|
|
|
u What is Nursing Informatics? ANA Definition & Nursing Informatics Job descriptions
|
|
u
HIMSS Nursing Informatics 101
pdf |
ANIA often gets emails from nurses asking "How do I
get into Nursing Informatics?" We thought it
would be interesting to run some of our members
stories as to how they "fell in accidentally",
"jumped in willingly" or "got pushed into" Nursing Informatics...We
will be posting more stories...so check back and
check out some tips
|
|
Stories
|
|
Technology grew fast late in the tech boom, providing many new ways
of doing old things, and clearly stepping into everyone’s future.
After 17 years at the bedside working in critical care, surgery and
emergency room nursing, it was time for a change. Leaving a steady
job was a bold step. Heading back to college, to study computer
science, was one of the best things I’ve ever done.
One
year of coursework, with a good set of fundamentals in computer
science, programming, and multiple applications, provided the
groundwork needed to step into a nursing informatics role. After a
few years of informatics work the next logical step was to take the
ANCC Board Certification in Informatics. By now the concept of
working with new information had become routine. The logical next
step after that was to complete training and obtain a certification
in Project Management from the Project Management Institute. (pmi.org)
Currently my work revolves around deploying
multi-interfaced/integrated applications in healthcare systems large
and small. Nurses helping nurses to gently move into the future,
while safe guarding the practice elements we hold dear, re-thinking
old work flows, shaking out antiquated work arounds and helping
nursing gather the tools to better manage patient care and provide a
framework for fiscal accountability. Without nurses in the process,
we can not chart the course of what our practice will look like in
the future.
Elsa Nervik RN,
BSN BC, PMP
Project Manager –
Resource Management Group
McKesson Provider
Technologies
|
|
My interest in computers started with the
introduction of personal computers in the ‘80’s when I bought my first
PC which was a Timex/Sinclair and consisted of a touch-pad keyboard
containing a Motorola processor. The “hard” drive was a cassette tape
recorder and it had to be connected to a 14” B/W TV which served as the
monitor. The Timex/Sinclair was made by Sinclair in England and sold by
Timex in the USA. It did not do any graphics or internet, but I thought
it was the greatest invention I had seen. The first game I played on it
was ‘ZORK’.
My interest in healthcare informatics began when I
started working for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health
Administration (VHA) as a staff nurse in 1983. The VHA was using
Decentralized Hospital Computer Program (DHCP) at that time which was
used in most ancillary departments such as Lab/Path, Nutrition, Surgery,
etc. I was evening charge nurse on a post- op Cardio-Thoracic surgery
and telemetry unit when I was asked to be project manager for electronic
progress notes on my unit which was the first unit to be 100% converted
from paper notes to the electronic notes in the shortest time.
When VHA started to implement our Computerized
Patient Record System (CPRS), I was asked to be a Clinical Applications
Coordinator for Nursing Service and was on the IT team that set-up CPRS
and taught the clinical staff how to use the new system. I was then
asked to be Project Manager for our BCMA computerized system. I am now
in the Education Department teaching the clinical applications to
nursing staff and student nurses, webmaster of our education web page,
administrator of our online learning management system, administrator of
our CU/CEU tracking system, and education affiliations coordinator.
Eugene W Bowers, RN, MN.
Instructor, VALOR
Program Director.
Education Affiliations Coordinator.
Quality Management, Education and Development Service.
Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Veterans Health Administration,
Department of Veterans Affairs
|
|
My name is Doris
Ross, RN, BSN, CPAN. I am a Clinical Informatics Nurse Specialist in
the Kettering Health Network, KetteringOhio. The Clinical
Informatics department is under Professional Development of Nursing.
This department is fairly new as it was developed a couple of years
ago.
I have been in
nursing for thirty+ years. I was a unit based educator at my
hospital for approximately eight years. I worked general
medical-surgical nursing for one year and transferred to a Surgical
Intensive Care Unit for nine years and was a Post Anesthesia Care
Unit nurse for twenty years before becoming a Nurse Informatist.
