Background: Today, informatics is an integral part of healthcare informatics. With this necessity came academia offering a variety of informatics degrees. The problem we have today is that most hospitals are already live with their EHRs, and therefore scaled back their informatics teams. With so much competition, how does one break into informatics? This is the story of a new nurse informaticist who found a path that worked for her.

Methods: It's common to learn about informatics and immediately feel, “This is what I want to do.” The real challenge, as many will agree, lies in securing a position in this competitive field. For me, this journey has been driven by a deep-seated passion for both patient care and information technology. I initially earned my bachelor's degree in management information systems (MIS) in November 2003 while working at Texas Instruments. However, my career took a turn as I pursued nursing, earning my LVN license in May 2006. My original goal was to become an RN or earn a master’s degree, but in 2017, I met my mentor, Dr. Mari Tietze, then Dean of Healthcare Informatics at Texas Woman’s University (TWU). With her guidance, I enrolled in TWU’s Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics program, which I completed in December 2018. Inspired, I went on to earn my Master of Science in Informatics in May 2021.

Dr. Tietze was instrumental in my development, helping me navigate complex informatics concepts and cultivate research, technical, and real-world application skills. Under her mentorship, I undertook a capstone project to support underserved populations, which earned the 2018 "Community Impact Collaborator" Award from the Community Council of Greater Dallas for its impact on outreach and engagement through data analysis. Through Dr. Tietze, I joined the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) in 2018, where I gained invaluable networking and learning opportunities.

Additionally, my employer’s nurse-to-nurse mentorship program connected me with Heather Scroggins, Clinical Informatics Manager. Heather’s guidance emphasized the value of a BSN, equipping me with clinical expertise, patient-centered focus, and communication skills essential for a nurse informatician. I took her advice and graduated with a BSN in May 2024. She also went on to explain the importance of participating in informatics projects. Under her recommendations, I participated in various projects, including the implementation of a mobile immunization van and working as a telehealth nurse and virtual healthcare.

Results: I am an informatics nurse. On October 30th, 2024, Heather hired me as a clinical informatics specialist. I am transitioning from expert to novice, but I am enjoying the challenges.

Conclusion: My mentors have supported and encouraged me, shared their expertise, provided networking opportunities, and fostered leadership and continuous education platforms. Being a mentor is fulfilling as it allows you to help others; give back; and enhance legacy, career development, and personal growth while creating a supportive professional community.

Josephine Mwai MSHI, BSN, RN

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