more about what a Nurse Informatics does click here- HIMSS provides information on Nurse Informatics role , career guide, associations, project management center and much more.
Another Nursing Informatics website to consider is the American Nurses Informatics Association for more resources and stories of how nurses got started in Nursing Informatics.
Nursing Informatics Jobs
- Acute care facilities
- Long Term Care organizations
- Private Companies or Vendors
- Education/Training programs
- Self employed as an independent contractor in several different areas (just to name a few) – software designer, educator or writing continuing education or courses and consulting.
Here is a list of some job titles you may see that are a Nursing Informatics (NI) job.
- Implementation Specialist
- Clinical Analyst
- Project Manager
- RN – Information Systems
- Nurse Specialist Informatics
- Nurse Clinical Consultant
- Systems Analyst
Nursing Informatics Certification, Continuing Education
You must hold a current, active RN license in a state or territory of the United States or the professional, legally recognized equivalent in another country. Also hold a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing or a baccalaureate degree in a relevant field. Check out the American Nurses Credentialing Center for the full details of certification and resources on Nursing Informatics.
If you don’t have a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing you can still get into this field. Another place to get educated and certification is the Health IT Certification website. Here you will find information on training regarding electronic health records (EHR), health information technology (HIT) and those engaged in the creation and management of Health Information Exchanges (CPHIEs).
Nursing Informatics Salary
Salaries start at $60,000 in Long Term Care facilities to $127,000 in Consulting. I see this field having great potential for self employed nurses. If you have a background in HI technology and are interested in this field, Go For It! With the health care industry going to Electronic Health Records Nursing Informatics will continue to grow and be in demand.
Nursing Informatics book recommendation
Informatics and Nursing: Competencies and Applications
Soft cover book that’s easy to read and understand by breaking it down for you to better understand what nursing informatics is.
Here’s to all Nursing Informatics Nurses!
Tina
P.S. Check out the Small Business Nurse Recommends store. Books, software and magazines just for nurse all in one place for your convience. Click on the words Small Business Nurse Recommends above and Happy Shopping!
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