Getting started in nursing informatics: what to know

By: The Capella University Editorial Team with Jen Carroll, EdD, MSN, RN, TCRN, NI-BC 

Reading Time: 9 minutes 

Every shift, nurses are surrounded by an extraordinary amount of data, including vital signs, medications, progress notes, lab results and more. Turning that information into insight can change how nurses work, communicate and lead. 

Nursing informatics blends nursing expertise with information science to help healthcare professionals use data more effectively. It can help teams improve workflows, communication and decision-making across care teams. 

For nurses ready to expand their impact, nursing informatics offers a way to bridge clinical experience with technology and leadership. It’s an area of opportunity for those who want to shape how healthcare operates and evolve their own career in the process. 

Learn what nursing informatics is, why it’s becoming so essential in modern healthcare and how nurses are using it to help lead meaningful change in their organizations. 

What is informatics in nursing?

Nursing informatics is a specialized field that combines nursing science, computer science and information technology to analyze data and find the best solutions to increase efficiency and improve patient care quality. 

The American Nurses Association defines nursing informatics as “the specialty that integrates nursing science with multiple information and analytical sciences … to identify, define, manage and communicate data, information, knowledge and wisdom in nursing practice.” 

Jen Carroll, EdD, MSN, RN, TCRN, NI-BC, a healthcare leader with over 30 years of experience and an assistant professor at the Capella School of Nursing and Health Sciences, elaborates on that definition. 

“A lot of people hear nursing informatics and think technology, and while it does involve technology, it’s also about the coordination of accessing data, integrating teams and formatting projects to drive outcomes based on that data.” 

What does a nurse informaticist do? 

A nurse informaticist (or informatics nurse specialist) is a registered nurse (RN) with advanced education who acts as a bridge between healthcare teams and information technology experts. 

A nursing informaticist’s key responsibilities may include: 

• Designing and implementing health information systems, such as electronic health records (EHRs), computerized provider order entry (CPOE) and clinical decision support systems (CDSS). 

• Analyzing clinical workflows to identify problems and recommend technology-based solutions. 

• Training and supporting nurses and other healthcare staff in using digital tools and documentation systems effectively. 

• Collaborating with administrators, IT staff and clinicians to ensure that digital systems match clinical needs. 

• Evaluating technology performance and suggesting improvements for usability and compliance. 

• Ensuring data integrity and security by developing and enforcing policies that protect patient information. 

• Staying up to date on new developments in how data is leveraged, changes to the Affordable Care Act and health insurance, the ways telehealth metrics are tracked and other changes that could impact organizational efficiency. 

These responsibilities allow nurse informaticists to connect people, processes and technology in ways that make everyday care safer and more coordinated. Next, let’s look at why this professional path has become such a vital part of modern nursing and the healthcare system overall. 

Ready to take the next step? Explore the MSN in Nursing Informatics program.

Why nursing informatics is so important 

Nurses need to understand how new systems work, and nurse informaticists play a key role in helping teams learn to use these tools effectively. 

As Dr. Carroll summarizes, “The infusion of technology and the need to leverage data in daily nursing practice is going to be their reality. So a nurse informaticist is really going to be the person who helps coordinate that and educates other nurses on the best ways to use these tools and handle data in these systems.” 

How nursing informatics benefits healthcare organizations 

Beyond training nurses on new systems and software, nursing informatics helps improve processes across entire healthcare organizations. 

• Better patient care quality and safety: Supports evidence-based decision-making by providing access to accurate, real-time patient data. Automated alerts and reminders combined with data-driven insights may also help reduce medication errors and improve patient safety. 

• Improved communication and collaboration: Streamlines information sharing between nurses, physicians and other health care professionals.These systems also make it easier for nurses across generations and specialties to work together.  

• Streamlined nursing workflows: Reduces documentation burden and administrative tasks through automation and digital workflows. Automating these tasks allows nurses to spend more time on patient care and other high-value tasks. 

• Better support for evidence-based practice: Provides access to current research, clinical guidelines and patient outcome data, helping nurses identify trends and make informed clinical decisions. 

• Strengthened data security and compliance: Safeguards patient privacy and ensures adherence to regulations like HIPAA through secure data management and monitoring. 

• Improved cost efficiency and growth: Minimizes redundant tests and hospital stays, reduces administrative costs and supports sustainable growth for healthcare organizations. 

These benefits demonstrate how nursing informatics can make a difference on a larger scale. Now, let’s explore what makes it a rewarding next step for you. 

How nursing informatics can shape your career 

For those interested in expanding their nursing skill set, nursing informatics offers the unique opportunity to combine clinical expertise with advanced technology. With the right skills, informatics nurses can shape how health care is delivered in the digital age.  

Dr. Carroll explains how someone might be drawn to the nursing informatics field over other specializations. “It’s not just about the technologies themselves. It really comes down to what you do with the information that’s collected by technologies and how you use that information and data to help drive meaningful improvements.” 

Those improvements could relate to patient care, healthcare education, operational efficiency, regulatory issues, health record documentation and more. 

