A Career in Nurse Informatics

While nursing is traditionally seen as assistant work, advancements in information technology have created a whole new area to the nursing field: nursing informatics.
 
So, what is nursing informatics? Nursing informatics is the integration of nursing and computer and information sciences to manage and communicate information within nursing practices. Government programs and state clinics have been built with the hope of creating groundbreaking developments in the field of nursing informatics.

Nursing Informatics Jobs and Salaries

Nursing informatics carries a wide range of employment opportunities. Consult the following table for the salaries and job descriptions associated with a few of the most common types of nursing informatics positions.
 

Job Title

Salary Range

Job Description

Nurse Informatics Analyst

$60,000 – $92,000

· consult with researchers and other medical professionals

· integrate data, such as clinical, financial and billing information

· provide and deliver information for multiple projects, such as cost containment and clinical outcome analysis.

Nurse Informatics Coordinator

$50,000 - $70,000

· carry out necessary actions for better data integrity, accuracy and reliability

· maintain up-to-date knowledge on nursing informatics developments

· provide opportunities for users to voice concerns and suggestions on improvements for bettering the information system

· serve as a resource throughout the facility.

Nurse Liaison

$60,000 – $80,000

· assist with treatment/surgery procedures

· develop treatment plans to ensure a balance between quality of care and cost effectiveness

· ensure the satisfaction of customers by providing suggestions and taking recommendations

· review and explain medical documents (reports, procedures, diagnostics tests, etc.).

 
With new jobs being created every year (mainly in the information technology departments), the field of nursing informatics is opening doors for many graduates, whether their studies are medical or computer-based.

Education Requirements for Nursing Informatics

For most nurse informatics majors, a Bachelor of Science is required to break into the field. Courses include:
  • Advance Nursing Research
  • Elevation of Healthcare Information Systems
  • Healthcare Policy
  • Informatics and Information Management.
In addition to a bachelor's degree, students looking to further advance in the nursing informatics field will also need to earn their master's degree.
 
After completing coursework, students will then have to pass the Nursing Informatics Certification exam. Although being certified in nursing informatics isn't always required by employers, it will put you ahead of the competition and can provide you with more employment opportunities.

The Future of Nursing Informatics

The field of nursing informatics is growing and developing at an impressive rate. Registered nurses have been given new roles and are training to become programmers and systems analysts. The Cleveland Clinic, one of the most famous clinics in the nation, has a collaborative program between the Division of Nursing and Information Technology, known as the Nursing Division’s Nursing Unit of the Future. The program provides nurses with the opportunity to experience and provide feedback regarding new technologies.
 
Heavily influenced by telecommunications, microprocessing and digital imaging, nursing informatics has experimented with different technologies, providing multiple solutions and outcomes for different scenarios. By accessing these new developments, nurses can now work in a user-friendly environment, offering better results, safety and customer service to their patients.
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