Informatics nurse specialists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, long-term care centers, and rehabilitation facilities. They also work for healthcare network operators, IT companies, computing services firms, healthcare vendors, consulting firms, and government agencies. This is a full-time role that consists of 40-hour workweeks. Some informatics nurse specialists receive hourly pay, but many are salaried.
Some informatics nurse specialists work for a single facility, such as a hospital, clinic, or IT firm. In these scenarios, they spend much of their time in a central office where they can analyze data and communicate with others in the facility or agency. Other nurse informaticists travel to in-network facilities throughout a specified region, such as a large city, a county, or an entire state.
How to Become an Informatics Nurse Specialist
Informatics nurse specialists must be registered nurses (RNs) who are educated and experienced in both clinical nursing and information technology. Nursing informatics is a challenging yet rewarding nursing specialty that is ideal for anyone who is passionate about excellent patient care and who understands the intricacies of working with sensitive data.
There are several steps that an individual must complete to become an informatics nurse specialist.
1. Earn a College Degree
A holistic and evidence-based Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program can help aspiring informatics nurse specialists achieve their career goals. Coursework in a BSN program provides the clinical nursing education needed to be able to effectively provide care to patients of all ages.
Those who are already RNs but who have not yet pursued a bachelor’s degree can enroll in an RN to BSN program. This program gives students credit for the courses they have already taken in their Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or RN diploma program, which can speed up the process of earning a BSN.
After obtaining RN licensure, aspiring informatics nurse specialists may go on to earn a master’s degree or a doctoral degree in nursing or nursing informatics, as this is preferred by some employers and may be required for advanced positions. About 68% of nurse informaticists hold a graduate degree, according to the “2023 Nursing Informatics Workforce Survey” from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).
2. Obtain a Registered Nurse License
After completing a nursing degree program, aspiring informatics nurse specialists must obtain RN licensure in their home state. To qualify for licensure, individuals are required to take and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN). This examination was developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, and candidates who pass the examination demonstrate their ability to provide quality clinical care in a variety of settings.
3. Gain Work Experience
Informatics nurse specialists can work in a wide range of organizations and roles, so it is important that individuals pursue work experience in their desired field. All prospective informatics nurse specialists should gain some clinical nursing experience, and experience working in healthcare-related IT settings is also helpful. Even entry-level positions can help aspiring informatics nurse specialists reach their career goals.
4. Hone Important Skills
The skills required to succeed as an informatics nurse specialist can vary, but employers often look for candidates with skills in the following areas:
- Acute or long-term patient care
- Project management
- Clinical applications
- Home health care
- Clinical documentation
- Electronic documentation
- Patient safety and regulations
- Infection control
- Gap analysis
5. Obtain Relevant Certification
Though certification is not required by law, employers often prefer to hire candidates who have earned a credential in nursing informatics, such as one of the following:
- Nursing Informatics Certification (NI-BC): This credential is offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. It requires licensed RNs to meet general eligibility requirements, such as two years of full-time nursing work and 2,000 practice hours of informatics nursing.
- Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CAHIMS): This credential is offered by HIMSS. It is not limited to nurses, but those who take and pass the examination demonstrate their advanced knowledge of healthcare information systems.
- Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS): Also offered by HIMSS, this credential is most often sought by informatics nurse specialists who aspire to work in management or administration roles.
Informatics Nurse Specialist Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of registered nurses in every role and specialty, including nursing informatics, is expected to climb 6% between 2022 and 2032. As the demand for quality healthcare increases, the need for qualified healthcare professionals will grow as well.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also projects that the employment of health information technologists will grow 16% in that same time period. Leaders in healthcare organizations and facilities lean heavily on data and IT professionals for help in making important decisions about their operations, and health information technologists will play increasingly important roles in the collection, use, and analysis of data.
Prepare for an In-Demand Career as an Informatics Nurse Specialist
Informatics nurse specialists play increasingly important roles in patient outcomes and healthcare organizations’ overall success. Their unique skills allow them to analyze data from a clinical nurse’s point of view, which can ensure better outcomes for patients, enhance privacy and regulatory adherence, and lead to more efficient operations for providers.
A career as an informatics nurse specialist can be the right fit for current and aspiring nurses who want to take a data-driven and technical approach to improving nursing at its core. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Denver College of Nursing teaches clinical nursing with a holistic approach and can provide a solid foundation for your future career in healthcare informatics. DCN also offers online RN to BSN and Master of Science in Nursing programs to help nurses excel in their chosen profession, as well as an Associate Degree in Nursing program for individuals looking to enter the nursing field.
Discover how DCN can help you pursue or advance your nursing career today.
Recommended Readings
What Is a BSN Completion Program and How Does It Work?
4 Growing Technologies in Nursing
Help Wanted: Why the Healthcare Industry Needs Male Nurses