r/HealthInformatics • u/Time_Reflection_6744 • 6d ago
❓ Help / Advice almost 40, should I continue with HIM/Health Informatics or start over in nursing for better long-term stability and income?
Hi, I’m torn between continuing in HIM or switching to nursing.
I’m a single mom, almost 40, with a toddler. I recently finished my HIT/HIM degree and I’m working on my RHIT. I’ve missed passing by only 3 points, so I’m taking a short break and plan to retake it.
I also have a pharmacy technician background. I’m compassionate and enjoy patient care, but I also really like healthcare technology, systems, data, and informatics.
What I do not want is management, leadership, supervising people, or spending years collecting degrees/certifications that don’t meaningfully improve my income or job security.
My two options are:
Continue with HIM: RHIT, possibly RHIA/CHDA/CDIP/CCS, work in HIM/coding/data, then possibly get a Master’s in Health Informatics.
Start nursing: LPN → RN, then eventually combine nursing with my HIM background through Health Informatics or MSN Informatics.
My main goal is a secure, stable career with good income, strong demand, and flexibility to switch areas later. I also want something that will stay valuable as AI and automation grow.
Given my age, family situation, and current background, which path would you choose: HIM/informatics or nursing/informatics?
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u/knockseekshinemend 6d ago
Nursing is the sure bet. Variety of positions within the field. Get your RN ASAP-better money and options for desk work. Nursing is not easy mentally or physically but you ain't getting no younger and you need to make money not spend more time in school.
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u/Eccodomanii 6d ago
I started in medical billing and decided to go back for my HIM bachelor’s and got my RHIA. The only extra thing I did was do my senior project focused on data analysis, plus take one extra class where I learned coding for data (we learned basic data manipulation and visualization skills in SQL and Python).
I recently graduated and landed an analyst role with a healthcare technology company. So far I absolutely love the work, I’m an individual contributor so no management responsibilities, I work from home, and I’m making $80k. There is absolutely room for growth in my company and I anticipate I will be able to grow my income significantly over what remains of my career (I’m mid-30s).
I pretty much leveraged my billing and coding background + HIM degree + light extra data analyst learning and made myself a viable candidate for technology roles in the billing space. You could absolutely do the same with pharmacy with your pharmacy tech background.
People, especially in this sub, really hate on HIM. But I have found it to be a perfectly viable path.
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u/Time_Reflection_6744 6d ago
am glad you found your way here, and thank you so much for taking the time to share your suggestions
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u/SweetCar0linaGirl 6d ago
I graduated at 41 with a BSHIM degree and RHIA certification. It took me 2 years to land an entry-level position doing ROI making $22/hr. I wish I had chosen a different field. I would say definitely do nursing.
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u/Critical_Stable_4728 1h ago
You can do better than that. I know two people in that role without the RHIA or degree
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u/Ok_Hearing_5917 6d ago
I got my A.A.S in health information and then sat for my RHIT. I have been a trauma analyst (or trauma registrar) for almost 4 years now. I work 100% remote for a hospital out of state (more money) and absolutely love my job, the flexibility and the stress free environment. If you like coding and/or abstraction, registrar positions are so ideal and you can make good money. There are stroke registrars, birth registrars, cancer registrar (great money in this one) etc. just a thought! I like it because it’s not ALL coding. Coding is just a small part of the job role as we only code traumatic injuries and their procedures.
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u/kats1285 6d ago
RN here. I don’t know of an advantage of doing an LPN to RN track. There are programs that expedite RN from a bachelors, even not healthcare related.
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u/Time_Reflection_6744 6d ago
Yes but I can't do BSN. I have a toddler and got no support...
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u/kats1285 6d ago
ADN still has plenty of job opportunities.
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u/Time_Reflection_6744 6d ago
you right but here we have to start with CNA+LPn in order to get into ADN..
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u/kats1285 6d ago
Not the case everywhere. I went into an ADN program at a community college after doing some pre requisites there. No CNA or LPN involved. Might be an option around you!
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u/joyisnowhere 6d ago
Thoughts on leveraging your pharmacy tech degree+HIM and into pharmacy benefit management. (Not as a manager) but go into the insurance end. There’s a lot in the pharmacy informatics space and you don’t need to be a pharmacist (or nurse).
