Health Informatics Specialists
People classed as Health Informatics Specialists apply knowledge of nursing and informatics to assist in the design, development, and ongoing modification of computerized health care systems. The skills rated most useful are reading comprehension, complex problem solving, and writing. One core duty is to translate nursing practice information between nurses and systems engineers, analysts, or designers, using object-oriented models or other techniques. On the six-type interest model it reads ICS, meaning research, analysis and working through hard problems comes first, followed by orderly work with data, records and clear procedures. Getting in usually takes graduate school and often five years or more of related experience, a level O*NET calls extensive preparation. People who want research, analysis and working through hard problems usually fit better here than those who need creative work with room for original expression.
What they do
Apply knowledge of nursing and informatics to assist in the design, development, and ongoing modification of computerized health care systems. May educate staff and assist in problem solving to promote the implementation of the health care system.
Main tasks
- Translate nursing practice information between nurses and systems engineers, analysts, or designers, using object-oriented models or other techniques.
- Use informatics science to design or implement health information technology applications for resolution of clinical or health care administrative problems.
- Develop or implement policies or practices to ensure the privacy, confidentiality, or security of patient information.
- Analyze and interpret patient, nursing, or information systems data to improve nursing services.
- Identify, collect, record, or analyze data relevant to the nursing care of patients.
- Apply knowledge of computer science, information science, nursing, and informatics theory to nursing practice, education, administration, or research, in collaboration with other health informatics specialists.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Complex Problem Solving
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
- You like clear rules and getting the details right.
- You are prepared for graduate-level study and a long training path.
- You are comfortable relying on reading comprehension and complex problem solving.
May not suit you if
- You lose interest when a job asks for long stretches of analysis.
- You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 2.0 out of 7 here.
- You want to be working in the field within the next few years.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ICS takes the three highest, and Investigative comes first here.
Preparation
Extensive preparation. Many jobs here need graduate study, and people often spend five years or more building specialist experience.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Master's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Clinical Electronic Health Record Nurse (Clinical EHR Nurse)
- Clinical Informaticist
- Clinical Informatics Analyst
- Clinical Informatics Nurse
- Clinical Informatics Specialist
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.