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Nursing Informatics Frequently Asked Questions
Compiled by Susan K Newbold, PhD RNBC FAAN, FHIMSS. Copyright ©2004-2005 Hyperlinking by other Web sites is welcomed, but duplication is prohibited without permission of the author.
What is Nursing Informatics?
As defined by Graves and Corcoran, nursing informatics is "a combination of computer science, information science and nursing science designed to assist in the management and processing of nursing data, information and knowledge to support the practice of nursing and the delivery of nursing care." (Graves JR, Corcoran S: The study of nursing informatics. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship 1989; 21(4): 227-231.)
The October 2001 American Nurses Association definition of Nursing Informatics...
“Nursing Informatics is a specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, and knowledge in nursing practice. Nursing informatics facilitates the integration of data, information and knowledge to support patients, nurses and other providers in their decision-making in all roles and settings. This support is accomplished through the use of information structures, information processes, and information technology” (ANA Scope and Standards of Nursing Informatics Practice, 2001, pg vii).
An International Perspective on Nursing Informatics...
An international view is presented by Goossen WTF, (1996). Nursing information management and processing: a framework and definition for systems analysis, design and evaluation. International Journal of Biomedical Computing, 40, 187-195. This was the result of a 1995 Delphi study of 44 informatics experts from North America, Europe, and The Netherlands.
"Nursing informatics is the multidisciplinairy scientific endeavor of analyzing, formalizing and modeling how nurses collect and manage data, process data into information and knowledge, make knowledge-based decisions and inferences for patient care, and use this empirical and experiential knowledge in order to broaden the scope and enhance the quality of their professional practice. The scientific methods central to nursing informatics are focused on: (1) using a discourse about motives for computerized systems, (2) analyzing, formalizing and modeling nursing information processing and nursing knowledge for all components of nursing practice: clinical practice, management, education and research, (3) investigating determinants, conditions, elements, models and processes in order to design, and implement as well as test the effectiveness and efficiency of computerized information, (tele)communication and network systems for nursing practice, and (4) studying the effects of these systems on nursing practice."
International Medical Informatics Association - Nursing Informatics definition adopted August 1998, Seoul, Korea
Nursing informatics is the integration of nursing, its information, and information management with information processing and communication technology, to support the health of people world wide.
How do I get started in Nursing Informatics?
Start reading! Join a local computer/nurse group. Interview a "computer nurse" when you buy him/her lunch! Attend a Nursing or Healthcare Informatics conference.
What is the job outlook for Nursing Informatics?
More and more healthcare organizations are installing information systems and recognize that a nurse is an important member of the team from conception to installation to maintenance. Education, project management, product design and development, consulting, system selection, system testing, system implementation, research, maintenance, evaluation, and theory formulation are among the many jobs an informatics nurse can undertake.
What is the salary range for an Informatics Nurse?
Estimates range from $35K to over $100K depending upon site (hospital, consulting company, vendor, etc), amount of travel, and responsibility. HIMSS conducted a survey in 2002 with 58 respondents for the title of Clinical Systems Analyst. The salaries for the 58 ranged from $35, 000 to $98,000 with the average $63,690. The average salary for the Clinical Informatics Director was $90,377. Respondents in the regions of Middle Atlantic, New England, and the Pacific command the highest salaries with East South Central being the lowest. HIMSS conducted a nursing informatics survey published in 2004 (www.himss.org/content/files/nursing_info_survey2004.pdf.) where the average salary was $69,500. Another survey by HIMSS will be released in February 2007.
Where can I find sample job descriptions?
Look at the AMIA www site for sample job descriptions. Also, use the ANA Scope and Standards of Practice for NI to create your own (see books below).
Where can I go for further references?
Start with the library, but also look to the WWW, on-line mailing lists, and newsgroups. Find out more in two chapters in the Ball/Hannah/Newbold/Douglas book referenced below.
For a mailing list with a nursing informatics focus, subscribe to Nrsing-L, created by Mr. Gordon Larrivee and administered since February 2001 by Dr Scott Erdley (erdley@Buffalo.edu). In May 2005 there were 1576 subscribers from over 23 countries who discuss various nursing informatics issues. The list is now housed by the American Medical Informatics Association. To subscribe go to: http://mailman.amia.org/listinfo/nrsing-l and key in your e-mail address and password. You do not have to be an AMIA member to join nrsing-l.
What schools offer Nursing Informatics programs?
Please see the Educational Opportunities in Nursing Informatics on the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) Nursing Special Interest Group home page.
What schools offer On-line NI programs?
Also see Educational Opportunities. The University of Maryland, School of Nursing post Master's certificate program was on-line since Fall 2001 and now the Master's degree is on-line.
What are the typical classes offered in the Master of Science in Nursing program at the University of Maryland at Baltimore?
Visit the online post-masters program at the University of Maryland School of Nursing or the NI Graduate Program at:
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Nursing Informatics
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Project Management
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Database
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Systems Analysis and Design
How do I get information on the University of Maryland at Baltimore Nursing Informatics Program?
