How to START in Nursing Informatics: Just 3 STEPS (PART 1) 2021
Average salary
The majority of informatics nurses are full-time employees, and their average pay varies depending on the healthcare organization they work for, their level of expertise, and their location.
Some salaries range from $53,400 to $110,800 per year.
What does an informatics nurse specialist do?
A registered nurse who develops, implements, and manages technology to serve the needs of the healthcare sector is known as an informatics nurse specialist. To enhance patient care and outcomes, the field of nursing informatics combines information and computer science with nursing. An informatics nurse specialist may be responsible for a variety of duties, such as the following:
How to become an informatics nurse specialist
You can choose from a number of paths to becoming an informatics nurse specialist. However, they usually all include the same basic educational requirements. The most typical steps to become an informatics nurse specialist are listed below:
1. Earn an undergraduate degree
Typically, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is the entry level requirement for informatics nurse specialists. The main topics covered in BSN programs are patient care, pharmacology, anatomy, psychology, chemistry, and health evaluations.
Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field or an associate degree in nursing must take additional coursework for 12 to 18 months.
Students will also be required to complete clinical rotations in a monitored setting as a necessary component of their nursing education throughout the nursing programs.
In order to create software that will solve issues and improve patient care outcomes, prospective informatics nurse specialists will need to have a thorough understanding of how the nursing field functions.
2. Complete licensing requirements
To practice as a nurse, prospective nurses must pass a licensing exam in every state, though some states may have additional criteria. Before being eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination, a nurse must complete their accredited education. This test will determine whether it is safe for you to begin working as a beginning nurse. You will be evaluated on your capacity for critical thought, which will aid you in making decisions as a nurse.
3. Consider an advanced degree
Your preparation for a specialized career as an informatics nurse specialist will be aided by earning a Master of Science (MSN) in health care informatics. Although it is not necessary to hold an advanced degree to start working in this position, it could be beneficial to do so to improve your employability and income potential.
Health information systems, health law and ethics, data management and design, systems life cycle, and measuring performance standards are among the topics covered in the MSN program.
4. Complete certification
The American Nurses Credentialing Center requires certification for nurse informatics specialists. This certification is the:
You must first complete your bachelor’s degree, complete two years of nursing practice, and pass the ANCC Informatics Nursing board certification exam in order to receive this credential. Your competence and basic clinical expertise in the area of informatics nursing are evaluated by this exam.
You might take the following two levels of additional certifications to advance your career:
You can demonstrate your understanding of health IT and management systems by earning the CAHIMS certification. You can facilitate and enhance the quality of business management systems and health IT in the healthcare industry by passing the exam and gaining valuable credentials.
Your ability to meet the requirements of the CPHIMS demonstrates your professional expertise and ability in healthcare IT and management systems.
5. Continue education
For the purpose of keeping their licenses and certifications, informatics nurse specialists must complete continuing education credits. These credits can typically be completed online or in-person. They assist informatics-trained nurses in staying up to date with developments in healthcare facilities’ information technology.
Frequently asked questions
You might have more queries about the career of an informatics nurse specialist. Here is a list of frequently asked inquiries and the responses that will give you more details:
What is the schedule like for informatics nurse specialists?
Depending on the demands of their healthcare facility, informatics nurse specialists may work a variety of schedules. They typically put in more than 40 hours a week, and their routine and set schedules are typical. Depending on the company they work for, they might work both day and night shifts.
What skills are essential for success in this role?
To succeed, people in the field of informatics nursing need a variety of hard and soft skills. The following are the abilities that an informatics nurse specialist should possess:
What are the work environments for informatics nurse specialists?
Different healthcare settings may employ informatics nurse specialists. These healthcare facilities include:
What other jobs can nurses with a specialty in informatics obtain?
With an informatics specialty, you can also pursue the following positions:
FAQ
How long does it take to become a informatics nurse?
Depending on your level of education, becoming an informatics nurse could take around seven years. A bachelor’s in nursing (BSN) program typically lasts four years to complete, and a master’s or doctoral program requires several more years of study.
What is a nursing informatics specialist?
Nurse informaticists, also known as nursing informatics specialists, bring medical expertise to the field of IT. It’s a type of nurse trained in both the creation and application of medical technology and the provision of healthcare services.
Which educational degree is generally required for an entry level informatics nurse specialist?
1. Earn an undergraduate degree. Typically, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is the entry level requirement for informatics nurse specialists. The main topics covered in BSN programs are patient care, pharmacology, anatomy, psychology, chemistry, and health evaluations.
Is Nursing Informatics in demand?
The Department of Labor projects that employment will increase by 9% from now through 2028, which is much faster than the average for most professions3, with a projected requirement for 70,000 nursing informatics specialists/analysts by 2025.
