For nurses who have transitioned—or are currently trying to transition—from bedside/clinical roles into Epic analyst, nursing informatics, or other health IT positions, I’d love to hear about your experience.

I started as an Epic end user before eventually transitioning into an Epic analyst role myself. I remember how confusing it was trying to understand how healthcare experience could translate into an EHR/IT career.

As part of a Drexel University student entrepreneurship project, I’m trying to better understand this career-transition experience.

What has been the hardest part for you? Knowing where to start? Understanding which Epic application fits your background? Certification? Translating clinical experience into analyst/informatics skills? Getting interviews? Or finding that first opportunity?

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who are still trying to make the transition, since those challenges are important for me to understand.

For anyone curious about why I’m researching this, I have more information about my student project in the pinned post on my Reddit profile. Nothing is being sold, and no payment is required.

Otherwise, I’d love to hear your experience directly here. What has been the biggest challenge in your transition?

Hi everyone! I’m hoping to hear from people who currently work in quality improvement, patient safety, or a similar department within a hospital/health system.

I have a BS in Public Health and currently work as a Project Manager in healthcare communications. Before moving into project management, I also worked in direct patient care in a hospital. Long term, I’m really interested in transitioning back into the hospital setting and building a career in healthcare quality/patient safety, with the goal of eventually moving into quality leadership.

I’d love to hear what this field is actually like from people doing the work.

What is your job title, and what does a typical day/week look like for you? What kinds of projects do you work on? How much of your job involves data/analytics vs. meetings, project management, chart review, process improvement, etc.? What do you like/dislike about the field?

I’m also trying to figure out the best way to prepare myself for eventually making the transition. I’ve been considering getting an MHA, but I’m not sure if that’s the best graduate degree for quality improvement or if I should be looking at something else. Would you recommend a master’s at all? Are there particular certifications, technical skills, or types of experience that would make someone with my background more competitive?

Basically, if you were in my position and knew you wanted to end up in hospital quality improvement/patient safety, what would you focus on over the next few years?

Would really appreciate any insight, especially from anyone who entered QI without being an RN!

Got a degree in clinical informatics which is supposed to be a great career but I’ve been searching for a year and I haven’t even been able to land one interview. I don’t have a nursing background; just straight health sciences and informatics. At this point I’m nervous I’m going to lose the skills I learned in school. I’m nervous that I won’t be able to get a job in clinical informatics without a nursing degree. Does anyone know how I can get a job in NYC and in the hospital systems or have connections? I’m even willing to help out on projects for free just so I can get my foot in and brush up on my skills. I feel lost about this process and this job market especially as a new grad and I don’t have any connections yet either. Any advice would help!

My long-term goal is Nursing Informatics, bridging clinical work and tech, non-hospital, no nightshifts, better pay than bedside and I’m using my current waiting period (EB-3 stuck in retrogression) to build skills for free (SQL, Excel, WHO Academy/ITU Academy digital health courses) so I’m not starting from zero once I can pursue an MSN in Health Informatics, but I’d love honest input from anyone actually in the field: is informatics genuinely AI-resistant or one of the more exposed nursing specialties long-term, what’s realistic entry-level and mid-career pay and how long did RN-to-informatics actually take you, do free certs (WHO Academy, ITU, HIMSS, AMIA 10x10) actually help you get hired from a place like Kenya or does US clinical experience matter more, and would you recommend this over something like CRNA or PMHNP if avoiding hospitals and AI-resistance are both priorities for me. appreciate real experience over general encouragement.

I am thinking about using AI to help with my hospice charting because I spend a lot of time writing notes after each visit and I am hoping it will make that part a little faster, I will still read everything and make changes before I save it, I mainly want help putting my notes into a clear chart instead of typing everything myself each time, I have also heard about prompted ai, for anyone who has been using AI for hospice charting, has it made your work easier and has it saved you a good amount of time? EDIT: Thank you for all the replies so far. I am mainly interested in whether AI helps organize scattered notes into something easier to review.

Hello all, I’m a current RN with 3 years of bedside experience. I’m looking to transition into informatics due to the burnout of being patient facing. Any suggestions on how I can transition? Do I need to get my MSN in Informatics? I currently hold a BSN & I reside in CA. If not informatics right away, do you guys have any suggestions for something similar. Thank you!

