Informatics nurses use technology to lay a foundation for other nurses to practice effectively, efficiently, and safely. We need more nurses who are interested in creating change that can enhance patient care using technology. If you are new to informatics… WELCOME TO THE CLUB!

I often get asked, “what is the best way to break into nursing informatics?” Unfortunately, there isn’t one catch-all way to answer this question. So, I provided suggestions of how you can get your foot in the door and break into this world.

1. Become a Super-User

If you are currently working in a hospital or clinic, the experience of being a super-user is one of the best first steps you can take. A super-user is a nurse that works on the floor or clinic that is well-versed in documentation and use of your facility’s electronic health record. They are the on-site resource that answers questions of how to work within or document items in the electronic health record when questions come up. Super-users sometimes are asked to test new updates to the current system before they go-live for the rest of the healthcare facility.

Many of the informatics nurses I know got their start being super-users. The benefit is that you get the ground zero perspective of how to best chart in the system and the opportunity to assist nursing peers, who are struggling, to enhance their use of the system. This experience gives the super-user skills needed to develop a sense of what works in the system, what can be improved upon, and how other nurses interact with the system.

A fundamental skill that I believe is important to informatics is understanding how a nurse thinks when they navigate screens in the electronic health record. When a super-user answers questions from their peers about the health record, it gives them a 360 degree perspective of how multiple people can see different things when looking at the same screen. Clarifying questions and reinforcing facility documentation standards gives the super-user an opportunity to be an educator which is a skill many informatics nurses use on a daily basis. As a result, becoming a super-user provides an opportunity to further expand your current role as a staff nurse.

Talk to your manager to see if you can volunteer to be a super-user. It may not result in any pay increases at this point, but the experience will pay off in the long run. If there isn’t a super-user program already in place, ask your manager if you can start one. Informatics nurses are often pioneers and are required to pull from many resources to make things work, so this could be your chance to start your own informatics movement!

2. Consider taking a CEU class, certification course, or going to graduate school

We all have to take continuing education courses to renew our licenses and taking continuing education units focused on nursing informatics provides an easy way to get exposure. If you are willing to take it a step further, consider taking a certification course or starting a masters program in nursing informatics. Typically, certification courses offer classes geared to acquiring skills needed to function as an informatics nurse whereas a masters program in nursing will go deeper into theory and provide the basis for advancing the field of nursing through the use of informatics.

I have found that non-nursing related education can also help with nursing informatics practice. Reading and taking courses in project management and quality improvement in health care provides insight on how to approach the technical side of creating informatics change. This background can help your future practice; however, be aware that unless the education materials are geared towards nurses, it will be up to you to apply the concepts to the nursing profession.

Advancing your career and taking classes can be a tough decision. Factors such as your time, budget, and your support system play a big part in deciding the outcome. However, taking small steps now can lead to more opportunities down the road.

3. Conduct an Interview

Directly communicating with someone face-to-face or through an email interview about their field can give you perspective on your own career advancement. An interview doesn’t have to be long and can just be 2 or 3 questions. You can gain a lot of knowledge by interacting with someone who has gone through what you hope to accomplish. The question becomes how to find these people! If you work in a hospital or clinic, it may be worth asking your informatics nurses how they got their start. Another resource can be a professional organization. If that doesn’t work out, you can try sending a brief message to individuals that match your interest on LinkedIn or to their professional email.

My advice when interviewing in-person or via email is to keep your questions concise, brief, and direct. They are busy people and brevity would be key. Be sure to conduct yourself professionally because that would put you in a better position to get a response. Furthermore, this brief interaction could possibly lead to a future professional connection!

Final Thoughts

Soak in as much information as you can and be open to new experiences. Nursing informatics is a growing field and informatics knowledge in addition to your current nursing expertise is valuable. Hopefully, these strategies gave you ideas on how to move forward with advancing your career.

There is only one you and your unique perspective has the potential to broaden how nurses provide their care. That is a part of what makes nursing informatics so special. Best of luck as you move forward and break into the world of nursing informatics.