During the time I was in SICU, I developed an interest and curiosity
in technology. We worked with monitors, circo-electric beds,
reviewed CT scans, performed peritoneal dialysis, and generally
spent as much time learning as we did patient care. This was further
developed in the PACU as I dealt with post open heart patients,
craniotomies, and other breaking technology in the surgery
department.
As I worked on
unit education, my experience with computers grew. When I saw the
job opportunity in my network, I went for it and am ever learning as
I go. I am now in a Master’s program at Wright State University and
hope to become certified in Nursing Informatics after I graduate. I
have found to be a Clinical Informatics Nurse Specialist one needs
to have an insatiable appetite to be continually educated and
learning. I love my new job and would recommend this job to anyone.
Doris Ross, BSN, RN, CPAN
Kettering Hospital
Clinical
Informatics Nurse Specialist
|
I have been a VA
nurse for 21 years (as of June 2, 2007). I have always liked the
computer and always wanted to combine my nursing skills with the
computer field. I got started in Informatics Nursing in 1994
although at that time I did not know what it was called. I used to
always ask questions about our computer applications and how to use
them. After someone told me I would go and show others how to do
what I had just learned. Soon I began to read the manuals
pertaining to the different electronic devices and monitoring
systems on the unit and I started to create “how to guides” for the
nurses to use on the units. I became the expert on the software and
electronic devices for the unit and everyone began to ask me to help
them.
One year there was
a conference for the VA Staff to attend to view the upcoming
Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS). This is the electronic
medical record created for the VA and used by all VA’s which was
scheduled to be released to field in the near future. I was invited
to attend the conference and after that I was hooked. I wanted to
know everything about our computer system.
In 1998 a position
became available for a registered nurse to work in IT who has skills
using the computer. I and 100 other nurses applied for the job, but
because I had a very strong computer background by then and I had
already demonstrated my ability to teach, create handouts and modify
software I was selected for the job which I currently hold. It has
been almost 10 years since I got this job and everyday is like a new
day for me. I am as excited as I was the first day I came to this
department. I can not ever imagine doing another type of nursing
job. Informatics in Nursing is the present and the future and I am
so happy to be a part of all the technology.
I discovered ANIA
a few years ago. I was so amazed to see other nurses doing what I
am doing. I think ANIA is a great networking tool for nurses to
utilize and I plan on becoming more involved the group and I am
truly grateful for all the hard work others who have gone before me
have done to provide this fantastic organization for Informatics
Nurses. Way to go ANIA!
Theresa Miller, RN, MCL, CAC
VA Long Beach Healthcare System
|
|
Nursing Informatics was not something that I set out to become
involved in. I work for a home care agency, and took a job as
an assistant to the supervisor of a team of nurses. Part of my
job was to track the nurses and their patients, which I decided
to do using an Excel spreadsheet. This was in 1999 or so, and
while the supervisors had desktop computers, they used them only
to check home health aide schedules, if at all. My conversion
of hand-written data into Excel was seen as daring by many. I
was new to Excel, but because the data still existed on paper, I
had no fear; I taught myself many facets of Excel.
About a year later, the agency was preparing to implement a
point-of-care system for the first time. Administration had
noted my lack of intimidation related to use of computers, and
tapped me to be in charge of the project. I have been working
in informatics ever since, currently selecting a replacement
point-of-care software product and preparing for
implementation. I am signed up to attend the pre-conference
"Healthcare Information Technology Project Management" at the
upcoming Summer Institute in Nursing Informatics, which will be
my first formal class in Nursing Informatics.
