The Role of a Nurse Informaticist

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Health care informatics is a relatively new and rapidly evolving discipline that uses data to improve patient care and outcomes. Fluent in health care technology and dedicated to patient care and compassion, nurse informaticists are the cornerstone of this field. They innovate and implement new systems, software, and hardware to help health care workers understand and manage patient data, translating to improved patient care and safety.

Clinical experience is essential, and nurse informaticists have typically been trained on the job. However, the 2022 Nursing Informatics Workforce Survey from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) indicated that an increasing number in the profession hold Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees, which can lead to significantly higher earning potential.

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Nursing informatics is one of the fastest-growing, highest-paid specialties in health care. Since the American Nurses Association (ANA) formally recognized informatics as a nursing specialty in 1992, the profession has evolved along with technology and the changing needs of the health care landscape. Today, the role of a nurse informaticist goes well beyond managing electronic health records (EHRs). The focus now includes analytics, software engineering, workflow strategy, and machine learning, and it continues to expand with incredible advances in technology and a massive influx of data.

There’s no better example of how critical nursing informatics has become than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care workers suddenly needed to rethink everything about in-person care. Through rapid technological innovation and training, nurse informaticists helped to improve efficiency, safety, scheduling, data collection, and virtual care because clinicians needed to work longer hours and were in high demand.

As part of a health care staff, nursing informaticists use their knowledge of clinical practice, technology, and project management to identify areas for improvement in the user experience. They teach health care staff how to use new systems and help to fill in technology knowledge gaps that clinicians may experience due to the nurse educator shortage in nursing schools. They provide reporting, advocate for new policies, and improve workflow efficiency. Their ongoing support leads to operational cost savings, a safer environment for workers, and a better continuum of care for patients.

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Most nurse informaticists work in hospitals, medical groups, state, and federal government agencies, consulting companies, and higher education.

The role of a nurse informaticist is multifaceted. Here are some of their responsibilities.

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Nurse informaticists meet with relevant stakeholders and observe current methods to gain a holistic view of what’s working and what’s not. From there, they begin designing new electronic systems and tools.

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They communicate the unique needs of health care workers to information technology (IT) and software developers and guide them to create electronic record systems, databases, and other tools that address the workflow and reporting requirements.

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They work with health care professionals to determine what systems and changes they need to improve efficiency and to ensure the quality and privacy of the data captured.

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They educate and support those using digital health care systems. With experience in clinical settings, nurse informaticists can also identify ways to adapt clinical processes to help nurses make the most of the new systems.

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They monitor the performance of systems over time, get feedback from users and IT, and work to improve and evolve software and processes.

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Those considering a career in the fast-growing, in-demand field of nursing informatics first need the appropriate degrees and certifications. They must earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Next, to design information systems for health care workers, nurse informaticists must have some clinical experience. According to the HIMSS survey, around 80% of nurse informaticists had at least five years of clinical experience. They’re also required to have project management experience and related skills (communication, organization, and problem-solving), as well as research and technology skills.

While clinical experience is crucial, technology is advancing too quickly for health care to keep up. Pursuing an advanced degree gives aspiring nurse informaticists an advantage. It allows them to focus on learning the technology and how to use research and data to implement policy as a complement to their existing body of nursing and clinical knowledge.

An advanced degree can also improve career opportunities and earning potential. The HIMSS survey indicated that 25% of nurse informaticists with a Ph.D., nurse practitioner (NP), or DNP degree earned more than $176,000 per year.

Requirements for becoming a nurse informaticist are as follows:

• BSN
• Licensing requirements, which include passing the NCLEX-RN
• At least one year working in a clinical health care setting (ideally five years or more)
• Experience with project management

Strong candidates for nursing informatics also have the following:

• An advanced degree, such as a DNP
• Leadership experience
• An affinity for technology and experience working with IT and software developers
• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience working with data
• Knowledge of medical economics

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Nurse informaticists are essential to health care today. They lead invaluable efforts to close the gap between nursing and technology. The work they provide helps medical professionals make data-driven decisions every day and continually improves the quality of patient care for the long term.

The curriculum at Regis College’s online BSN to DNP degree program offers five concentrations and helps students quickly improve their fluency in health informatics and focus on refining their skills. Students in all the BSN to DNP concentrations begin with the same foundational coursework, and then studies increase in complexity throughout the program.

Learn how the BSN to DNP practice degree can help students grow their careers and earning potential in this highly desirable nursing specialty.