In order to begin the nursing informatics program, it is a prerequisite to be a registered nurse (RN). The reason is that one of the main functions of nursing informatics is to bridge the gap between the IT dept. and nurses actually using the software.  If you have not obtained your RN license, students must pass a NCLEX board exam, to become certified/licensed. This exam is an all inclusive, cumulative nursing background analysis. Students or professionals hoping to gain a nursing informatics certification must have a thorough understanding of patient care and nurse responsibilities. Many nursing informatics specialists even go so far as to maintain their on going nursing license for credibility and marketability.  So…..

Once nurses have obtained their RN, they may choose to seek further certification in an even more specialized area. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is the agency that offers Informatics Nursing certification.