[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Nursing Informatics Career in Brief[/hen-ui-heading]
[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Where Do Nurse Informaticists Work?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]According to the 2020 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.himss.org/sites/hde/files/media/file/2020/05/15/himss_nursinginformaticssurvey2020_v4.pdf” target=”_blank”]Nursing Informatics Survey[/hen-ui-link], more than 68% of nurse informaticists work in hospitals or health systems. Other common work settings include higher education and [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/ambulatory-care-nurse/”]ambulatory care[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/msn/best-online-health-informatics-programs/”]Nursing informatics[/hen-ui-link] job sites include:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Hospitals/Health Systems[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Professionals working in these settings liaise between clinical areas and IT departments, train clinical information systems staff, and ensure compliance with practices and policies.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Colleges and Universities[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In academia, nurse informaticists write reports, conduct research on methods development, and perform statistical analysis.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Ambulatory Care[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurse informaticists analyze data, determine clinical application needs, and manage automated systems in these settings.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Why Become a Nurse Informaticist?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Prospective nurse informaticists should consider the advantages and disadvantages of the field. In general, healthcare and [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/best-specialty-career-choices-for-nursing/”]nursing careers[/hen-ui-link] offer job stability and growth but also present challenges. The list below includes some of the pros and cons.[/hen-ui-text]
[hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″ class=”py-4 my-0 text-center border-b md:pb-8 md:border-none”]You might be interested in[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-layout ids=”36820,44511,34044″][/hen-ui-article-layout]
BSN required
certification optional
[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurse informaticists develop communication and information technologies and policies. These professionals also serve as educators, researchers, and software engineers to work as chief nursing officers and chief information officers. Some nurse informaticists own businesses, while others find employment in consulting roles.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Primary Responsibilities[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Supporting evidence-based education, practice, and research through concept representation and standards[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Developing data and communication standards to build a national data infrastructure[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Disseminating new knowledge into practice using research methodologies[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Defining healthcare policy[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list]
[hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Skills Learned[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Clinical Experience[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Technical Skills[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Project Management[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Data Analysis[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Medical Economics[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Interpersonal Skills[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Leadership[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list]

[hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Advantages to Becoming a Nurse Informaticist[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Opportunities to improve healthcare[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Clear and tangible results[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Collaboration with and education of nurses and healthcare professionals[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]High salaries[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list]
[hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Disadvantages to Becoming a Nurse Informaticist[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Considerable education, training, and experience[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Long working hours[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Licensure process[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list]
[hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How to Become a Nurse Informaticist[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The path to [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/nurse-informatics/how-to-become/”]becoming a nurse informaticist[/hen-ui-link] involves education, examination, licensure, and certification.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-card] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-button variant=”textOnly” href=”/careers/nurse-informatics/how-to-become/”]How to Become an Informatics Nurse[/hen-ui-button][/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Nursing Informatics Careers[/hen-ui-heading]*SOURCE: Payscale, April 2022[hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How Much Do Nurse Informaticists Make?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The HIMSS report states that, among its respondents, 49% of [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/careers/nurse-informatics/what-can-you-really-do-with-a-nursing-informatics-degree/”]nursing informatics salaries[/hen-ui-link] topped $100,000 per year — an increase from 45% in 2017 and 33% in 2014. More than 10% of those surveyed reported earnings of $151,000 or higher, and nearly 25% of those highly paid informatics nurses hold doctoral degrees. Sixty-one percent of doctoral-level nurse informaticists cited salaries of more than $100,000.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Experience can also lead to increased wages, with 71% of nurse informaticists who have logged 11 years or more earning salaries of over $100,000. Only 27% of survey respondents with less than five years of experience reported incomes that high.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Certification may also boost salaries. More than half of those surveyed who hold nursing informatics certification earn more than $100,000 per year.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What are some specific duties of nurse informaticists?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The HIMSS report found systems implementation, such as choosing and developing new technologies and training nursing staff to use them, as the most common job duty. Other typical tasks include informatics education, project management, system development, and quality initiative planning and reporting.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]How long does it take to become a nurse informaticist?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/nurse-informatics/how-to-become/”]A career in nursing informatics[/hen-ui-link] requires a minimum of a BSN, which usually takes four years to complete. Students with RN licenses can often enter accelerated or bridge BSN programs to finish in 12-20 months. Graduate-level degrees, such as MSNs and nursing doctorates, add 2-5 years.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What skills are important for working in nursing informatics?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nursing informatics calls for a combination of clinical, technological, and collaborative abilities. Successful nursing informatics workers need interpersonal skills, such as conflict resolution, empathy, flexibility, and teamwork, along with problem-solving abilities, computer programming knowledge, and experience with health data systems.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Can you work remotely as a nurse informaticist?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]According to HIMSS report respondents, 45% reported working remotely during some points in their workweeks. Many nurse informaticists must spend time at their worksites, but 21% of those surveyed report working remotely every day. Twenty-nine percent of respondents work offsite one day per week, and 19% work remotely two days a week.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Professional Organizations for Nursing Informatics[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ania.org/” target=”_blank”] American Nursing Informatics Association[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] ANIA offers nursing informatics certification. The organization supports its national membership with an annual conference, continuing education resources, and journals and publications through its online library. Other benefits include a virtual connection forum, job listings, and 27 local chapters. ANIA offers discounted student memberships.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.allianceni.org/” target=”_blank”] The Alliance for Nursing Informatics[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] ANI aims to advance the practice of nursing informatics, along with education, leadership, policy, and research. The organization represents individual nurse informaticists through member groups at the local, regional, national, and international levels. Affiliates qualify if the entire group or a component of the group focuses on nursing informatics.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.himss.org/who-we-are” target=”_blank”] Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, Inc[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] HIMSS advises healthcare leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders on best practices. This organization offers expertise in health analytics, innovation, public policy, research, and workforce development. Members can join as individuals, corporations, or nonprofit partners to benefit from extensive digital educational resources.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ahima.org/” target=”_blank”] American Health Information Management Association[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] AHIMA features a digital community platform for members to access content and interact with the organization and fellow professionals. AHIMA also hosts an annual conference, posts job listings, publishes an online journal, and provides certification options. AHIMA offers membership to information professionals, and students can join at a reduced rate.[/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Related Pages[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”slider” ids=”34363,34361,34059,34248″][/hen-ui-article-row][hen-ui-separator /]