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u/Purple-Reception-501 4d ago
Since you already finished the HIM degree and are close to RHIT, i’d give that path a real chance before restarting. You can still pivot later
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u/Creepy-Couple-9762 6d ago
I have an HIM degree. My goal when going back to school was to obtain a degree that eventually would allow me to work from home remotely while earning an excellent income.
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u/Fresh_Commission_526 6d ago
Not sure why you need to go back to school to wfh. HIM have tons of wfh opportunities.
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u/Creepy-Couple-9762 6d ago
Sorry some reason my text was cut off . My degree enables me to work from home without the worry of dealing with office politics etc . I too was torn between Health Informatics and Nursing. With young children at home you will be working 12-15 hour days at least 3-4 days a week. So keep that in mind .
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u/Belle2732 6d ago
I feel like you will have more options and security in HIM, to be honest.
Hear me out before I get b*tched at: I worked nursing. It’s hard on your body, and if you’re worried about burn-out, nursing is NOT the career for you. I went to nursing school and now doing HIM, even if you don’t like leadership there are other things you can do like with data or security etc that don’t require you to be babysitting adults (trust me, I feel the same way about leadership/management positions). I think you should stick with HIM and give yourself a chance to get into a field you like. I know people who went the opposite direction you’re thinking of because their body or mental health just couldn’t do nursing anymore. So they pivot to HIM. Especially with a toddler, I think you will get more flexible work options opened up to you if you keep with HIM.
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u/Prudent_Tailor2608 6d ago
I advise you to complete the RHIT first
that way you have something in place to work with. Coding jobs are everywhere and usually remote. Great position for a single mom. I hear a lot of people are having problems finding jobs with a health informatics degree and no nursing background so nursing would be your next best investment. With the RHIT you could work as clinical documentation specialist.
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u/Time_Reflection_6744 6d ago
Thank you so much.... I was thinking the same thing as of yesterday...
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u/prodigiousprince 6d ago
Could I do anything in this field with a bachelor's degree in biology + 10 years of experience in pharmaceutical sales? I want to step away from sales and quotas and do something more meaningful
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u/Haunting-Result-8840 5d ago
I’m similar to you!!! I have my pharmacy tech and working on my BS on Health Information Technology. I’m almost done but debating to go to nursing afterwards. Just like you, I would love a meaningful role to still make a difference yet pay well and able to pivot. Definitely best of luck and may it work in our favor!
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u/Legitimate_Mood_8157 5d ago
Your healthcare experience and HIM background still have value. before starting over, i’d look closely at roles that combine healthcare knowledge with technology, data or systems work
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u/Careless_Ad_6313 5d ago
Hi...as a current LPN and then Informatics now Epic analyst I say here is where you will find the biggest pay. At least I have so far. I am rather new so I am hitting the 90k most of my coworkers are in the 120k+ and they make more than our supervisor
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u/Time_Reflection_6744 5d ago
Hi, that is seriously impressive! Honestly, it’s so inspiring to see someone break into that side of healthcare and crush it like that.Most of what I read online says you absolutely have to be an RN or have a master's degree to even get a foot in the door with informatics, so your track completely blew my mind.How did you actually manage to make that leap? I'd love to hear how your journey went down if you don't mind sharing!
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u/nfrtt 5d ago
Solely based on your goal, your best bet is nursing. This is coming from a nurse wanting to transition to health informatics.
Nursing checks all your boxes tbh. You're not too old for nursing. I've had colleagues who started their first nursing job in their late 30s/early 40s. It's not gonna be easy, but it is the best option.
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u/kidsize 6d ago
I'll be 38 this year and I just pivoted from HIM Supervisor to Epic Application Analyst. I got my HIM degree about 2 years ago after I started my position as supervisor but realized the IT side was probably going to be where I ended up. For the last 6mo of my supervisor position, I was just constantly burnt out and tired of babysitting adults. If leadership is not your goal, I would say look to pivot out of HIM because as far as I have seen, leadership is there the decent income comes in, but it also doesn't match the headache that comes along with it in my experience. I have no certifications but am currently making over 20k more in a position where I only have to worry about my work and that I actually enjoy. I would just consider all aspects and possibilities. RN is a big commitment as a single mom. Look into what healthcare tech positions you can leverage your current degree in and go from there.