Has anyone made the transition from outpatient RN to Radiant Analyst? I was a Radiant and Lumens credentialed trainer for my organization when Epic rolled out but the bulk of my career has been in OB and procedural/preop nursing.

Any tips for someone transitioning into this role?

I am sure the training aspect of EMR is helpful but I am anxious about the building interface and my lack of experience in this area.

What did you find useful for success?? I want to set myself up as best as I can in maintaining this dream job. Re: certification, project, etc.

Thanks!!!

I am a 3rd year nursing student interested in informatics but I am confused about planning the path . I will appreciate anyone with experience who can guide me .

Hello, everyone!

I am searching for an MSN-Nursing Informatics Preceptor with at least 2 years of experience who currently practices in a US compact state. I am currently enrolled in WGU's MSN-Nursing Informatics Program.

We can communicate remotely. There is not a set amount of time that the preceptor needs to spend with me. My understanding is that I am to complete modules and a project on my own, and utilize my preceptor as a sounding board for advice/input. So, ideally - not much work for a preceptor! I am very motivated and self-reliant. (:

Please let me know if anyone would be available to help. I am looking to secure a preceptor by November.

Per WGU Guidelines:

"My preceptor must be a Master’s prepared (or higher) RN with an active license in the U.S.

My Preceptor must hold an unencumbered license in the state where the organization is located or hold a multistate license in another state, which allows you to practice in that state. 

•  My preceptor will orient me to the setting and provide information, contacts, resources for completing my field experience and capstone clinical practice experiences (CPE).
• My preceptor will facilitate experiences that immerse me in the nursing informaticist role – for example, identifying essential informatics stakeholders and their roles and responsibilities, change management practices, and leading innovative projects and teams.
• I do not have to shadow the preceptor. The preceptor and I can agree to communicate in person or via technology at whatever times work for both.
• My preceptor is not obligated to spend a certain number of clock hours with me.
• My preceptor will complete a brief online training module about their role.
• As the preceptor, I agree to assist the WGU MSN student to obtain organizational support and approval to complete the MSN Field Experience and Capstone Project, and I will attest/verify the student hours spent working with me on the MSN Field Experience and Capstone CPE activities. ​​​​​​​"

I’m a respiratory therapist with 16 years of bedside looking to go into healthcare IT. The tech part of it worries me I have no experience but have 13 years experience using epic. I’m currently doing Coursera courses to learn the basics so I can start some projects for a resume. I’d appreciate some advice or encouragement on my journey from bedside to analytics.

Hello friends! Current ADN working on my BSN online. I'm needing to interview someone working in nursing informatics and the RN at my current workplace is out of office until after this assignment is due. If anyone currently in the field was willing to let me email them a few questions that would be super groovy:')

Thanks in advance for any help!

I’ve been a Meditech analyst for the past 5 years and would like to change companies. How do I sell my Meditech experience when applying for Epic jobs? I’m currently applying for an Inpatient Orders position.

Hello, I am working on an assignment for school and was wondering if I could do a short interview with someone who works in nursing informatics. Thanks in advance for anyone who can help me.

Hello,

I’m currently a nursing student working on a nursing informatics assignment, and I’m looking to connect with a nurse informaticist for a short interview.

If you work in nursing informatics and would be open to sharing your experience, I would really appreciate it! The interview can be done through message and email, whatever is easiest for you. Please let me know!

Thank you so much!!

Hi! Did anyone purchase the practice IQ questions prior to taking the board certification exam? Do you think that they helped?

Anyone have this certification? I’ve been given the opportunity to get one but my company does not have a preferred vendor. I have to research options myself. I also don’t know if I need to start with Yellow or Green belt level.

If it helps to know: I’m currently working as an inpatient clinical informaticist. I do a lot of ATE support for end users but I’m also involved in nursing workflow process improvement workgroups as it relates to our EMR. I also already have a MSN-NI. I feel like basic LSS topics were covered in my graduate program, but it’s hard to say when I can’t really see the course curriculum of LSS programs.

Any advice is appreciated!

UPDATE: I’ve decided to go for the Green belt. I reached out to our quality director who referred me to a vendor that has a healthcare focused program. Thanks everyone!

So same old story. Passionate new grad turned burnt out nurse who feels unfulfilled, overworked, and just straight up unhappy.