Call the Coordinator of Graduate Admissions - Nursing. Include your address and telephone numbers. They will send you the requested information including school catalogue, Nursing Informatics brochure, and invite you to the next Graduate School Information Night. Phone: 410-706-0489 or 1-800-328-8346 to leave a voice mail for the Admissions and Enrollment office. Director of Admissions, 410-706-8611, admission@son.umaryland.edu.
How do I meet people with similar interests?
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The Alliance for Nursing Informatics - in 2006 a consortium of 20+ informatics-related groups was formed. See www.allianceni.org/
Do you need to be a programmer to work in nursing informatics?
No. Some nurses do enjoy this work, but it is not necessary to be a programmer to be successful in nursing informatics.
What journals are published for Nursing Informatics? If you are an Alliance for Nursing Informatics member (ie CARING or AMIA) member you can now get CIN at a reduced rate.
Computers, Informatics, Nursing
Dr Leslie Nicoll, Editor-In-Chief
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
1-800-777-2295 or
1-301-714-2300
1-301-714-7390 (fax)
What books are available on the subject of Nursing Informatics?
American Nurses Association (2001). Scope and Standards of Nursing Informatics Practice. Washington, DC: American Nurses Publishing.
American Nurses Association (1995). Nursing data systems: The emerging framework. Washington, DC: American Nurses Association.
Ball, MJ, Hannah, KJ, Newbold, SK, & Douglas, JV (Eds.). (2000). Nursing informatics: Where caring and technology meet (3rd ed.). New York: Springer-Verlag.
For and description and ordering information: ISBN: 0-387-98923-4; $64.95; 1-800-SPRINGER; Springer-Verlag. Translated into Japanese and Korean.
Hannah, KJ, Ball, MJ & Edwards, MJA (2006). Introduction to nursing informatics (3rd Ed). New York: Springer-Verlag.
O'Neil, C.A., Fisher, C. A , Newbold, S.K. (2004). Developing an Online Course: Best practices for nurse educators. New York: Springer Publishing Company. Order information.
Saba, VK & McCormick, KA (2006). Essentials of nursing informatics (4th Ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.
What online journals are available?
What national organizations have Nursing Informatics subgroups?
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American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) Nursing Informatics Working Group (NI-WG)
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National League for Nursing (NLN) Educational Technology and Information Management Advisory Council (ETIMAC)
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Regional, National, and International Nursing Informatics Special Interest Groups
Is there a local group in my area?
If there is not a group in your area, you might like to start one! Until you have a local group, you might consider joining CARING, with over 1400 members in 25 countries and 50 states!
How can I become certified in Nursing Informatics?
Newbold, S. K. (1996). The Informatics Nurse and the Certification Process. Computers in Nursing, 14(2), 84-85, 88.
What is the difference between certification and a certificate in healthcare/nursing informatics?
Certification: For nursing informatics in the United States (US), there is only one certification available and that is from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). According to the ANCC catalog, certification is the process by which the ANCC Boards on Certification validate an individual's knowledge, skills, and abilitities in Nursing Informatics. It requires a combination of practice hours, continuing education, and a computer-based examination. The outcome is a pin, a certificate, the ability to write "C" or "BC" after one's name, and self-satisfaction! About 566 nurses are now certified in nursing informatics.
Certificate in Informatics: Several schools offer a certificate in informatics which includes coursework over time. The University of MD School of Nursing and Excelsior College are two examples.
The University of Maryland School of Nursing offers a Post-Masters Certificate in Nursing Informatics. This program is designed for individuals who already possess a Masters degree (or higher) in Nursing. The Post Masters program ranges from 15-24 credits and is customized to the individual student needs and interests. For information about the University of Maryland, visit http://www.nursing.umaryland.edu/programs/post-ms/index.htm.
The Excelsior Certificate in Healthcare Informatics program is a 17-credit computer-based distance-education program open to any health care professional with a bachelor's degree. It will prepare students to function in the growing field of computer applications and information systems in health care. The student must take five courses and complete an informatics project. The outcome is a certificate but no additional designation to put after one's name.
What are the most common *misconceptions* about the ANCC NI Certification exam?
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"I can only take the exam twice per year."
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"I have to have a BSN to be certified."
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"Anyone can teach a certification review course."
Facts: The exam is conducted at various centers around the country practically each weekday of the year. From the ANCC statement: "Requirements for eligibility to take the Informatics Nurse certification exam have been expanded to include a bachelor's or higher degree in nursing or a bachelor's degree in a relevant field (sciences, professional disciplines, or academic liberal arts)." Contact Wanda Dionicio, ANCC, at 202-651-7275 for eligibility questions. For the NI Certification examination catalog see http://nursingworld.org/ancc/certification/certs/informatics.html and move around until you find it.
What conferences can I attend to learn something, get contact hours and meet Nursing Informatics people?
Additional Program Resources
Careers in Nursing Informatics: The Future is Now!
NI Professional Organizations »
Scholarly Papers » (NI Students only)