What does an informatics nurse specialist do?
Informatics nurse specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real informatics nurse specialist resumes:
- Train patients to self-infuse medications and manage chronic disorders.
- Assist with designing, managing, building and coordinating information processing for Cerner implementation.
- Work with CMIO to provide results and opportunities for improvement to disseminate to providers.
- Develop scope documents for CPOE requirements/specifications for physician order sets.
- Case management involvement includes participation in cardiovascular work team in coordination of care for both cardiology and cardiovascular surgery populations.
- Pet examination, vaccination preparation and administration, triage, compounding medications, surgical assisting, radiography, animal restraint.
- Pet examination, vaccination preparation and administration, triage, compounding medications, surgical assisting, radiography, animal restraint.
Informatics nurse specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 25% of Informatics Nurse Specialists are proficient in Patient Care, Patients, and Epic. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Creativity, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Informatics Nurse Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patient Care, 25%
Collaborated with outside consultants, vendors, physicians, and ancillary leadership in work flow changes impacting patient care units.
- Patients, 24%
Provided STD testing to patients, collected labs, administered medication, and provided counseling to patients after test results.
- Epic, 8%
Create training programs for upcoming Epic system conversion.
- Acute Care, 6%
Reviewed and certified prospective and concurrent services / needs for Acute Care, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Home Care and Hospice.
- Project Management, 6%
Project management of enterprise wide and facility based quarterly projects and initiatives to both facilities.
- Clinical Applications, 4%
Subject Matter Expert for McKesson Clinical applications: HEO, Care Organizer, AdminRx, HED, and Portal.
Most informatics nurse specialists use their skills in "patient care," "patients," and "epic" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential informatics nurse specialist responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for an informatics nurse specialist to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what informatics nurse specialists do because "analysts must interpret complex information from various sources and decide the best way to move forward on a project." Additionally, an informatics nurse specialist resume shows how informatics nurse specialists use analytical skills: "provide proper education input pertinent data into computer systems conduct periodical audits"
Creativity. Another essential skill to perform informatics nurse specialist duties is creativity. Informatics nurse specialists responsibilities require that "because analysts are tasked with finding innovative solutions to computer problems, an ability to “think outside the box” is important." Informatics nurse specialists also use creativity in their role according to a real resume snippet: "inventoried and monitored patients and all dme/office-care accounts. "
Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of informatics nurse specialists is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday informatics nurse specialist duties, as "analysts work as a go-between with management and the it department and must explain complex issues in a way that both will understand." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "assisted with office procedures, provided patient education, phone triage and communication between patients and their physicians. "
The three companies that hire the most informatics nurse specialists are:
- Centene6 informatics nurse specialists jobs
- Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute3 informatics nurse specialists jobs
- Froedtert Hospital3 informatics nurse specialists jobs
Compare different informatics nurse specialists
Informatics nurse specialist vs. Epic consultant
An Epic consultant is responsible for maintaining the organization's database with Epic applications, ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of network systems to support business functions and operations. Epic consultants are usually on the technical side, strategizing solutions to maintain the stability of the database for business needs. They also run diagnostic tests with Epic applications and resolve inconsistencies and process gaps. An epic consultant should have excellent technical and organizational skills, especially in managing records and files in the company's network system.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an informatics nurse specialist are more likely to require skills like "epic," "acute care," "project management," and "ehr." On the other hand, a job as an epic consultant requires skills like "cadence," "workflow issues," "front desk," and "in-basket." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
The education levels that epic consultants earn slightly differ from informatics nurse specialists. In particular, epic consultants are 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an informatics nurse specialist. Additionally, they're 1.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Informatics nurse specialist vs. Nurse
Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real informatics nurse specialist resumes. While informatics nurse specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "epic," "project management," "ehr," and "clinical applications," nurses use skills like "cpr," "bls," "quality care," and "discharge planning."
Nurses may earn a lower salary than informatics nurse specialists, but nurses earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $63,263. On the other hand, informatics nurse specialists receive higher pay in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $126,369.nurses earn lower levels of education than informatics nurse specialists in general. They're 8.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for informatics nurse specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Amy Bruce
Chair, Program Director, University of Charleston
Informatics nurse specialist vs. Applications coordinator
An applications coordinator acts as the contact person for all concerns regarding an application or software. The applications coordinator connects customers to corresponding departments in a company according to their needs, inquiries, and problems. The applications coordinator has a solid knowledge of the software and application and knows how to guide customers, resolve small issues, and troubleshoot minor problems. The applications coordinator is a vital position for a company that offers application-based service, software, and the likes.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from informatics nurse specialist resumes include skills like "epic," "acute care," "clinical applications," and "clinical documentation," whereas an applications coordinator is more likely to list skills in "data collection," "customer service," "troubleshoot," and "system design. "
Applications coordinators earn the highest salary when working in the health care industry, where they receive an average salary of $60,435. Comparatively, informatics nurse specialists have the highest earning potential in the education industry, with an average salary of $126,369.applications coordinators typically earn similar educational levels compared to informatics nurse specialists. Specifically, they're 3.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Informatics nurse specialist vs. Director of informatics
A director of informatics spearheads and oversees an organization's information systems, ensuring they function efficiently and accurately. They lead the development and implementation of informatics plans and technologies, conduct reviews and assessments to ensure operations adhere to the highest standards, coordinate managers and teams, and participate in the recruitment processes. They also have the authority to set goals and protocols, negotiate contracts, and implement the company's policies and regulations, developing new ones as necessary. Moreover, a director of informatics takes part in performing research and analyses, providing technical support and guidance to staff, and solving issues and concerns.
Types of informatics nurse specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