Robert E. Morehouse RN MS
Clinical Systems Coordinator
Visiting Nurse & Health Services of Connecticut
|
We have a computer system in our OR that includes scheduling, billing, and now computerized charting. When the latter was introduced into the OR, there was much resistance and not enough positive support. I was very eager about this, a quick learner, and have good rapport with the staff. Management recognized this and assigned me to be the trainer and support person for computerized charting. Shortly after, our system administrator accepted another position and I was offered his. My advice is to be eager to get involved in anything computerized - even if it means volunteering your own time. Work on a certificate or degreed program in informatics. Also, look into internships at places like the VHA.That's a great way to learn and make connections.
|
|
My start in Nursing
Informatics was by default. A year after we went live with our
nursing documentation, our super user left. Because I new how to
reboot a computer, I was selected as her replacement. I set out to
learn as much as I could and over a period of 5 years, remained the
super user. Two years ago the position for Nursing Informatics
Specialist became vacant. After much thought and encouragement by
the former Specialist and our CNO at that time, I bit the bullet and
made the switch into this field. It has been two years since I have
taken the position and I could not be more thrilled with the
position. Just taking that step into a largely unknown field was
huge, but I considered it a once in a lifetime opportunity, I have
never regretted the move.
Pat Wierzbicki RN
Nursing Informatics
Mat-Su Regional Medical Center |
|
I have been an ICU nurse for 26 years in my
hospital . I did ICU middle level
management for the last 16 yrs but continued to do direct
patient care all the time. When we had to build our Critical Care
Documentation they needed a nurse who was clinically strong to
configure and customize the data base of the ICU electronic
documentation. I was selected to be that person.
I did the customization, testing and training of all the
nurses with 2 other ICU nurses. We involved our IT analysts very
minimally. Proud to say we implemented the project with no major
issues and very little minor issues. Short to say we had a flawless
implementation done by the nurses. I basically maintained the system
since then. When our Informatics Nurse left I applied for the
position. I got the job and I continue to work some hours in the ICU
so I can have a first hand feel of the needs and challenges of the
ICU nurse. This is my 3rd year in the job and of course
I have more projects now to implement. I feel that my biggest asset
is that I know the hospital pretty well that I am better able to
deliver the service.
Eva Layson RN
Informatics Nurse
Howard
University Hospital
|
|
I
started in Nursing Informatics as a night nurse in Orthopedics
offering to assist in the implementation of a clinical documentation
system at my hospital. The system to be implemented was one I had
previously used as a Tech, Student Nurse and as an RN. I had been
involved on an informal level at the previous institution. I guess
it helped that I was there almost 7 days a week between school and
working. My current position and team has evolved from leadership’s
vision of nurses being part of the design and implementation of the
new system. I work for Nursing Administration and collaborate with
Information Systems who are the technical experts. I am one of the
builders of the actual documentation. I attended classes offered by
the vendor in Colorado and Texas.
Irene Berger RN BSN
Nursing Informatics
Centegra Health System
|
My story is
one of blessings and God’s timing. At a
point in my life where I thought I would
have to leave hospital nursing, I was asked
by our director to “help write procedures”
for nurses using computers. My comment to
her was, “I don’t know anything about
computers.” The response back was “they’ll
teach you” (they being a consultant team
brought to our hospital to assist with
computer implementations). That was in
1985, so the rest is indeed history. What I
did then had little to do with procedures,
but much to do with embracing technology in
healthcare. I learned that I was taking
care of the nurses and other departmental
staff learning about computers, I was not a
“computer” nurse. I was then, and am still,
in the healing profession, as a nurse who
cares about the patients and the
caregivers. My responsibilities are to
provide for those in need; I just do this
from a different arena.
