WGU C790 – Healthcare Informatics & Information
Systems | Complete OA Prep Guide Questions Verified
and Provided with A+ Graded Rationales Latest
Updated 2026*pass100%*. Exam (100+ Questions)
Section 1: Foundations of Data, Information, Knowledge, Wisdom
1. A nurse enters a patient's blood pressure reading of "120/80" into the EHR. Before
clinical context is applied, this value is considered:
A) Information
B) Knowledge
C) Wisdom
D) Data
Answer: D) Data
Rationale: Data are discrete, objective facts or measurements without interpretation. It only
becomes "Information" once interpreted against normal values .
2. An informatics nurse analyzes a spreadsheet of hospital fall rates to identify trends
related to specific times of day. This synthesis represents the transformation of data into:
A) Wisdom
B) Raw facts
C) Knowledge
D) Input
,Answer: C) Knowledge
Rationale: Knowledge is created when data/information is synthesized to identify
relationships. Wisdom is the application of that knowledge .
3. A charge nurse overrides a medication alert because the patient's clinical presentation
indicates a false positive. This decision-making best exemplifies:
A) Data acquisition
B) Information processing
C) Wisdom
D) Raw data storage
Answer: C) Wisdom
Rationale: Wisdom is defined as the appropriate application of knowledge to manage
human problems—knowing when to follow a rule and when to break it .
4. According to the Shannon & Weaver communication model, what is the role of the
"Decoder"?
A) The sender who initiates the message
B) The medium (e.g., fiber optic lines)
C) The machine/person converting signals back into a message
D) The final destination
Answer: C) The machine/person converting signals back into a message
Rationale: The Decoder translates the signal from the channel back into a comprehensible
message for the destination .
5. Which statement best describes the scope of Nursing Informatics?
A) The study of hardware configuration for clinical settings
B) The specialty that integrates nursing science with information and analytical sciences
C) The process of billing for nursing services
D) The replacement of nursing judgment with algorithms
Answer: B) The specialty that integrates nursing science with information and analytical
sciences
,Rationale: This is the official ANA definition: integrates nursing science, computer science,
and information science .
Section 2: System Life Cycles (SDLC & SLC) and Project Management
6. A hospital is assessing the existing environment, identifying user needs, and defining
requirements. According to the SLC, this is the:
A) Design phase
B) Feasibility and Analysis phase
C) Deployment phase
D) Archive phase
Answer: B) Feasibility and Analysis phase
Rationale: This initial phase involves evaluating current systems, conducting readiness
assessments, and defining deficiencies .
7. A physician’s office is unsure which EHR fits their workflow and needs continuous
feedback. Which development model is best?
A) Predictive (Waterfall)
B) Adaptive (Agile)
C) Layered
D) Sequential
Answer: B) Adaptive (Agile)
Rationale: Adaptive/Agile allows for flexibility, iteration, and user feedback, unlike rigid
predictive models .
8. What is the next step immediately after a new health information system has been
purchased?
A) Archive the legacy system
B) Test the system
C) Retrain all staff
D) Uninstall the antivirus software
, Answer: B) Test the system
Rationale: Before implementation, the system must undergo rigorous testing (unit,
integration, hardware) to ensure functionality .
9. Which step in implementation relies most heavily on "Super Users"?
A) Budget allocation
B) Vendor contract negotiation
C) Managing go-live activities and post-live support
D) Writing the RFP
Answer: C) Managing go-live activities and post-live support
Rationale: Super users provide "at-the-elbow" support to peers during the stressful go-live
period .
10. Which SDLC approach uses a sequential, phase-by-phase structure (waterfall)?
A) Spiral
B) Adaptive
C) Predictive
D) Iterative
Answer: C) Predictive
Rationale: The Waterfall model is a classic predictive approach where phases flow
downwards sequentially .
11. A large health system with multiple inpatient/outpatient sites is implementing an EHR.
Which SDLC model is appropriate?
A) Waterfall
B) Layered
C) Adaptive
D) Spiral
Answer: B) Layered
Rationale: A layered approach allows different teams to work on different functional layers
(e.g., outpatient vs. inpatient) simultaneously .