Choosing a nursing informatics specialization in your master’s program allows you to help make a meaningful impact beyond bedside care. You can help influence policy and contribute to the design of systems that empower patients and providers. 

This specialization also may open doors to leadership and advanced practice opportunities. Informatics nurses often take part in organizational decision-making, training and project management, preparing them for leadership roles in the future. 

Nursing informatics career paths 

From hospitals and public health organizations to research institutions and technology companies, informatics professionals often play key roles in system design, implementation, education and strategic planning. 

Job titles to explore in the field of nursing informatics include: 

• Informatics nurse: An informatics nurse works directly with healthcare teams to integrate and optimize digital systems like EHRs. They analyze workflows, provide technical support and ensure that data is used effectively to improve patient care. 

• Clinical informatics educator: A clinical informatics educator trains nurses and other healthcare staff to use informatics tools. They develop training materials and conduct workshops to promote best practices for digital documentation and data management. This role focuses on education, mentorship and ongoing system improvement. 

• Nursing informatics consultant: Informatics consultants work independently but collaborate with healthcare organizations to evaluate and implement informatics systems. They provide expert guidance on system upgrades, workflow design and compliance with healthcare regulations. 

• Clinical informatics manager: A clinical informatics manager oversees a team of clinical analysts and coordinates technology initiatives across departments. They supervise system implementations and ensure alignment with clinical goals. 

• Director of Informatics: The director of informatics leads an organization’s entire informatics strategy. They shape policies and collaborate with executives to advance digital transformation. This high-level position gives you the opportunity to influence healthcare innovation on a large scale. 

Nursing informatics roles can be performed in a wide variety of healthcare and technology settings. You could work in hospitals or clinics to directly train staff and oversee EHR implementation, you can become a teacher at educational institutions or you can collaborate with IT teams to design and refine healthcare software and systems. 

Employment settings to explore: 

• Administration of public health programs 

• Administration of veterans’ affairs 

• Colleges, universities and professional schools 

• Computer systems design services 

• Direct health and medical insurance carriers 

• General medical and surgical hospitals 

• Insurance agencies and brokerages 

• Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) 

• Offices of physicians (except mental health specialists) 

• Software publishers 

These are examples intended to serve as a general guide. Some positions may prefer or even require previous experience, licensure, certifications and/or other designations along with a degree. Because many factors determine what position an individual may attain, Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific job title, a promotion, salary increase or other career outcome. We encourage you to research requirements for your job target and career goals. 

How to pursue a nurse informatics profession  

To embark on a career in nursing informatics, you’ll need advanced education that combines clinical expertise with data management and technology skills. Most professionals in this field start by gaining nursing experience, then pursue a graduate degree focused on informatics. 

1. Earn your nursing degree and gain clinical experience 

Begin by earning a nursing degree and obtaining your RN license. Clinical experience is essential, as it helps you understand how technology and data impact patient care in real-world settings. 

Capella University’s RN-to-BSN program is designed for registered nurses with an associate degree or nursing diploma who want to earn their bachelor’s and pursue career opportunities. 

2. Pursue a master’s degree in nursing informatics 

Earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with a Nursing Informatics specialization is an effective way for RNs with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to prepare for this role. Capella University offers this program entirely online. 

If you’re an RN without a bachelor’s degree, you can streamline your path to a master’s degree in informatics with Capella’s RN-to-MSN Nursing Informatics program. This option allows you to earn your master's efficiently while developing the specialized informatics and leadership skills needed in modern healthcare. 

3. Build skills that bridge technology and care delivery 

Through coursework and practical applications, you’ll learn to develop data-driven strategies, recommend technology solutions that improve patient care and lead digital transformation within healthcare teams. 

Start your journey toward nursing informatics with Capella 

Nursing informatics has changed how the healthcare system works and how patients receive care. As a nurse informaticist, you can make a real impact on the experiences of nurses, doctors, staff and patients. 

Capella University’s CCNE-accredited MSN in Nursing Informatics and RN-to-MSN in Nursing Informatics programs are designed for working nurses who want to build advanced technical and leadership skills. Courses are taught by scholar-practitioner faculty – experienced nurse educators and informatics professionals who bring real-world expertise into every course. 

With Capella, you can choose the learning format that fits your life. FlexPath lets you set your own deadlines and move through material at your own pace, while GuidedPath provides a structured format with weekly milestones. For both learning formats, you’ll have access to support when you want it.  

Take the next step toward your career goals. Explore Capella’s online nursing informatics programs and see how flexible learning can help you move forward. 

Ready to move forward? Explore Capella’s online nursing informatics programs.

FAQs 

What does a nurse in informatics do? 

A nurse in informatics uses data, technology and clinical knowledge to improve patient care, implement and manage electronic health records and other digital tools and improve the efficiency of healthcare systems. 

Is nursing informatics only for RNs? 

Yes. You must be an RN to become an informatics nurse. Some organizations also prefer nurses with a BSN or MSN. 

Can RNs get into informatics? 

RNs can transition into informatics by earning advanced degrees, such as an MSN in Nursing Informatics, to expand their expertise and gain experience with healthcare technology.