What is Nursing Informatics? The role of a nurse has evolved significantly since the beginning. At one point in history, a nurse was only expected to provide specialized care to patients in need, but now the field of nursing has crossed over the lines of technology. Technology can be used in many ways to improve the delivery of healthcare services. Nursing informatics is for anyone who wants to combine the love of technology and nursing for one amazing career.
What is Nursing Informatics?
Nursing informatics is just one of the new and exciting careers in the nursing field. It allows a nurse to combine computer and nursing skills for a very rewarding career.
A nurse informatics specialist has the responsibility to manage and communicate information regarding nursing information and data to improve the decision making process for nurses, consumers, healthcare providers, and patients.
This sub-discipline of health informatics merges information science, the science of nursing, and computer technology to ensure the integrity and quality of nursing practices through improved communication, and documentation.
The job of a nursing informatics specialist may include assisting at all levels of nursing, including any aspect of patient care from admission to discharge. The advances in technology have dramatically influence the manner in which patients are managed, diagnosed, treated, and cared for while receiving services from a nurse.
Integrating technology into nursing allows the flow of data collection by nurses to operate smoothly. Nursing informatics has created many improvements in the way that nurses access patient information during care, and it has enhanced a nurse informatics specialist’s ability to monitor, audit, and benchmark quality measures.
Nursing informatics makes it possible for nurses to have a greater level of interaction with their patients. By joining the passion for people, technology, and nursing, the field of nursing informatics leads to a greater level of patient quality and patient outcomes while under the care of a nurse informatics specialist.
Nursing Informatics Requirements (Education)
The field of nursing informatics requires a minimum education level of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). It is possible to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing by combining specialized nursing diploma from an accredited nursing school, an associate’s degree in nursing, and additional coursework to meet the minimum requirements.
A few of the possible course that are needed to become a nursing informatics specialist include Healthcare Data Analysis & Evidence-Based Practice and Information Applications. It is also necessary to take part in a nursing informatics practicum to earn a nursing degree.
It is also a good idea to earn an advanced degree to improve the chances of landing a job. Some choose to earn an advanced degree in a technology field or take additional technology courses if they plan to delve deeply into the computer and technology aspects of nursing informatics.
A nursing informatics specialist must receive the credentials to become a registered nurse prior to earning the title of nursing information specialist. The NCLEX-RN exam is necessary to gain those credentials. Next, a nurse must earn the certification to become a nursing informatics specialist by taking the test administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Potential employers look for the most experienced and educated nurses for positions as nursing informatics specialists. It is very important to make sure that the attending nursing school is accredited by an accrediting commission— such as the National League of Nursing Commission (NLNAC)— to ensure that the earned degree has value after graduation.
Nursing Informatics Salary
The average nurse salary for a nurse informatics specialist is $98,702 annually. With an advanced degree in nursing and experience, a nurse informatics specialist can earn wages well over $100,000 annually in hospitals and clinics around the country. Working in areas with a shortage of qualified nurses may also increase the income potential of a nurse informatics specialist.
Nursing Informatics Jobs Outlook
Nursing and technology related careers are among the most promising of all fields. The new technologies and advancements in computers and nursing will continue to fuel the need for qualified, highly trained nursing informatics professionals.
A continuous increase in the need for nursing informatics specialist is expected for at least the next 10 years. The greatest opportunities for nursing jobs in informatics specialist are in Boston, Madison, Orlando, and Dallas.
The field of nursing informatics seamlessly merges the love of technology and nursing into a very exciting career. The advancements in technology and nursing make it possible for nurses to have a more intimate relationship with the patients who are under their care. A career in nursing informatics has the potential to be very rewarding for the right people.