Systems | Complete OA Prep Guide Questions Verified
and Provided with A+ Graded Rationales Latest
Updated 2026*pass100%*. Exam (100+ Questions)
Section 1: Foundations of Data, Information, Knowledge, Wisdom
1. A nurse enters a patient's blood pressure reading of "120/80" into the EHR. Before
clinical context is applied, this value is considered:
A) Information
B) Knowledge
C) Wisdom
D) Data
Answer: D) Data
Rationale: Data are discrete, objective facts or measurements without interpretation. It only
becomes "Information" once interpreted against normal values .
2. An informatics nurse analyzes a spreadsheet of hospital fall rates to identify trends
related to specific times of day. This synthesis represents the transformation of data into:
A) Wisdom
B) Raw facts
C) Knowledge
D) Input
,Answer: C) Knowledge
Rationale: Knowledge is created when data/information is synthesized to identify
relationships. Wisdom is the application of that knowledge .
3. A charge nurse overrides a medication alert because the patient's clinical presentation
indicates a false positive. This decision-making best exemplifies:
A) Data acquisition
B) Information processing
C) Wisdom
D) Raw data storage
Answer: C) Wisdom
Rationale: Wisdom is defined as the appropriate application of knowledge to manage
human problems—knowing when to follow a rule and when to break it .
4. According to the Shannon & Weaver communication model, what is the role of the
"Decoder"?
A) The sender who initiates the message
B) The medium (e.g., fiber optic lines)
C) The machine/person converting signals back into a message
D) The final destination
Answer: C) The machine/person converting signals back into a message
Rationale: The Decoder translates the signal from the channel back into a comprehensible
message for the destination .
5. Which statement best describes the scope of Nursing Informatics?
A) The study of hardware configuration for clinical settings
B) The specialty that integrates nursing science with information and analytical sciences
C) The process of billing for nursing services
D) The replacement of nursing judgment with algorithms
Answer: B) The specialty that integrates nursing science with information and analytical
sciences
,Rationale: This is the official ANA definition: integrates nursing science, computer science,
and information science .
Section 2: System Life Cycles (SDLC & SLC) and Project Management
6. A hospital is assessing the existing environment, identifying user needs, and defining
requirements. According to the SLC, this is the:
A) Design phase
B) Feasibility and Analysis phase
C) Deployment phase
D) Archive phase
Answer: B) Feasibility and Analysis phase
Rationale: This initial phase involves evaluating current systems, conducting readiness
assessments, and defining deficiencies .
7. A physician’s office is unsure which EHR fits their workflow and needs continuous
feedback. Which development model is best?
A) Predictive (Waterfall)
B) Adaptive (Agile)
C) Layered
D) Sequential
Answer: B) Adaptive (Agile)
Rationale: Adaptive/Agile allows for flexibility, iteration, and user feedback, unlike rigid
predictive models .
8. What is the next step immediately after a new health information system has been
purchased?
A) Archive the legacy system
B) Test the system
C) Retrain all staff
D) Uninstall the antivirus software
, Answer: B) Test the system
Rationale: Before implementation, the system must undergo rigorous testing (unit,
integration, hardware) to ensure functionality .
9. Which step in implementation relies most heavily on "Super Users"?
A) Budget allocation
B) Vendor contract negotiation
C) Managing go-live activities and post-live support
D) Writing the RFP
Answer: C) Managing go-live activities and post-live support
Rationale: Super users provide "at-the-elbow" support to peers during the stressful go-live
period .
10. Which SDLC approach uses a sequential, phase-by-phase structure (waterfall)?
A) Spiral
B) Adaptive
C) Predictive
D) Iterative
Answer: C) Predictive
Rationale: The Waterfall model is a classic predictive approach where phases flow
downwards sequentially .
11. A large health system with multiple inpatient/outpatient sites is implementing an EHR.
Which SDLC model is appropriate?
A) Waterfall
B) Layered
C) Adaptive
D) Spiral
Answer: B) Layered
Rationale: A layered approach allows different teams to work on different functional layers
(e.g., outpatient vs. inpatient) simultaneously .