Sandi Gammon Layell, RN
Clinical Informatics Specialist
|
|
Here is my story! I was a nurse for about 25
years in various capacities, the most recent one
being a case manager. The software application
we used for case management & quality was the
catalyst for my present position. The RN who was
our system administrator for that software, and
our overall computer expert was leaving to take
another position. I was interested in computers
and this software in particular and applied for
her position. Since our Director wanted someone
with nursing and case management background,
plus familiarity with the application and the
department, I was chosen. Even without the IS
background. For the past 4 1/2 years, all of my
IS/computer skills have been self-taught as I
worked as the system administrator for this one
application. It was a huge learning curve. Case
Management eventually split from the rest of the
department (Infection Control, Registries,
Compliance/Regulatory) and we became known as
Patient Safety & ! Quality . I went with that
group and am the system administrator for all
the other applications used in our safety and
quality department. I work closely with our IS
staff and ask a lot of questions and read what I
can. I believe the desire to utilize our case
management/quality application to its fullest
potential has motivated me to understand the
workings of relational databases, trouble
shooting interface problems, etc. I am also
very interested in getting meaningful data out
our various applications/. That has led to
classes on Crystal reporting, InfoMaker
reporting and other reporting tools unique to
each software application. I am attending the
Summer Institute in Nursing Informatics at Univ.
of Maryland and will take the NI certification
exam as soon as I have met the requirements for
continuing education.
Karen Goff
Senior Application Analyst
|
|
I fell into to informatics accidentally. I was
working as a nursing manager at a time when our
facility was converting from mostly paper to an
electronic system. It so happened that I needed
a break from the bedside so I joined the team
for the development and implementation. I was
hooked. There were multiple hospitals in the
corporation and I assisted with many of them to
become electronic. After that, I joined a
consulting firm and have been going full steam
ever since. Also, I have since received my
Bachelors degree in informatics. It was a
wonderful choice for me.
Nancy Ragsdale, RN MSN
Senior Nursing Consultant
MEDITECH
|
My personal
adventure into nursing informatics started in
the early 80's when I was a staff nurse in
rehab. I was always curious about streamlining
communications between departments without using
the phone and became involved with our hospital
committee on quality assurance which invited an
IT staff member intermittently. We looked at
improving turn around time on radiology and lab
orders and found we had an unexplored best tool,
Tandem. By working with IT, we developed the
first order entry "email gram" to these
depts. We set up log-ins for all unit
secretaries and nurses to access a special menu
for these departments and so it was
launched. Later in the 80's my hospital
ventured into searching for a computer
information system to advance order entry and
documentation. Over about 6 months we looked
at various systems and chose the TDS
E7000. Once the contracts were signed, IT
solicited open positions for about 6 nurses to
help install the system. I applied and was
hired as a level I systems analyst. I received
intensive training on E7000 programming by the
vendor and on the job training in the concepts
and application of systems analysis which began
my career in nursing informatics.
Darlene
Porter RN, BSN
Nursing
Informatics Specialist
|
I
started in Nursing Informatics as a night nurse in Orthopedics
offering to assist in the implementation of a clinical documentation
system at my hospital. The system to be implemented was one I had
previously used as a Tech, Student Nurse and as an RN. I had been
involved on an informal level at the previous institution. I guess
it helped that I was there almost 7 days a week between school and
working. My current position and team has evolved from leadership’s
vision of nurses being part of the design and implementation of the
new system. I work for Nursing Administration and collaborate with
Information Systems who are the technical experts. I am one of the
builders of the actual documentation. I attended classes offered by
the vendor in Colorado and Texas.
Irene Berger RN BSN
Nursing Informatics
Centegra Health System
|
|
I am a diploma trained RN – back in the stone ages
– and some of you may not even know what a diploma prepared RN is any
more. But at any rate, that may tell the rest of you just how long I
have been a nurse. I started my career, much to my disbelief, working
nights in a 5 bed Critical Care Unit in a 150 bed Catholic hospital.
The hospital was just opening its very first CCU and the Director of
Nurses called me to her office (boy was I scared – a GN being called to
the Director’s office) asked if I would be interested in working in the
new unit. She told me that the best nurses they got were the ones that
graduated from my school – do you think I had gullible on my forehead?
Well it worked and I fell hook, line and sinker for it and as a GN, I
started my career in Critical Care.
For the next 30 years, I worked as staff nurse in
Critical Care, charge nurse in Critical Care, Assistant Head Nurse, Head
Nurse of Critical Care and just for fun, one year I did staff education.
