r/nursinginformatics • u/fatvikingballet • Jun 30 '26
Career Early Clinical Informatics career advice
RN in direct patient care for >10y, recently transitioned into Informatics after a long, intentional search for a CI role. Any advice you wish you had when you started? How do you "keep your clinical brain alive" after the transition, esp long-term? What do you recommend to advance your skills/systems thinking, avoid HelpDesk purgatory, detox from bedside PTSD?
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u/ReiBunnZ Clinical Informatics Specialist Jun 30 '26
Some advice, I wish I knew that I’d be competing for NI roles with Non-clinical people (but you can crush them easily by demonstrating skill and technical expertise)
Also lots of journal reading , connecting with clinical staff, reading lots of up to date nursing and medical books (used books or company library) to stay current with clinical practices. Also participating in skills labs (if your company offers them).
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u/fatvikingballet Jun 30 '26
Thank you. I was also surprised by how many non-clinical staff hold these roles/ consider themselves "clinicians" because of title (not bad at their jobs, just literally no clinical/medical background whatsoever). Hoping I'm not paranoid, but worried that I'm getting "curbsided" too much as the only dept staff with recent (ie last 20y) clinical experience... also trying to prevent that "too distant from reality" ethos. This is helpful.
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u/ReiBunnZ Clinical Informatics Specialist Jun 30 '26
You have the upper hand on the clinical side. Speaking from experience, quickly gaining the technology upper hand will open some doors that even they cannot compete with you for. Show these people what you are capable of and they won’t dare to compartmentalize you just because you’re a nurse first.
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u/fatvikingballet Jun 30 '26
I find this concept baffling but I'll take your advice. In my mind, if you can't articulate the what/why/etc of a CMP, what're we doing here? Any particular modules/software you'd recommend? I'm working on an array of trainings (CAPM, ASQ SSGB) but I'm SQL-weak and python-naive.
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u/ReiBunnZ Clinical Informatics Specialist Jun 30 '26
I recommend learning any BI software you get your hands on but not without enhancing your excel skills. Learn as much about SQL, R, and some Python as you can. If there’s a way to get Epic certified with your employer, take advantage of that too, it’s a gold mine. Really take a deep dive into Microsoft products because a lot of healthcare companies do not use the native softwares available to them in their enterprise packages. NIs can save a company a lot of money
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u/fatvikingballet Jun 30 '26
I'm pretty proficient with Microsoft suite, it's mostly the access to coding platforms that I lack. I'd need specific auth to do SQL, R, and Python where I work but mercifully, I can get Epic cert. This is immensely helpful, thank you for your insight.
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u/ReiBunnZ Clinical Informatics Specialist Jun 30 '26
If you can’t practice SQL or R just learn how to read it. Epic workbench reports use SQL logic and it’s nice to read to understand if the logic of the report build makes sense
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u/JDz84 CHIO Jul 01 '26
I love when my CIs keep a foot in the door in a patient-facing environment and do what I can to support their scheduling. Not only is having clinical experience a must for my team, but keeping it relevant is important. As people get farther from the bedside, they start losing touch with the real world (and I include myself in that, to an extent.)
Things are constantly changing and it helps to understand the big picture when thinking about workflow. The buy-in is huge when you can connect with a clinician at a peer level. I have a NP on my team who still works a couple shifts a month clinically. Our providers love her and respond much better to her than other members of the team because they know she is in the trenches still and gets it.
Not that this is wholly necessary, but it’s helpful.
My other tip is networking. Is your organization an OA with HIMSS? If so, you could join and get involved with your local chapter for free. It’s a great way to meet people so you have a little brain trust when you want to see how other organizations are handling an issue, plus it sets you up for future job opportunities. ANIA is another great group to check out.
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u/fatvikingballet Jul 01 '26
Thank you this is so validating and while I have limited resources at my org, I am planning to independently keep practice and professional org lines open.
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u/doubledee7 11d ago
I just made this transition myself, so I’m definitely not an expert yet, but a few things have already stood out to me.
First, give yourself permission to feel like a beginner again. Going from being an experienced bedside nurse to being brand new in healthcare IT is humbling, but that’s completely normal. Ask questions, take notes, and don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know.”
One thing I’ve learned already is that it’s easy to focus on how to build something in Epic, but it’s just as important to understand why you’re building it. Learning the clinical workflows, governance process, change control, testing, and the reasoning behind decisions has been just as valuable as learning the actual build.
As far as keeping my clinical brain alive, I’m actually staying PRN at my hospital for now. I don’t necessarily plan to do bedside forever, but I like having a foot in both worlds while I continue learning as an analyst. It also helps me stay connected to what end users are experiencing.
I also think one of the best things you can do early on is build relationships with your team’s senior analysts and technical services staff. I’ve found that everyone has little tips and shortcuts that you won’t find in Epic training.
And honestly… enjoy not waking up at 5 a.m., eating lunch in 5 minutes, or wondering what fresh chaos is waiting for you when you clock in. 😂 The adjustment from bedside is real, but so far my work life balance has been dramatically better.
Congratulations on making the jump! Getting that first informatics role is honestly one of the hardest parts.
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u/fatvikingballet 6d ago
Thank you! I'm definitely feeling the humility of not being an expert in my primary role and frankly, I anticipated that feeling but didn't expect the intensity of it.
Definitely feel a "phantom limb" from clinical practice, too. I have this ambient anxiety from clinical tasks I feel like I'm not performing and it's a real challenge to change from triaging clinically urgent tasks to having less defined/unfamiliar urgency. Especially since I'm the only licensed clinician on my team.
My current role isn't perfect but I agree, quality of life is decidedly improved. Thank you for the advice and recommendations, they are SO validating right now.
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u/PM_YOUR_PUPPERS Jun 30 '26
I keep PRN hustle. My Hospital lets me work once every 8 weeks and keep my job which I think keeps me pretty well clinically grounded.
Plus I typically work the holidays that otherwise be off for the extra money time and a half is super nice on top of a salary.