Over the years, recruiting nurses for positions in informatics has been exceedingly difficult. There are not enough of them. They make too much money to consider leaving. They like their jobs.
So, with the objective of motivating more nurses to pursue careers in nursing informatics, we sent a Q&A to two informatics nurses. Nurse TA had a career in informatics before studying nursing, and nurse LB worked primarily in the OR before her job in informatics.
Q #1. What skills do nurses have which make them qualified/suitable to work in Nursing Informatics?
LB: Nurses should have practical experience in using computers in patient care settings. They should also be familiar with workflows for their perspective areas. Like any other specialty area, nurses may pursue more formal education, and obtain certification and membership in professional organizations.
TA: Nurses should have understanding of Informatics and how it is applied to help clinical users use healthcare tools safely and efficiently in order to provide quality patient care. Though healthcare IT sounds very technical, nurses’ listening skills are very important. Instead of listening to the patients’ needs, we listen to the users’ needs.
Q #2. In which areas of informatics do we find nurses?
LB: Nurses work in a variety of different areas of informatics. These areas may include:
- Clinical Documentation EHR (end-user training, support, education, implementation, patient outcome experts)
- Clinical System Analyst (who may be responsible for system build, multiple system integration, and updates)
- Resource utilization (operational reporting for an organization) and External Benchmarking (patient indicators and outcomes, nursing care hours, unit operational data)
- Working with Research Department (Data pull and validation)
- Project Management
TA: Almost all areas of healthcare informatics are in need of clinicians, whether it is the EHR, interfaces, devices, compliance, or regulatory reporting.
Q #3. What is the dominant skill/attitude a nurse needs to be successful in Nursing Informatics?
LB: Nurse informaticians act as knowledge experts for their areas of responsibility. Informatics nurses need to have a keen interest to learn new things related to improving patient care outcomes.
TA: In Nursing Informatics, you need listening skills and an innovative mind with ‘anything is possible’ attitude - someone who is always willing to go beyond the perceived limitations.
Q #4. What is the biggest challenge for a nurse working in Nursing Informatics?
LB: Many people look at the IT side of the role and think informatics nurses are no longer clinical experts, when in fact informatics nurses bring the use of computers technology to support nursing, including in clinical practice, administration, education, and research.
TA: The biggest challenge I think is adjusting to a different mode of thinking – a nurse in informatics has to step back and become an observer instead of hands-on giver of patient care.
Q #5. What do you like most about working in Nursing Informatics?
LB: The best part of working with Nursing Informatics was having the exposure to the organization at an operational level. It was working in a team atmosphere that was very appealing. In many instances, the team led the organization in acquiring new solutions based on the expertise of the Nursing Informatics Department. It was extremely satisfying to have been involved in projects from the start to the finish.
TA: I love coming up with innovative solutions to assist the clinicians with efficient workflows – and knowing that I am providing a positive impact to patient care, though indirectly.
Q #6. What do you not like about working in Nursing Informatics?
LB: Honestly, I enjoyed working in Nursing Informatics very much, and I cannot think of anything I did not like about the job.
TA: As a nurse, I do miss direct patient care. Keeping up with new technologies and healthcare IT innovations is almost a full time job!
We hope this will encourage more nurses to enter the field of Nursing Informatics.
