Nursing Informatics Part 2 – Informatics Nursing Salary and Informatics Job Description

Nursing Informatics Part 2
Informatics Nursing Salary and Informatics Job Description

This is part 2 of HospitalSoup.com’s Interview with Informatics Nurse, Lt. Col Florence Valley

Another “Day in the Life” Interview with a Medical Professional brought to you by HospitalSoup.com, profiling  outstanding health care professionals and medical careers so that you can learn what it’s like to work for a day in the medical field.

Q. As an Informatics Nurse, describe what you do.
I’m responsible for obtaining data from multiple data repositories within the military hospital. One repository includes information about patient demographics, laboratory work, radiology, and appointment utilization. Others involve prevention programs for our active duty personnel, and immunization tracking. After I export the data, I transform the data into information that is useful to the end user. Hospital executives, for example, might want aggregated data on clinical outcomes of diabetes care. On the other end of the spectrum, our providers need specific information about the diabetic patients enrolled to them specifically. Perhaps the data might show that a diabetic patient hasn’t had an eye exam in three years, although it’s recommended annually. I relay this information to the provider and their teams so they can proactively encourage patients to get the preventative service aimed at preventing blindness. My job isn’t just informatics. I’m responsible for integrating processes, as well. At times, I feel like a plate spinner, moving back and forth between plates to keep them spinning.

Q. What’s a typical day like for an informatics nurse?
There are no typical days! That’s what I like so much about my job. Some days I’m briefing the executive team, some days I’m mentoring a nurse on how to build a disease management database. On another day I might be data mining our patient database or evaluating a consumer-based web education program. Perhaps I’ll help a provider examine new cost-effective technologies–palm pilots, for example–that can be integrated into primary care settings. I might evaluate computer-based schedules that providers use to book appointments to ensure the best use of their time. Do they have the right type of and amount of appointments to meet the demands of the population enrolled to them? By “providers,” I mean physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. I do interact with patients. The other side of my job is that I sometimes fill in for absent nursing staff. Every so often I’m on the triage line when patients call in with their problems: Do they really need a same-day appointment? Do they need home care advice? Maybe they’re having trouble getting an appointment with a civilian agency for their specialty consultation. My office is right in the middle of the primary care clinic, so I get pulled from my primary job to do all sorts of things, blood sticks included. This is so beneficial because I can evaluate our processes from many angles, including the staff member.

Q. How does your role differ from that of other nurses?
I believe I can improve patient care on a much larger spectrum than what I could do with one-on-one encounters. I can provide information that might improve the care for all our four hundred diabetic patients, whereas if I were a clinic nurse, I’d interact with a select group assigned to my team. I’m more of a facilitator of technology, whereas a clinical nurse may be the end user. I’m also investigating new technologies or coordinating their implementation with our current practices. I’m much more autonomous than a clinical nurse. I run my own shop, pick my own projects and prioritize my work day. You’ve got to be a self-starter. Some people like structured environments, so this job is not for everyone.

Q. What education is necessary to prepare for a role in Nursing Informatics?
I’m fortunate to have grown up with the systems I’m now managing or evaluating. But my master’s course work was pivotal. Between the three management areas I studied, I was well prepared to take on my present role. My studies helped me understand outcome management – making use of stored data – and develop a real appreciation for high quality medical care that can be delivered with a reasonable price tag. Because the University of Arizona sits in the middle of an HMO dominated area — learning how a health maintenance program operates has proved so helpful to me. Starting in 1996, the Air Force started a network of HMO’s operating under the umbrella of the military health system. Knowing how an HMO functions assists me in interacting with our civilian contractors.

Q. What is the most positive aspect of your job?
My position is in its infancy, so to a great extent I’m able to create my job. Working at many different levels within my organization never gets boring.

Q. What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
What is most challenging is keeping abreast of current technologies. I don’t want to be recommending a specific technology when waiting three months would give me a better product at a lower cost. I recently attended the American Medical Informatics Symposium in Los Angeles and realized that I need to catch up with the literature. Being a mom, wife, and full-time Air Force member doesn’t always leave enough room or hours in the day for keeping up with all the changes in this field.

Q. Are there growing opportunities for informatics nurses?
I think the opportunities for nurses who develop technical and clinical expertise are boundless. Just a few years ago, nurses never thought of themselves as playing the role of liaison between the two fields. Now it’s a burgeoning field for them. In some areas of the country, it’s moving like gangbusters. The academic centers are leading the way. They’re able to combine medical informatics with traditional computer programs because of the resources available to them. The Universities of Arizona, Maryland and Colorado have solid nursing graduate programs in informatics, which has spilled over into their undergraduate programs.

Q. How much room is there for advancement?
In medical settings, data analysts are often paid six-figure salaries, yet generally they’re lacking the clinical piece of the puzzle-they might not know what kind of data is needed to improve care for patients. There’s also communicating with the provider staff. It’s easier for a nurse to translate the technical problem to the providers because we can translate it into something they will understand. I’m not saying that the two roles are interchangeable, but because my position is unique among my peers, my chances of promotion are greatly enhanced. Nurses are always cost-effective. We’re good at analytical thinking–in taking a problem, splitting it into pieces and conquering each piece.

Q. What’s the average salary for an informatics nurse?
I’m not really sure. Jobs that deal with informatics don’t always have the same job title. I make $78 thousand, but I’ve been with the Air Force for more than 18 years. Longevity has its advantages in any company or organization.

Q. What changes in nursing have taken place since you started?
When I graduated from college, nurses chose either clinic or hospital roles. About 90 percent of those who worked in hospitals were floor nurses. Now our options include outpatient surgery, community health, home health, wellness clinics, extended care facilities and nursing homes to name just a few. Informatics nursing is just one role among many. Nurses now play an increased role in coordinating patient care. These days, the smart providers use an integrated team approach to care for their patients.

Q. What would you tell someone who is interested in becoming an informatics nurse?
If they’re not computer phobic and want to positively influence patient outcomes on a large scale, then informatics is a viable option. Working your way into this new role in your current job is optimal, because you already know their systems and how the processes function currently.

Q. Are there any closing thoughts you’d like to share?
This isn’t an area you can jump into right out of college. Get some nursing experience first, but don’t pidgeon-hole yourself. I’ve played many nursing roles, and the variety has prepared me to understand processes throughout the facility. Stay committed to your goal, but in the meantime, have fun and keep learning.

This concludes HospitalSoup.com’s interview with Lt. Col. Florence Valley.HospitalSoup.com would like to thank Lt. Col. Valley for contributing her time, knowledge and experience for this article!

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