The difference between health care and nursing informatics

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

As new technologies and innovations drive change in healthcare, informatics plays a role in helping to improve healthcare delivery, providing tools that can help enhance patient outcomes and address global health challenges.

Capella University offers several programs in health information management and nursing informatics. Faculty from the School of Business, Technology and Health Care Administration and School of Nursing and Health Sciences share their insights to help you better understand the differences within this field.

What is informatics in healthcare?

Health informatics refers to the integration and use of technology to enhance patient care, streamline processes and improve overall health outcomes.   

Pursuing a path in the field starts with understanding what your professional goals are, and how you want to develop and apply your skills.

Health informatics vs. nursing informatics

Health informatics covers a range of applications and possible roles within healthcare. It can include the intersection of computer science and IT with healthcare systems, electronic medical records, managing and interpreting data, coordinating the implementation of new hardware, training people to use these systems and much more.

In contrast, nursing informatics involves bridging the gap between technology and clinical practice to promote streamlined technology solutions to help improve patient safety and health outcomes. Nursing informatics may involve assessing hospital and patient needs and how those intersect with business and IT needs, interpreting patient data, handling electronic medical records and more – all with an emphasis on improving patient care.

What skills are needed for the field?

If you’re interested in exploring informatics in healthcare, some skills that can help you be effective in the field include:

• Computer skills: Professionals may have to navigate computer programs for interpreting and processing data.
• Critical thinking: Professionals in the field should know how to channel different requests that come their way.
• Problem solving: Understanding the different approaches that may be needed to solve a problem is an important skill.
• Communication: Professionals may have to communicate with a variety of stakeholders, including those who might not understand informatics. Learn more about developing good communication skills.
• Training skills: Professionals may have to guide end-users on how to adopt and use new technologies.

How do you choose a focus area?

The focus area you choose depends on the kind of work you’re interested in, whether it complements your current background, and what your eventual goals are in the field.

If you already have a nursing background and want to expand your skill set, earning an MSN in Nursing Informatics or RN-to-MSN in Nursing Informatics can help you develop the skills to provide nursing care with the aid of advanced healthcare technologies. You’ll explore how health information systems influence strategic planning, decision making and clinical project management.

For those who are more interested in focusing on healthcare administration, a BS in Health Care Administration, Health Information Management can help you learn how to integrate the business needs of healthcare organizations with the latest techniques for information management, including electronic records, statistical analysis and data security.

If you’re interested in security systems in the healthcare industry, you could look into an MS in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity, Health Care Security to help develop the knowledge and skills to investigate security breaches and create technical safeguards in healthcare environments.

Whatever focus of study you choose, your education can help guide you as you pursue your professional and personal goals.

Learn more about Capella programs in health information management, healthcare informatics and nursing informatics:

• BS in Health Care Administration, Health Information Management
• MS in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity, Health Care Security
• MSN, Nursing Informatics
• RN-to-MSN, Nursing Informatics

Blog contributors include Ben Spedding, DHA, academic director of the Master of Health Administration program, School of Business, Technology and Health Care Administration; Nicole Aclin, DNP, RN, CNE, academic director of the Master of Science in Nursing program, School of Nursing and Health Sciences; Adriane Stasurak, DNP, ANP-BC, associate professor, School of Nursing and Health Sciences; and Pascal Wright, DNP, RN, NI-BC, adjunct faculty, School of Nursing and Health Sciences.