Needless to say, during all those years, there were
many times that I experienced burn out episodes, usually short lived.
We worked mostly 12 hour shifts and on my 4 and 7 day stretches off, I
would make the most of downloading myself and getting distressed.
But my age was advancing, difficult though that was
to admit; I felt the need to look for a new door to open. I was also
more concerned about not being able to keep up the pace in a Critical
Care Unit any longer, so I asked for a new door to open, and Divine
Guidance stepped in.
We were about to start work on the Nursing module
in our software implementation here at our hospital. I didn’t even own
a computer and the extent of what I knew was order entry here at work.
So what did I have to lose? I went to the Director of Nurses and asked
her to consider me. She called me back after the committee had met and
welcomed me to the Nursing Core Team, and also welcomed me as the
Nursing Core Team leader. Dear God, what had I gotten myself into!
That was the beginning of my Nursing Informatics
career. And I have never looked back. It has been the best move for
me. My past experiences have been excellent preparation for my
interactions with the providers, nursing staff and ancillary staff. I
still get to teach as I meet the new nursing employees how to use the
nursing module. I meet with my peers, am heavily involved with many
patient-centered committees. New software and hardware implementations
are always a big challenge but those days of having to organize to get
your work done still pay off. Good old Nursing Process at work, no
matter what.
Ruth
Chapman BSN, RN-BC
Nursing Analyst
Central Michigan Community Hospital
|
I have been a nurse since 1975, but even before nursing school I had an interest in computers. I remember graduating from nursing school and starting my first job as a charge nurse on a nursing unit thinking, "why are hospitals documenting on paper?" I knew medical research was using computer technology and I couldn't understand why computers were not being used in clinical settings. I would be a wealthy person today if I
only carried that idea
through to application! But fortunately someone did carry that idea through and made the nursing process more efficient and safe through technology.
I eventually started working in community health where documentation is extensive. I would insert the Plan of Care form into my dot matrix printer instead of hand writing them. Apparently my boss took notice and when the
unit was planning to implement an online product for clinical documentation, he asked if I would be interested in the task. Of course now I could have the best of both worlds; nursing and computers. So I got involved in searching software and preparing our present documentation system into a product that could be utilized online.
I learned a lot along the way and had a great deal of help from mentors in the information technology department (IT) at the hospital. One IT nurse, named Arlowen, was already informatics certified and she kept after me to get my certification. I probably would not have been aware of the national informatics certification had it not been for her knowledge. Thanks to Arlowen's help,
I achieved the goal of becoming Informatics Certified
in August 2000. Since that time I have been involved with many
designs, installations, implementations,
and computer education
training.
I currently work as a Distance Learning Education Specialist for Thomas Edison State College School of Nursing. I was able to carry my technology and education knowledge into an area that gives back to the nursing career. Even though I miss hands-on patient care, it gives me great pleasure to help nurses nationwide to learn how to care for their patients in a more efficient way through technology.
Arlowen, if you are out there, thank you for your help in my journey.
Kathleen E. Griffis, MSN, RN, BC
Distance Learning Education Specialist
Thomas Edison State College
|
|
My first introduction to
Nursing Informatics was when I went back to school for my BSN (RN to BSN
program). My confidence level boosted significantly after I realized
that as an adult learner “I could do this!” I did my senior clinical and
project on nursing informatics and after graduating became involved in
as many informatic “mini” projects as possible. In addition, I kept my
ears and eyes open for any opportunities
My opportunity came in the
fall of 2005 when a system administrator position opened up for our
neonatal computer program (I was in neonatal nursing most of my career).
It was a perfect blend of utilizing my neonatal knowledge and jumping
into the technical side of things. I love my job and am ready to delve
deeper into the world of informatics…next goal Senior Clinical Analyst,
and from there Project Management. Nothing can stop me now!!
Deborah Evenson BSN, RNC
|
|
|
