Alternative Nursing Careers: Information Technology

Alternative Nursing Careers

I bet you are wondering how someone like yourself could possibly be qualified to work in information technology. After all, you pass meds, suction trachs and change diapers for a living…but is that all you do? If you stood back and took a good look at how often you use a computer in your daily life, you’d be amazed. Your amazement only demonstrates that computer use is second nature. Now combine that with your clinical knowledge and you are worth your weight in gold.

Companies that produce computer software for healthcare are able to do so by either consulting with those that work in the industry or hiring those that have healthcare related experience or education. Someone who consulted with or was advised by a nurse or doctor familiar with clinical system needs and requirements designed all the software you use at work. Trust me, they don’t just guess what hospitals need to run smoothly and hope for the best. They hire the best to help them decide that and that’s where you come in.

Just like the many job titles or specialties that exist in nursing, there are many job titles in information technology. This is what can make a job search in this field a little daunting. To give you some ideas, here’s an example of a few job titles that nurses are usually hired for:

• Software Product Analyst
• Informatics Nurse Specialist
• Health Information System Trainer
• Implementation Specialist
• Clinical Information Specialist

One of the most interesting and informative ways to find jobs for nurses in information technology is to search in Monster.com. When you enter the site, click on Advanced Search. In Keywords type in Nurse and in Job Category click on Computer Services, Computer Software and Computer Hardware then hit Find Jobs. Don’t bother choosing a location yet..this is just to show you what’s out there. Now go back and instead of entering nurse, enter RN. Wait till you see the results!

Now you are wondering what kind of education and experience is needed for these jobs, right? Take a look at your Monster results and you’ll see you are more than qualified for quite a few. With the exception of Informatics, which usually requires an advanced degree, most employers hire nurses without formal IT education or certification and provide on the job training. What these companies need is your clinical expertise, not a degree in computer engineering. Below is a list of resources to help you understand the many facets of this field and remember that there is a career for any nurse in this industry no matter what your level of education or experience.


Resources

Associations:

• The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
www.himss.org

• American Nursing Informatics Association
www.ania.org

• National Association of Health Data Organizations
www.nahdo.org

Education:

• Duke Nursing Informatics
http://onlineinformatics.com/

• Professional Development through HIMSS
http://www.himss.org/ASP/educationHome.asp

• Health IT Certification
www.healthitcertification.com

• All Nursing Schools: Informatics
http://www.allnursingschools.com/featured/nursing-informatics/

Who’s Hiring?

There are hundreds of companies out there. A good example is to find out what company makes the software for your hospital or clinic. Since you use the product every day, you are already an expert. Here is a site that lists companies that provide software for hospitals and clinics:

• Healthcare IT Yellow Pages: Clinical Information System Directory & Healthcare Information Technology Companies
http://www.health-infosys-dir.com/yphccis.asp
http://www.health-infosys-dir.com/yphcxref.asp

• Monster
www.monster.com

• Any and all hospitals with an Informatics Department

Further Information:

• Wetfeet Insider’s Guide to Information Technology
www.wetfeet.com

• Riley Guide Computing and Technology Links
www.rileyguide.com/comp.html

Leave Bedside Nursing: Three Steps to Get You Started

Alternative Nursing Careers


For whatever reason you need to leave traditional nursing, understand that you’re in a unique situation because you’re not changing careers per se. You are expanding on the one you have with little or no information out there to guide you. Nurses who have left the profession, whether it was to do something completely different or to go into careers were nursing was an asset, have not shared their experiences with other nurses in order to offer some advice. At least I have yet to find any. But, all is not lost….there is some interesting info out there. Below is a short and sweet description of three vital steps to get you started on your new career.
First off you must accept the fact that you deserve to have a happy and fulfilling life. You are only limited by your thoughts so get your thinking straightened out a bit. You deserve to feel good about yourself and your work. You deserve to come home feeling like you accomplished something. You should never dread or fear going to work. You should never feel invisible, ignored, patronized, bullied, walked on, threatened, exhausted, frustrated, panicked, starvation and/or a bursting bladder because there is no way you could eat or pee. Here’s a list of books and other sources to clear your head and get you in a good frame of mind:

• Book: Self Esteem: A Proven Program of Cognitive Techniques for Assessing, Improving, and Maintaining Your Self-Esteem by Matthew McKay, Patrick Fanning
• Book: How to Succeed at Being Yourself: Finding the Confidence to Fulfill Your Destiny by Joyce Meyer
• A Good Article by Michael Lee http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=604693
• Book or DVD: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
• Podcasts. Amazing freebies from experts all over the world. Do a search on iTunes or Yahoo on any subject. You don’t need an MP3 player. Just click on the podcast and it will play through your computer. Here’s a good one as an example: Morgan the Empowermentor

Next step is to figure out what you might be interested in. Easy right? Actually, if you take this important step bite by bite…which is how you eat an elephant… you will find your answer. Here are just a few of the questions you need to ask yourself and you will not find the answers in “How to Change Your Career” books:
• What kind of lifestyle do you want?
• Where do you want to live?
• Who do you want to be friends with?
• Do you want to work from home, out of a suitcase, in a small office or big conglomerate?
• How much money would you like to make?
• How much time do you want to spend at work?
There is an amazing amount of options out there for you. Start reading, talking to people in these jobs and maybe even shadow a few. It will give you a clear idea of what your life could be like. Here are a few resources to get you started:

• Article: Spreading Your Wings: Career Alternatives for Nurses by Donna Cardillo RN, BS www.dcardillo.com/articles/spreading.html
• Article: Hot Jobs, Emerging Careers by Sally Parker www.minoritynurse.com/features/nurse_emp/02-12-04a.html
• Book: 101 Careers in Nursing by Jeanne M., Ph.D. Novotny, Doris T. Lippman, Nicole K. Sanders, Joyce J. Fitzpatrick
• Web site: Quintessential Careers Resources http://www.quintcareers.com/career_exploration.html
• Book: Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type by Paul D. Tieger, Barbara Barron
• Book: The Career Adventure: Your Guide to Personal Assessment, Career Exploration, and Decision Making by Susan M. Johnston


Nurses generally have it pretty easy when it comes to the job hunt. Jobs come to us; we don’t usually have to lift a finger. Besides multiple full color full page spreads in Sunday papers, there’s billboard adverts, radio and TV commercials, mailings, job fairs, generous sign on bonuses, paid relocation expenses and the list goes on. For all my years in nursing, I’ve never had a real interview, had to produce a resume or really make much of an effort to get a job except show that I have a current untarnished nursing license and a pulse. Our non-nursing friends however, have had it a little different and have had lots of practice selling themselves. Now it’s your turn and because you have a high self-esteem and know what you want to do, this step will be just filling in the blanks…right?
Start off by polishing your image. Let’s face it; we wear pajamas to work. Scrubs are great, they are comfy, cheap, don’t need to be ironed or dry cleaned but you wouldn’t wear them to a job interview. Invest in some business attire and treat yourself to a new hair cut. You deserve it anyway. If you’ve got the cash, call on an image consultant. They can help you find a look that not only suits you but also comfortable and easy to live with.
Write a winning resume and cover letter…piece of cake. There are thousands of books, articles and businesses out there specifically aimed at creating the perfect resume. It is what your future employer will see first and what will be the impression you leave on them. Since most nurses never had to create such a monster, it is all new ground. Remember; don’t cheat yourself by copying a template. You are unique and have plenty to offer. Use templates as a guide only.
Go on a few interviews. Start off with jobs you’re not that interested in and/or don’t qualify for. Interviews are great practice. You will learn this art of selling and communication only by practice. If you develop a good relationship with the interviewer despite not getting the job, ask what you could do to improve your image. What can it hurt? Here are a few sources to lend you a hand:

• Book: Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer by Susan Britton Whitcomb
• Book: Cover Letter Magic: Trade Secrets of Professional Resume Writers by Wendy S. Enelow and Louise Kursmark
• Book: Resumes For Dummies (Resumes for Dummies) by Joyce Lain Kennedy
• Web site: How to write a resume and cover letter by JobStar Central http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/index.php
• Web site: Resume help by Resume Resource
http://www.resume-resource.com/
• Association: Association of Image Consultants International www.aici.org
• Web site: Job interview advice www.jobinterviewquestions.org/
• Book: Competency-Based Interviews: Master the Tough New Interview Style And Give Them the Answers That Will Win You the Job by Robin Kessler