The deficit of registered nurses in the US healthcare system is evident, but that deficit becomes even more apparent on taking a closer look. For example, just compare the number of experienced and specialized nurses such as an informatics nurse available today with the nationwide requirement for such personnel. The difference between the two figures is startling, which grants us another perspective into the nationwide nursing shortage.
A nurse informaticist, aka informatics nurse, is a registered nurse with both experience and education. However, the roles and responsibilities of a nurse informatician are quite unique even when compared to other specialist nurses. Let’s look at what those unique roles and responsibilities are exactly.
Bridging Gaps
Health informaticists are certainly part of the healthcare industry, but they are not qualified medical professionals. They are still highly skilled professionals who are responsible for collecting, organizing, and managing all records related to healthcare and insurance. A modern healthcare facility cannot function without a proficient EHR department to manage and update the numerous patient records.
In comparison, a registered nurse with a master’s degree in nursing informatics is simultaneously a qualified medical professional and a qualified EHR informaticist. What makes the qualification and the position unique is that it serves to bridge a longstanding gap between healthcare providers and healthcare managers. Experienced registered nurses with a master’s degree in electronic healthcare record management are well-paid, rare assets for their employers.
Managing Compliance
One of the major reasons why health informaticists are so important is because they both understand and stay updated with the latest HIPAA compliance standards. This, in turn, allows them to keep all medical records HIPAA compliant. However, their jobs are at times made more difficult than they need to be, because most medical personnel are not as proficient with the latest changes made in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). A registered nurse with a degree in nursing informatics can eliminate that problem and ensure better security compliance standards, even before the records are officially registered.
Streamlining Transitions
A healthcare clinic or hospital cannot afford to spend any more time on a process than it must. Unfortunately, a lot of time is indeed wasted quite frequently for numerous reasons, affecting the establishment’s overall performance. The time it takes for healthcare data to be transformed into healthcare records is one prime example.
Medical professionals such as doctors and nurses are generally not experts in electronic health record keeping, while EHR informaticians are usually not qualified medical professionals either. As mentioned previously, a nurse informaticist is both. Therefore, nurse informaticists can collect, organize, and format their own patient records, before submitting them to the EHR department. It speeds up the process immensely as no time is lost in transition.
Due to the difference between direct healthcare and healthcare data management, there is always a chance of errors being made in the transition. The chances are minimum, thanks largely to modern recordkeeping systems that are currently used by most places, but they are not absent. As someone with certified qualifications in both direct medical care and EHR management, an informatics nurse further mitigates any chances of erroneous electronic healthcare record keeping.
Informatics Nurses Should Take Advantage of Their
Unique Skill Set
You can leverage your skills and experience as an informatics nurse both inside
and outside the workplace.
Outside the workplace, take advantage of financial benefits you may qualify for,
such as state and local student loan forgiveness programs or nurse mortgage
loans that allow you to buy a home with a zero or low down payment. Learn
about physician mortgage loans for nurses at LeverageRx.
Inside the workplace, leverage your value and experience when seeking new
employment opportunities. When it’s time to negotiate a new employment
contract, you may be able to command a significantly higher salary, greater
benefits, or a bigger signing bonus. Every chance you can, take advantage of the