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What Is Nursing Informatics

You may have heard the term “nursing informatics” but not know what it means or how it can be beneficial. Nursing informatics is a rapidly growing field in the healthcare industry that combines information technology, nursing science, and computer science to improve patient care.

Nurse Informatics specialist working in front of 2 computer screens plus one laptop at her work desk

It is the application of technology to collect, store, analyze, and share data related to health care services. Nursing informatics has revolutionized the way nurses provide patient care by allowing them to better manage clinical data, streamline processes, and improve patient outcomes.

Health informatics is a field of science and engineering that specializes in the acquisition, processing, and study of patient data from various sources like electronic health records, diagnostic test results, or medical scans.

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Nursing Informatics Educational Requirements

Entering the field of nursing informatics requires a strong skillset, as well as educational, experience, and professional requirements. To become a nurse informaticist, at minimum you must hold a BSN.

More advanced roles such as chief nursing informatics officer require an advanced degree such as a master’s degree and certifications. Furthermore, the complexity of the job dictates that nurse informaticists must have intimate knowledge of clinical settings while possessing outstanding technical skills to keep up with ever-evolving technologies.

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Where Can Nurse Informatics Specialist Find Employment?

There are lots of opportunities available for those looking to pursue this as a career. A unique thing about this profession is that you have options. You are able to work at hospitals or other medical settings, on-site positions where your duties may be more localized.

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You can even find remote work providing you with the flexibility of working from home. Additionally, there are hybrid opportunities. This allows you to meet the need for both an in-person presence on-site, as well as virtual availability for remote access.

With such a wide range of options for nurse informaticists, anyone considering this exciting field can rest assured knowing that ample job opportunities are out there according to your needs and preferences.

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Career Outlook

As technology continues to evolve so too does nursing informatics. The future of this field looks bright as there are still many opportunities for further innovation within this space. For example, artificial intelligence (AI) could be used in combination with EMRs in order to identify patterns in a patient’s condition.

Artificial Intelligence technologies have the potential to revolutionize healthcare, offering amazing advantages from data analytics and sophisticated clinical decision support. Certain predicted benefits of AI – such as superior patient outcomes, more efficient workflow processes, and higher efficiency levels – are yet to be affirmed by nursing studies.

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Making it possible for nurses from all areas of the profession to partake in developing and executing digital health policies, both nationally and locally, could stimulate far-reaching use of digital technologies within nursing.

Read our article on Nurse Recruiters’ Salary

Nursing Informatics Salary

Health Informatics Nurse Specialists are highly sought after in today’s labor market. With an average annual salary of $95,390 and salaries ranging from $83,990 to $108,290, according to salary.com. These specialists can expect rewarding wages for their expertise and experience.

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This field is expected to continue growing as technology advances. As organizations continue with electronic medical record systems the demand for this job will continue.

With job security and competitive pay, it is no surprise that Nursing Informatics continue to see demand in the market.

Final Takeaway

Nursing informatics is an invaluable tool for delivering high-quality healthcare services to patients. It allows hospitals and healthcare facilities to streamline anything from workflow, to insurance claims, to patient data.

Additionally, this career provides valuable insights into population health trends. This helps develop strategies for improving overall health outcomes within communities across the country.

Ultimately, this technology improves communication between different stakeholders including healthcare professionals and insurance companies.