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What are some tips you have for studying healthcare informatics that helped you in your post college role?
Hi, I am about to start my masters program in healthcare informatics this Fall. I plan on focusing on everything of course but are there any special things to keep on my radar in order to be successful in my future job? Thank you
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Orchid !
Congratulations on approaching your Masters Program for Healthcare Informatics ! That is fabulous and should be an exciting path !
First, you should read and become familiar with the particular Masters program at the college you have chosen. The college catalog will mention all of the details so that you can be prepared to know what the program is like. As you proceed with your studies for this, you are going to come to some decisions about what exact career you may want to aim for once you graduate with your Masters. My advice is take it a day at a time and let things flow naturally.
While in the Masters Program, most students for this degree study and sharpen their technical skills including programming, data analysis, and computer systems. You will also become familiar with health care systems, public health and medical terminology. Also healthcare management, policy and analytics. Everything will be equally important and needed for your future career.
You don't have to think about this right now, however, do not forget to ask your professor about internships or field work that the college may set up for students because you will need experience before applying for career jobs. I would suggest that you attend any conferences, on-site trainings, expos, community health fairs, Job Fairs, symposiums and consortiums that may occur in the area where you live or even out of town. This will be a good way to network, get to know the main people at various industry venues and pick up some extra information. But for right now, I would just not think about the future, it will come soon enough and it's difficult to say which doors will open for you and for what reason. As long as you do well and can apply what you learn, you will be ready when you obtain your Masters Degree.
I think it would be fine for now to find out about the events outside of school that you can network at. I left the link to your Department of Health below so that you can read their site as well as visit them to find out about specialized trainings in various health subjects and register for events that they may sponsor. You may already be doing this, but I would suggest continuing this. Anticipate nothing and just go with the flow. These events may inspire a topic for your Masters Thesis. You may even have an opportunity to give presentations which will be important to hone your leadership skills which are needed for healthcare informatics careers.
For health fairs, contact the Health Care District of Palm Beach County at the link below. I always suggest visiting places in person so that one can see the office, get immediate response and discover things that may not be on the website. Also visit your local hospitals and nursing homes and ask about any trainings that may be open to students. You can ask about volunteer projects so that you can start a resume which you will need once you graduate and apply for jobs and it will be an enriching experience.
Once you start your Masters Program, why not start a study group among your fellow students. It is a good idea for exchanging information and ideas and you can make it a social thing, too, like having a pizza night or movie night once in a while. It will be a fun way to study and develop new friendships.
Again, do not worry about your future job at this time. You will be qualified, confident and assured once you graduate and start applying for work. Enjoy every minute of your Masters Program and I wish you all the best that the career has to offer !
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT FOR HEALTH - PALM BEACH COUNTY https://palmbeach.floridahealth.gov/
Congratulations on approaching your Masters Program for Healthcare Informatics ! That is fabulous and should be an exciting path !
First, you should read and become familiar with the particular Masters program at the college you have chosen. The college catalog will mention all of the details so that you can be prepared to know what the program is like. As you proceed with your studies for this, you are going to come to some decisions about what exact career you may want to aim for once you graduate with your Masters. My advice is take it a day at a time and let things flow naturally.
While in the Masters Program, most students for this degree study and sharpen their technical skills including programming, data analysis, and computer systems. You will also become familiar with health care systems, public health and medical terminology. Also healthcare management, policy and analytics. Everything will be equally important and needed for your future career.
You don't have to think about this right now, however, do not forget to ask your professor about internships or field work that the college may set up for students because you will need experience before applying for career jobs. I would suggest that you attend any conferences, on-site trainings, expos, community health fairs, Job Fairs, symposiums and consortiums that may occur in the area where you live or even out of town. This will be a good way to network, get to know the main people at various industry venues and pick up some extra information. But for right now, I would just not think about the future, it will come soon enough and it's difficult to say which doors will open for you and for what reason. As long as you do well and can apply what you learn, you will be ready when you obtain your Masters Degree.
