There are a number of nurses who think the MSN is where you have to start if you want to get into Nursing Informatics (years ago I was one of them). Unfortunately these programs do not focus on preparing nurses for the job market, and new graduates can struggle to break into the field. Despite billions of dollars pouring into the health technology industry, these nurses just cannot seem to land their first Nursing Informatics job.

Many nurses in this situation start to wonder if going into Nursing Informatics was a mistake, and if their master’s degree was a big waste of time and money. If that is where you find yourself, this post is for you.

Why Nursing Informatics is a great field to be in

First of all, rest assured you picked a good field to be in. Globally, the digital health market is worth $350 billion according to consulting firm McKinsey, and it is expected to grow at least 8% every year. Money from venture capital is pouring into health technology startups, and large technology companies like Amazon are entering the virtual health space.

With all of that investment and interest in this field, there is a ton of opportunity. So, why can finding a job be so challenging for Nursing Informatics graduates?

In my experience, there is a real gap between what is taught in Nursing Informatics programs, and on-the-job reality. While the programs do a great job of introducing students to Nursing Informatics concepts, actually applying these concepts varies by student. Some nurses get actual project experience, while others just do some shadowing in an Information Technology department without getting hands-on. There is little training in how to stand out as a job applicant and what employers are looking for.

In fact, few Nursing Informatics programs prepare graduates for the reality that they will likely work for a business or technology person, not a nurse. That means the hiring manager may or may not know what the MSN in Nursing Informatics prepares graduates to do.

The truth about what is required to get into Nursing Informatics

Nurses who have already invested in the MSN really dislike hearing this, but the truth is that there is really very little in terms of educational preparation required to get into Nursing Informatics. You do not need the MSN, certification, or even the BSN.

In this field experience beats education almost every time. Nursing Informatics is different from clinical specialties because it is aligned to the technology industry. Most of the folks hiring Informatics Nurses are business or technology people, not clinical. When hiring, they prioritize skills and experience, not degrees.

You will also find different levels of education among technical members of the team. Software programmers, testers, and even leaders up to Senior Vice President are not required to have specific degrees. Experience is what counts most.

Where the MSN in Nursing Informatics fits into career plans

There is still a place for the MSN in Nursing Informatics. If you plan to climb the career ladder into roles like Director or Vice President, you will start running into more people with graduate degrees. There are good reasons to climb that ladder, salary being a major one. Some big salaries in my area that typically require a master’s degree:

• Director of Clinical Informatics: $140,954 (source: Ziprecruiter)
• VP of Clinical Informatics: $240,000-$270,000 (source: Glassdoor)

You may also want to get the MSN simply to further your education and broaden your horizons. You certainly have nothing to lose if your employer is paying for the degree (that was my situation), and the classes are beginner friendly. Some people prefer structured instruction instead of on-the-job learning, and the MSN certainly offers that.

The main thing that is important to understand is that the MSN is a career booster, not a prerequisite for entering the field. It also does not guarantee employment, which is where a lot of nurses who already got the MSN are disappointed. So, how do you get into this field if that is your situation?

How to break into Nursing Informatics after getting the MSN

If you already have the MSN and are having trouble getting a job, there are some things you can do.

Tip 1: Find a mentor

A mentor is someone who can help you navigate career decisions, and potentially open doors for you. This can be someone outside of your organization, but it may actually be easier to find someone where you already work. For one thing, your organization may have a formal mentorship program – ask your Human Resources department if they do. Programs like these will pair you with a leader who compliments your interests. Secondly, a mentor within your organization has a vested interest in helping you to find your next role at the company.

Do not limit yourself to mentors who are nurses, or even clinical for that matter. Nursing Informatics sits at the intersection of healthcare, business, and technology. Your mentor could be a leader in Information Technology, Quality Improvement, Population Health, Analytics and Reporting, or any other areas Informatics touches.

When you identify a potential mentor, reach out and ask if you could meet with them for coffee (in person or virtual) to pick their brain about their role and area of work. Use that time to both listen and discuss your career interests. Then ask if they would be willing to mentor you as you are trying to find your footing in this new field. If they agree, set up a regular cadence for connecting. If they do not agree to mentor you, ask if they have anyone they would recommend instead.

Tip 2: Get real world project experience

Hopefully you used your program practicums wisely and got hands-on project experience. If you did, feel free to skip to Tip 3. But if you mostly sat in on meetings without actually doing any work on a project (and be honest with yourself about this), then you need to get your hands dirty with a real project.

Talk with your supervisor about projects in your area you can take on. Take the lead and set up project planning meetings. Build the project plan (or scrum team board), assemble the project team, and get started. Track progress, keep your supervisor (or project stakeholders) looped in on progress, and ask for help with anything impeding progress.

Or, ask your supervisor and others at your organization if there are any technology, data, or process improvement projects you can be part of. Get on a team as a subject matter expert for your area. Take the responsibility seriously, and organize your department’s business requirements. Offer to help out with testing and training, and let the project leaders know you would love to be leveraged for more than just your assigned role. Your goal is to be the most useful person on the project team, and to learn as much as you possibly can.

Tip 3: Revise your resume and LinkedIn page to reflect your relevant Informatics experience (not just your degree)

A lot of nurses finish the MSN in Nursing Informatics and only update their resume enough to show they got another degree. They do not go back through their resume to make sure relevant project experience shows up.

Just like no one wants to hire nurses with no clinical experience, no one wants to hire Informatics Nurses with no Informatics experience. You got your hands dirty with a real project for a reason, make sure your resume reflects it.

While you are updating your resume, do not forget about your LinkedIn page (you do have one right?). In the technology industry, LinkedIn is not optional – it is how recruiters find applicants and how hiring managers vet candidates to make sure they are qualified. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is complete, has a professional-looking picture, and represents your relevant Informatics experience.

Tip 4: Leverage your network (or build one to begin with)

Hopefully you used your time wisely while working on projects to make friends and build a network in this space. Well, it is time to leverage them. Look at the folks you know and identify who is doing the type of work you would like to do. Set up informational interviews with them to find out more about what their typical day is like (this also puts you on their radar if new positions open).

If you did not build much of a network while getting your MSN, it is time to start building one. Ask your mentor from Tip 1 who else you should meet. Make friends with the people on the project team from Tip 2. Reach out to your classmates from your MSN program and set up regular reunions (in person or virtual). As with the majority of careers out there, Nursing Informatics is about who you know. You will most likely get your next role through a contact.

While we are on this tip, just a reminder to avoid burning bridges in this industry. Health technology is a smaller world than many realize, and people stay connected for years (I am still friends with people from my very first Informatics project over a decade ago).

Key Takeaways:

If you are new to the field of Nursing Informatics and started by getting your MSN, landing your first job can be a frustrating process. Hiring managers prioritize experience over education, and few MSN programs prepare nurses for finding jobs when they graduate.

However, there are things nurses in this situation can do to get into that first Nursing Informatics job. It is still an excellent field to be in, and the master’s degree is something you can use further on to climb the career ladder.

Feel like there is more you want to learn about Nursing Informatics than what your master’s program taught you? Check out From Bedside Nurse to Informatics Nurse: A How-To Guide in our online store, or by clicking here!