Health Informatics Specialists

What the job really is

Apply knowledge of nursing and informatics to assist in the design, development, and ongoing modification of computerized health care systems. May educate staff and assist in problem solving to promote the implementation of the health care system.

At a glance

• Sector: Computer & Mathematical
• O*NET-SOC code: 15-1211
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Translate nursing practice information between nurses and systems engineers, analysts, or designers, using object-oriented models or other techniques.
• Use informatics science to design or implement health information technology applications for resolution of clinical or health care administrative problems.
• Develop or implement policies or practices to ensure the privacy, confidentiality, or security of patient information.
• Analyze and interpret patient, nursing, or information systems data to improve nursing services.
• Identify, collect, record, or analyze data relevant to the nursing care of patients.
• Apply knowledge of computer science, information science, nursing, and informatics theory to nursing practice, education, administration, or research, in collaboration with other health informatics specialists.
• Develop, implement, or evaluate health information technology applications, tools, processes, or structures to assist nurses with data management.
• Design, develop, select, test, implement, and evaluate new or modified informatics solutions, data structures, and decision-support mechanisms to support patients, health care professionals, and their information management and human-computer and human-technology interactions within health care contexts.
• Disseminate information about nursing informatics science and practice to the profession, other health care professions, nursing students, and the public.
• Analyze computer and information technologies to determine applicability to nursing practice, education, administration, and research.
• Develop strategies, policies or procedures for introducing, evaluating, or modifying information technology applied to nursing practice, administration, education, or research.
• Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in informatics.

Tools and technology

Apache Hadoop, ESRI ArcGIS software, Epic Systems, IBM SPSS Statistics, JavaScript, MEDITECH software, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft PowerPoint

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars
• Medical and Health Services Managers
• Clinical Data Managers
• Health Education Specialists
• Nurse Practitioners
• Medical Records Specialists
• Patient Representatives
• Clinical Research Coordinators

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Health Informatics Specialists — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.