What Can You Really Do with a Nursing Informatics Degree?

Hospitals, outpatient care centers, and other healthcare facilities increasingly rely on data to operate efficiently and improve patient outcomes. Drawing on their clinical expertise and tech skills, nurse informaticists help healthcare providers meet ever-expanding technological needs.

“I think one of the areas that’s emerging for everyone is a better understanding of data and analytics and the ability to translate that information and insight into action, and workflow is probably one of the most critical skills that informaticists can bring to the table today,” said Brian Norris, MBA, RN, a nurse informaticist by training and senior vice president and managing director at MedeAnalytics, a healthcare data analytics firm.

A nursing informatics degree prepares nurses to track and analyze tremendous amounts of patient data, guiding clinical and administrative decision-making.

“[A good candidate is] anyone who has a willingness to develop a strong foundation in data science and statistical principles,” said Sarah Gunderson, MSHI, RN, NI-BC, a senior consultant of clinical consulting at Segal, a national consulting firm. “That’s essential, regardless of your ultimate goal and role. Without that foundation, it’s easy to miss the ‘why’ behind your system design and report insights.”

Keep reading to learn about nursing informatics jobs, salary data, and career advancement opportunities.

Nursing informatics careers offer above-average salaries and high demand. They also offer greater flexibility, with many roles offering remote work opportunities.

Nurse informaticists strengthen communication between providers and patients by facilitating the flow of data within systems. As a result, they help healthcare facilities maintain patient safety, leading to improved patient outcomes.

The growth of data analytics and artificial intelligence in healthcare continue to drive employment opportunities in nursing informatics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that nursing informatics jobs could increase by 11% between 2023 and 2033.

Nearly 80% of all nurse informaticists reported working remotely at least once a week, according to the 2022 Nurse Informatics Workforce Survey conducted by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).

Nursing informatics salaries are higher than those of an RN. The HIMSS survey reports that, in 2022, 60% of all nurse informaticists earned base salaries of over $100,000. The median RN salary reached $93,600 in May 2024, according to BLS data.

Nurses follow multiple educational pathways to prepare for a career in nursing informatics. The minimum requirement is an associate degree in nursing (ADN) and RN licensure. However, only 10% of nurse informaticists hold an ADN as their highest degree, according to the HIMSS survey. Most positions require at least a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN).

“Some programs involve more hands-on data science work while others focus on other areas like electronic health record (EHR) considerations,” Gunderson said. “I chose a non-nursing master’s program because of its strong multidisciplinary approach and its focus on business intelligence. There were many nurses in my program, and I obtained my board certification in nursing to help tie together the focuses. Make sure the program you choose prioritizes the areas in which you’d like to specialize.”

Earning a master of science in nursing (MSN) with a focus on informatics or a master’s in health informatics offers several advantages for a prospective nursing informaticist. According to the HIMSS survey, 40% of nurse informaticists hold a BSN, while 63% have a master’s degree. Although less than 10% of nurse informaticists hold a doctoral degree, this number is on the rise.

Professional certifications also help nursing informatics specialists demonstrate their expertise and increase their earning potential.

The growing healthcare technology field continues to expand career opportunities in nursing informatics. While most nurse informaticists work in hospitals or healthcare systems, a growing number work in clinics, long-term care facilities, research organizations, and educational institutions.

No matter your pathway, Norris advises finding mentors in the informatics field.

“There’s a lot of us that have been in this field for quite some time that are very excited to just talk to new nurses and help pay it forward, if you will,” Norris said. “Having good mentors, having good people in my corner helped me. I think a lot of us are willing to pay it forward.”

Nursing informatics is a specialized field with opportunities for career advancement. Common job titles include:

Clinical analysts work in hospitals and healthcare systems, optimizing workflow and overseeing compliance with laws and regulations. They capture, process, protect, and store information in clinical databases, ensuring all data is documented and reported. They also train healthcare providers on the software use and may manage, install, and upgrade patient-oriented computer equipment.

These professionals manage data and clinical information systems to improve the accuracy of patient data and boost care efficiency. They help design technological applications and systems that inform and support decision-making by patients and providers. Nursing informaticists also make upgrades and provide training to clinical staff on system use.

Clinical informatics directors and managers oversee healthcare systems and clinical data for healthcare facilities. They also design and maintain IT systems to improve the collection and management of data. They must keep up to date with the latest technological tools and software, customize software applications to fit their employers’ needs, and recommend upgrades.

CNIOs are senior executives who create and direct strategies for the use of technology, data, and information systems in medical organizations. They use IT and data to support quality management and clinical resource management in collaboration with other team members. They also oversee technological training for nurses.