What Nursing Informatics Actually Is
The American Medical Informatics Association defines informatics as the science of using data, information, and knowledge to improve human health and the delivery of care. Combine that with nursing knowledge and you get nursing informatics: managing data and technical systems so clinicians can deliver better care.
Day to day, you use data and technology to improve patient outcomes and safety across a unit or facility. The stakes are real. A 2018 survey from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology found that among people who had seen a provider in the previous 12 months, 32% hit some kind of gap in information exchange that interfered with their care. They had to redo tests because earlier results could not be found, repeat their medical history because records were missing, carry their own copies of past results to appointments, or wait longer than reasonable for results.
A nurse informaticist works to prevent exactly these failures by improving EMR accuracy and cross-department communication from a care-focused perspective, and by making sure any new process is realistic for the nursing staff who have to live with it. Better coordination of care information, documentation, and communication is what reduces medical errors and limits patient risk.
Do Nurse Informaticists See Patients?
Usually not. The 2020 HIMSS Nursing Informatics Workforce Survey found that over 70% of nurse informaticists do no clinical nursing care, 45% work remotely at least part of the week, and 21% of those work remotely every day. You contribute to patient outcomes from behind the scenes, making sure the systems are in place so patients get the care they need.
Nurse Informatics vs. Health Informatics
The two sound alike but do different work. Nurse informatics focuses on patient care, specifically optimizing the technology nurses use, and how tools like electronic medical records and patient monitoring shape the care clinicians can deliver. Health informatics focuses on administrative concerns such as data security and compliance standards, analyzing how data affects the operations of the hospital or health system.
Roles and Responsibilities
This is a high-level role with real responsibility, and the specific duties shift with your title and setting. Common ones include:
- Analyzing patient care data and using the results to improve outcomes
- Tracking the success of patient care programs
- Researching, designing, and testing new technology for the facility
- Training staff on new technology and answering their questions
- Monitoring results after a tool goes live
- Serving as a liaison between nursing staff and technology teams
- Managing facility-wide projects
What Degree You Need
You generally need at least a bachelor's degree. Most nursing roles require a BSN, but for informatics you can also earn a bachelor's in a related field such as health information technology or healthcare informatics, as long as you hold an RN license.
Many informaticists go further. The HIMSS survey found that 66% held a master's-level degree, and among those, 27% held an MSN in nursing informatics specifically. A master's opens higher-level and leadership roles; a doctorate opens more leadership and administrative paths. If you want to advance, a graduate degree, a certification, or both will help, and it is increasingly the norm.
License and Certification
You need an active RN license in good standing. Beyond that, certification is growing in importance: in the 2020 HIMSS survey, 78% of nurse informaticists felt it added credibility and more than 80% felt it affected their careers.
Certification comes from two main sources. HIMSS offers the Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CAHIMS) and the Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS). The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers the Informatics Nursing Certification (RN-BC). Check job listings in your area to see which employers prefer.
Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track nurse informaticists separately. It groups them under "health information technologists and medical registrars," where the median wage is $67,310 (May 2024). The category spans a wide range, from a bottom 25% around $48,400 to a top 10% above $112,130. HIMSS survey data indicates most nurse informaticists sit toward the top of that range.
Staying Current
This field moves with the technology, so plan on continuous learning. Stay open to new tools, attend conferences and webinars, and get active in professional associations. Survey respondents named professional organizations, webinars, websites, electronic and print journals, newsletters, discussion boards, blogs, and podcasts as their main ways of keeping up.
A few associations worth knowing:
- Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS): certifications, industry news, and resources.
- American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA): conferences and industry news.
- American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA): networking, career listings, and news.
- American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA): professional connections and continuing education.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a nurse informaticist do?
A nurse informaticist uses clinical judgment plus data and technology skills to improve patient care. The work includes analyzing outcomes data, finding where documentation and communication break down, testing and rolling out new tools like electronic medical records, and training staff to use them well.
Do nurse informaticists work at the bedside?
Usually not. The HIMSS Nursing Informatics Workforce Survey found that more than 70% of nurse informaticists provide no direct clinical care, and many work remotely at least part of the week. You contribute to patient outcomes from behind the scenes by keeping the systems clinicians rely on accurate and usable.
What degree do you need for nursing informatics?
You generally need at least a bachelor's degree plus an active RN license. Many informaticists hold a master's: HIMSS survey data put roughly two-thirds of respondents at the master's level. A graduate degree opens leadership and administrative roles.
How much do nurse informaticists make?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics groups nurse informaticists under "health information technologists and medical registrars," where the median wage was $67,310 in May 2024 and the top 10% earned more than $112,130. HIMSS data suggest nurse informaticists tend to land toward the top of that range.
What is the difference between nursing informatics and health informatics?
Nursing informatics focuses on patient care and optimizing the technology nurses use, such as electronic medical records and patient monitoring. Health informatics leans toward administrative concerns like data security, compliance, and how data shapes hospital operations.
What certifications are available in nursing informatics?
HIMSS offers the CAHIMS (entry level) and CPHIMS (professional level). The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers the Informatics Nursing Certification. Certification is not always required, but most informaticists report it adds credibility and helps their careers.