A nursing informatic is a professional who works in the diverse field that integrates nursing science, computer science and information science into one. As a professional in this field, you will be a specialist in the study and application of technology as it pertains to nursing. This is why most nursing informatics employers require that applicants for a nursing informatic position are first registered nurses. If you would like to understand more about what nursing informatics specialists do and what it takes to enter the field, read on.
What Are the Roles and Responsibilities of a Nursing Informatics Specialist?
An informatics nurse can play several different roles in the field of informatics, and your responsibilities in this field will depend entirely on your title. Typically, when working in a medical care facility or a hospital, an informatics specialist will combine their knowledge of nursing and their broad expertise of computers to maintain and manage the systems that are used by nurses in the facility. Not only will they manage these systems, some informatics professionals also play a role in analyzing data, planning the deployment of a system and implementing a new system that nurses must be trained on.
How to Become a Nursing Informatics Specialist
If you are interested in working in the healthcare sector as a nursing professional who also knows computer science, you need to start by completing the right formal degree program. Nursing informatics integrates three very different areas of study, which makes choosing the right certificate or degree program imperative. You will start by completing a nursing program so that you can become a registered nurse in your state.
Once you are a registered nurse, you will need to complete a graduate program majoring in Nursing Informatics or a specialized certificate program in Health Informatics. When you possess a master’s degree or a certificate, you will show prospective employers that you are familiar with research, public health, pharmacy services, data mining and other areas important to the field. You may also be able to succeed if you major in Computer Science or Information Science when you enroll in a Master’s degree program.
What is the Outlook in the Field of Informatics?
The field of nursing has a very positive job outlook, and so do various fields in computer science. If you are debating whether or not you should spend the time in school necessary to become a nursing informatics specialist, you need to find out about job outlook in this diverse field. Job outlook for nursing informatics graduates is very positive, and more and more jobs are being created in healthcare environments. With more than 96 percent of healthcare organizations stating that they will be creating new Health Information Technology positions in the near future, there is no denying that projections are positive and growth is probable.
If you would like to work in a growing field where there is potential for advancement and job security, nursing informatics could be a great option. Combining the benefits of the nursing field and the information technology field, Nursing Informatics is becoming a popular major and career choice.
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