So, what do you do for a living?

When I say I am an informatics nurse specialist I generally get one of two types of responses. 1)  Someone who asks questions because they are curious about what an informatics nurse does.  2) A puzzled look because they are not familiar with the word informatics. In either situation, I typically find myself giving an intro informatics lesson within the first few minutes of these conversations.

This is not surprising because informatics is a relatively new nursing specialty. Informatics competencies for nursing schools were first introduced in 2007. As a result, nurses educated more than 12 years ago may not be aware informatics even exists.

I have found that informatics resonates with people when they understand its purpose. The ability to effectively communicate the nursing informatics role promotes awareness and fosters interest in the specialty. We are our own best advocates. Being ready to talk about the role at any time facilitates its visibility. As a result, the following steps can help you explain the role of the nurse informaticist in 3 steps and assist in promoting the work done to support nurses.  

1.    Provide an Overview

Try to start the discussion with a brief overview of nursing informatics. This provides the person you are speaking with some context. It also gives you a way to ease into the conversation and take the dialogue into a different direction when needed.

Discussing how nursing informatics uses the science of nursing, information technology, and library science is a great place to start. Many people are surprised when they learn that library science is a significant part of informatics. When I explain that the role is not just about computers or technology but how nurses put in and take out information to care of patients (much like a library) the understanding of the role widens.

An elevator speech is a brief talk that lasts only as long as it takes to ride between floors. Using an elevator speech script for your overview can provide basic informatics information and help start the conversation. As the interaction continues, you can move into a more detailed and meaningful discussion in the next step.

2.    Give Examples

Personal experience is powerful. It provides a reference point that helps people understand new concepts. Giving concrete examples of how the role impacts patients puts the nurse informaticist name to the service. For instance, if a person has accessed their patient portal online, chances are very good that a nurse informaticist assisted with its development. Relating an example to a personal experience enhances awareness of the role. It also allows the person to assign their own value to contributions made.

It is also important to highlight items that mean something to you. If you are passionate or have specific feelings about an informatics solution or project, try to lead with it and talk about it. This excitement will be evident as the conversation flows.

Examples of nurse informaticist projects include:

  • Developing how patients interact with the Patient Portal
  • Creating questions and forms for the electronic health record for nurses
  • Recommending efficient workflows for clinics and hospital settings
  • Gathering and analyzing data to help nurses better care for patients (Quality Improvement)
  • Research to improve how nurses interact with technology
  • Exploring how the electronic health record can prompt nurses as needed (clinical decision support)
  • Writing policies for the health care system
  • And the list continues…

When examples are relatable and relevant to the person you are speaking, a deeper understanding of the role may occur. This can facilitate stronger appreciation for informatics work.

3.    Offer Resources

There may come a point when the person you are speaking may benefit or want to seek more information. At that point, offering reputable resources may help broaden understanding of the role.

Resources include:

Online Journal of Nursing Informatics [Journal]

CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing [Journal]

Canadian Journal of Nursing Informatics [Journal]

American Nursing Informatics Association [Professional Organization]

Nursing Informatics: Nurses Scope and Standards of Practice, 2ndEdition [Reference Book]

The Nerdy Nurse [Blog]

You may also direct them to the nurscues.com website for additional nursing informatics information. If they are curious about how to get a start as a nurse informaticist, the post Breaking into Informatics Nursing may offer some useful strategies.

Final Thoughts

Nursing informatics is a recognized nursing specialty that bridges the gap between healthcare and technology. Your ability to communicate the role of the nurse informaticist increases the visibility of the role. By doing that, it helps bring to light the work done that directly supports the work of nurses.

Thank you for all that you do for the nursing profession!