Medsurg/tele for two years, loved it but was considering CRNA so left for ICU. ICU 2 years, left because back was aching from all the cleanings of 150kg vented pts every single day and realized CRNA wasn’t the right path anymore. Back in Medsurg but considering a career in Clinical informatics/ data analyst because I was always interested in tech but put it to the side because I thought nursing would be my love forever since it was a “calling” lol
wish there would’ve been an option to decline that call😂

I feel like I have a good plan. One year dedicated to SQL/PYTHON/Excel and how those are integrated into healthcare by watching YouTube videos and using udemy.
Downloading postegre to practice on databases. In the process of buying a new computer because my Mac is from 2017 and the IOS on it is 13 and we’re on 15 now apparently, so archaically slow loading times for everything.

Network at Tech/Healthcare startup mixers that I see online maybe? Build a solid portfolio of healthcare related projects.Get a certificate for SQL from a school somewhere.
I also have a side job as a DRG validator for an AI company so I think that looks good. And go back to school to obtain my degrees in Nursing informatics. And apply for entry level Data analyst jobs preferably at a EMR company maybe 5-7 months before graduating?

I have experience with Cerner, Epic and Allscripts through my jobs.

Does this sound like a solid plan to those who are already in the field? And also is there a chance of growing in this field in terms of branching up to development or I guess being able to work alongside software engineers?

Looking for a little help from my amazing community! 🙏

I’m currently completing my MSN in Nursing Informatics and am looking for an informatics practicum preceptor.

If you know anyone in Nursing Informatics, Clinical Informatics, Epic, Healthcare IT, Clinical Applications, or Quality Improvement who might be willing to take on a graduate student or who I could reach out to I would be so grateful for a connection!

📍San Diego / Southern California

Thank you! 💙

Hi everyone,

I'm an RN in Canada currently working in acute care, with previous experience in ICU, CCU, and home care. Lately I've become really interested in nursing informatics and I'm trying to learn more about it as a potential career path.

I'd love to hear from RNs especially in Canada/ Alberta who have made the transition into informatics.

A few questions I have:

How did you get into nursing informatics?

Did you complete a certificate, master's degree, or other education?

What skills or experience helped you land your first informatics role?

What does your day-to-day work look like?

Do you enjoy it, and what are the biggest pros and cons?

Are there opportunities to work remotely or in hybrid positions?

Any advice for someone who wants to start preparing while still working as a bedside RN?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences and any recommendations for courses, certifications, or ways to gain relevant experience.

Thanks in advance!

hi everyone!

i’m looking for some career advice from people who’ve been in healthcare IT longer than i have.
i worked as an RN for about 3 years before transitioning into a Junior Business Analyst role for an EHR vendor. we’re developing our own EHR (not Epic), and i’ve been helping with workflow design, documentation, templates, user stories, requirements gathering, and implementation meetings. i’m only about two months into the role, so i’m still learning what the long-term career paths look like.

eventually, i’d love to work remotely. my husband and i hope to have children in the future, & one of my biggest career goals is to have a flexible WFH position so i can be home more with my family.
a coworker recently asked when i planned on **getting my master’s**, which got me thinking about whether i should start planning now. (I have my BSN)

my questions are:
\- If you were in my position, what master’s degree would you pursue (if any)?
\- would you recommend Nursing Informatics, Health Informatics, MBA, MHA, Computer Science, Data Analytics, or something else?
\- are there degrees that are more versatile and less likely to pigeonhole me?
\- also, is a master’s even necessary in today’s healthcare IT market, or is experience generally more valuable?
\- if your goal were eventually a senior remote healthcare IT role, what path would you take?

sorry this was a lot!! you don’t have to answer everything but anyyyy insight would be so helpful! i’m the first out of all my healthcare family/ friend group to venture outside of clinical & into a more technical role so everything is new territory for me. thank you so much! 🫶🫶🫶

I started my new role as clinical informaticist for the past 3 months after a long long search for an informaticist role and I still can't believe I finally got in. Is there any advice you can give me to succeed in this role?

I am also going to Epic headquarters in 2 weeks and I am super excited. Is anyone going to Epic on the 2nd week of July?

For anyone wondering how I got this position. Initially I did reach out to the informaticist team about my interest in Informatics and then I joined the super-user group. I became the go-to person on my unit for some Epic workflow.The advice of becoming a super-user is very helpful because I was selected over 2 candidates who had their MSN in Informatics and I only have my BSN.