Nursing informatics is a relatively new field that has grown out of healthcare and medical informatics. Nursing informatics applies information technology directly to clinical nursing practice, nursing education and nursing management and leadership. It is a cutting edge field where individuals can make a huge difference in the future of nursing practice. If you are interested in nursing informatics, here are ten tips to get you started.
- Acquire good information technology skills. Learn the information technology side of informatics. Learn database management and data mining, computer languages, system design and whatever else you can. The applications of information technology to nursing are only limited by the knowledge of the informatics specialists.
- Read books on nursing informatics. There are several good textbooks on nursing informatics at all levels of expertise. One way to find a good textbook is to find out what text is required for a nursing informatics course at a good college.
- Read journals. Nursing is a rapidly changing profession, and nursing informatics changes even faster. Reading books gives you good foundational knowledge, but nursing textbooks are outdated by the time they are published. In order to stay abreast of current technology, you must read journals. CIN: Computers, Informatics and Nursing is a good professional nursing informatics journal. Another is the Online Journal of Nursing Informatics.
- Take classes. Nursing informatics classes are becoming more readily available. You can find classes online, and many nursing schools are adding informatics classes to their curricula.
- Go to conferences. There are several nursing informatics conferences throughout the United States each year. Conferences are a good place learn about new research and findings, and they are a good place to meet people and network. If you are interested in career advancement, consider volunteering to help with a conference. You’ll be moving in the circles of the movers and shakers of the nursing informatics profession.
- Network. Network at conferences and classes. Join professional associations. Talk to and consult with other nursing informaticists. Check out online blogs, chats and forums on nursing informatics, too.
- Consider graduate school. Several schools now offer MSN and PhD programs in nursing informatics. A graduate degree gives you more professional visibility.
- Join professional nursing informatics associations. The American Nursing Informatics Association is a national association. There are also local and regional nursing informatics associations.
- Get certified. The American Nurses Association offers certification in nursing informatics. Find out about the certification requirements and study for the exam. Certification gives you professional visibility as a nursing informaticist.
- Speak and write. Share your expertise with others. Offer to do a noon seminar on nursing informatics at a local hospital. Write an article for your workplace newsletter. You don’t have to be a professor to share what you know.
You can get started in nursing informatics by learning everything you can, by networking with other people who are interested, and by sharing what you know with other nurses.
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