I think it would be fine for now to find out about the events outside of school that you can network at. I left the link to your Department of Health below so that you can read their site as well as visit them to find out about specialized trainings in various health subjects and register for events that they may sponsor. You may already be doing this, but I would suggest continuing this. Anticipate nothing and just go with the flow. These events may inspire a topic for your Masters Thesis. You may even have an opportunity to give presentations which will be important to hone your leadership skills which are needed for healthcare informatics careers.
For health fairs, contact the Health Care District of Palm Beach County at the link below. I always suggest visiting places in person so that one can see the office, get immediate response and discover things that may not be on the website. Also visit your local hospitals and nursing homes and ask about any trainings that may be open to students. You can ask about volunteer projects so that you can start a resume which you will need once you graduate and apply for jobs and it will be an enriching experience.
Once you start your Masters Program, why not start a study group among your fellow students. It is a good idea for exchanging information and ideas and you can make it a social thing, too, like having a pizza night or movie night once in a while. It will be a fun way to study and develop new friendships.
Again, do not worry about your future job at this time. You will be qualified, confident and assured once you graduate and start applying for work. Enjoy every minute of your Masters Program and I wish you all the best that the career has to offer !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Denise’s Answer
Understanding electronic medical records and mastering the art of guiding teams through the system's evolution and expansion. This knowledge empowers you to adapt to changes and foster growth, making you a valuable asset in any team.
Updated
Lipsa’s Answer
Hello Orchid,
It's wonderful that you're deeply committed to excelling in your chosen field. Besides your current coursework, consider exploring Coursera courses to broaden your expertise. These courses cover topics such as data analytics, healthcare management, and the applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare, which can significantly enhance your knowledge and skills.
It's wonderful that you're deeply committed to excelling in your chosen field. Besides your current coursework, consider exploring Coursera courses to broaden your expertise. These courses cover topics such as data analytics, healthcare management, and the applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare, which can significantly enhance your knowledge and skills.
Updated
Aleah’s Answer
Orchid,
Congratulations on beginning your master’s degree! It sounds like you are well on your way to success! Great work! I thoroughly enjoyed Healthcare Informatics in college. I would recommend taking a “Statistics in Nursing” class, if possible. If not, read the book “Statistics in Nursing” by Dr. Elizabeth Heavey. This book was extremely helpful to me in understanding how information is actually discovered, researched, and shared. It helped me realize that I was using statistics and informatics in my everyday practice without even realizing it! For example, using vaccines is an applied use of informatics as we use the knowledge we’ve acquired for decades to prevent disease today. I would also recommend taking classes in ethics. Both of these subjects are good compliments to informatics. Lastly, research how informatics are applied, especially in your local Health Department. Perhaps you can even volunteer at your Health Department and get some hands on experience with this. Best of luck to you!
Read “Statistics in Nursing” by Dr. Elizabeth Heavey
Take a statistics class
Take an ethics class or two
Volunteer at your local health department
Research applied informatics and then think of some scenarios of your own
Congratulations on beginning your master’s degree! It sounds like you are well on your way to success! Great work! I thoroughly enjoyed Healthcare Informatics in college. I would recommend taking a “Statistics in Nursing” class, if possible. If not, read the book “Statistics in Nursing” by Dr. Elizabeth Heavey. This book was extremely helpful to me in understanding how information is actually discovered, researched, and shared. It helped me realize that I was using statistics and informatics in my everyday practice without even realizing it! For example, using vaccines is an applied use of informatics as we use the knowledge we’ve acquired for decades to prevent disease today. I would also recommend taking classes in ethics. Both of these subjects are good compliments to informatics. Lastly, research how informatics are applied, especially in your local Health Department. Perhaps you can even volunteer at your Health Department and get some hands on experience with this. Best of luck to you!
Aleah recommends the following next steps: