NURSING INFORMATICS AND THE
FOUNDATION OF KNOWLEDGE
6TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)DEE MCGONIGLE;
KATHLEEN MASTRIAN
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction / Foundation of Knowledge Model
Stem
A nurse manager notices an EHR report showing that several
postoperative pain scores are recorded as "0" more frequently
during night shifts than day shifts. The nurse wants to use the
Foundation of Knowledge model to determine whether this
pattern reflects true patient data, documentation practice, or
knowledge translation gaps. Which first step best aligns with
the DIKW approach to begin investigation?
,A. Implement a nurse education session about pain assessment
tools.
B. Audit raw documentation entries to verify the recorded pain
scores and timestamps.
C. Immediately change the pain-assessment prompts in the EHR
to require mandatory fields.
D. Create a new clinical decision support alert to remind staff to
assess pain.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct
Auditing the raw documentation (data) is the DIKW-appropriate
first step: verify data integrity before forming information,
knowledge, or interventions. This preserves the foundation of
evidence-based inquiry and prevents jumping to system or
education fixes without confirming what the data actually
represent. It demonstrates the nurse as a knowledge worker
validating data before applying decision support or education.
Rationale — Incorrect
A. Education may be needed but is premature without
confirming whether documentation is accurate.
C. Forcing fields could produce inaccurate data if the underlying
workflow issue isn't understood.
D. Alerts should follow confirmation of a data or workflow
problem; premature alerts cause alert fatigue.
Teaching point
Verify data integrity first — DIKW starts with accurate data.
,Citation
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. (2022). Nursing Informatics and
the Foundation of Knowledge (6th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — The Nature of Knowledge / Foundation of Knowledge
Model
Stem
During a multidisciplinary meeting about reducing catheter-
associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), a nurse informaticist
synthesizes current infection rates, national benchmarks, and
recent unit practice audits to recommend a targeted
intervention. According to the DIKW framework, which activity
best represents the movement from information to knowledge?
A. Displaying CAUTI rates and benchmark graphs on the unit
dashboard.
B. Listing recent change ideas from the staff in a shared
document.
C. Interpreting dashboard trends to identify that prolonged
catheter use among immobile patients is a key driver.
D. Sending automated reminder messages to remove catheters
at 48 hours.
Correct answer: C
, Rationale — Correct
Interpreting and contextualizing information to identify a causal
driver is the transformation of information into knowledge. It
requires analytic judgment and supports targeted clinical
decisions, aligning with nursing science and the Foundation of
Knowledge model.
Rationale — Incorrect
A. Visualizing information is important but remains at the
information level.
B. Listing ideas without interpretation remains unprocessed
information.
D. Automated reminders are an intervention (wisdom/action)
but should follow knowledge identifying the driver.
Teaching point
Knowledge = interpreted information applied to clinical context.
Citation
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. (2022). Nursing Informatics and
the Foundation of Knowledge (6th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Nursing Science / The Nurse as a Knowledge Worker
Stem
A staff nurse is documenting administration of a high-risk
medication. The EHR auto-populates the administration time
FOUNDATION OF KNOWLEDGE
6TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)DEE MCGONIGLE;
KATHLEEN MASTRIAN
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction / Foundation of Knowledge Model
Stem
A nurse manager notices an EHR report showing that several
postoperative pain scores are recorded as "0" more frequently
during night shifts than day shifts. The nurse wants to use the
Foundation of Knowledge model to determine whether this
pattern reflects true patient data, documentation practice, or
knowledge translation gaps. Which first step best aligns with
the DIKW approach to begin investigation?
,A. Implement a nurse education session about pain assessment
tools.
B. Audit raw documentation entries to verify the recorded pain
scores and timestamps.
C. Immediately change the pain-assessment prompts in the EHR
to require mandatory fields.
D. Create a new clinical decision support alert to remind staff to
assess pain.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct
Auditing the raw documentation (data) is the DIKW-appropriate
first step: verify data integrity before forming information,
knowledge, or interventions. This preserves the foundation of
evidence-based inquiry and prevents jumping to system or
education fixes without confirming what the data actually
represent. It demonstrates the nurse as a knowledge worker
validating data before applying decision support or education.
Rationale — Incorrect
A. Education may be needed but is premature without
confirming whether documentation is accurate.
C. Forcing fields could produce inaccurate data if the underlying
workflow issue isn't understood.
D. Alerts should follow confirmation of a data or workflow
problem; premature alerts cause alert fatigue.
Teaching point
Verify data integrity first — DIKW starts with accurate data.
,Citation
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. (2022). Nursing Informatics and
the Foundation of Knowledge (6th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — The Nature of Knowledge / Foundation of Knowledge
Model
Stem
During a multidisciplinary meeting about reducing catheter-
associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), a nurse informaticist
synthesizes current infection rates, national benchmarks, and
recent unit practice audits to recommend a targeted
intervention. According to the DIKW framework, which activity
best represents the movement from information to knowledge?
A. Displaying CAUTI rates and benchmark graphs on the unit
dashboard.
B. Listing recent change ideas from the staff in a shared
document.
C. Interpreting dashboard trends to identify that prolonged
catheter use among immobile patients is a key driver.
D. Sending automated reminder messages to remove catheters
at 48 hours.
Correct answer: C
, Rationale — Correct
Interpreting and contextualizing information to identify a causal
driver is the transformation of information into knowledge. It
requires analytic judgment and supports targeted clinical
decisions, aligning with nursing science and the Foundation of
Knowledge model.
Rationale — Incorrect
A. Visualizing information is important but remains at the
information level.
B. Listing ideas without interpretation remains unprocessed
information.
D. Automated reminders are an intervention (wisdom/action)
but should follow knowledge identifying the driver.
Teaching point
Knowledge = interpreted information applied to clinical context.
Citation
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. (2022). Nursing Informatics and
the Foundation of Knowledge (6th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Nursing Science / The Nurse as a Knowledge Worker
Stem
A staff nurse is documenting administration of a high-risk
medication. The EHR auto-populates the administration time
