WGU D220 INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY IN NURSING PRACTICE
EXAM STUDY GUIDE
1. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), what defines Nursing Informatics?
A. The use of computers to manage patient files in a hospital setting.
B. A technical field focused solely on the hardware requirements of medical facilities.
C. The process of teaching patients how to use electronic medical portals.
D. A specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to
manage and communicate data.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The ANA defines nursing informatics as a specialty that
integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and
communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice.
2. Which of the following describes the ‘Wisdom’ component of the DIKW framework?
A. The grouping of data into functional categories.
B. Discrete facts such as a blood pressure reading of 120/80.
,C. The synthesis of information to identify patterns.
D. The appropriate use of knowledge to manage and solve human problems.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Wisdom is the highest level of the DIKW hierarchy, referring to
the application of knowledge to make clinical decisions and solve complex problems.
3. What is the primary difference between an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and an
Electronic Health Record (EHR)?
A. EMRs are controlled by patients, while EHRs are controlled by doctors.
B. There is no functional difference between the two terms.
C. EMRs contain legal documents, while EHRs only contain clinical notes.
D. EHRs are designed to be shared among different healthcare organizations, whereas
EMRs are restricted to a single provider.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: EHRs are interoperable and follow the patient across different
health systems, while EMRs are generally the digital version of a paper chart within one
practice.
4. Which legislation, passed in 2009, provided financial incentives for the ‘Meaningful Use’ of
EHRs?
A. The Affordable Care Act (ACA)
, B. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
C. The Social Security Act
D. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The HITECH Act was part of the ARRA of 2009 and promoted the
adoption and meaningful use of health information technology.
5. In the context of health informatics, what is ‘Interoperability’?
A. The process of converting paper records to digital formats.
B. The ability of two or more systems to exchange and use information.
C. The security measures taken to prevent data breaches.
D. A specific type of coding used for surgical procedures.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Interoperability is the ability of different information systems,
devices, and applications to access, exchange, and cooperatively use data in a coordinated
manner.
6. Which level of interoperability refers to the common understanding of the meaning of the
data being exchanged?
A. Foundational Interoperability
B. Semantic Interoperability
TECHNOLOGY IN NURSING PRACTICE
EXAM STUDY GUIDE
1. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), what defines Nursing Informatics?
A. The use of computers to manage patient files in a hospital setting.
B. A technical field focused solely on the hardware requirements of medical facilities.
C. The process of teaching patients how to use electronic medical portals.
D. A specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to
manage and communicate data.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The ANA defines nursing informatics as a specialty that
integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and
communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice.
2. Which of the following describes the ‘Wisdom’ component of the DIKW framework?
A. The grouping of data into functional categories.
B. Discrete facts such as a blood pressure reading of 120/80.
,C. The synthesis of information to identify patterns.
D. The appropriate use of knowledge to manage and solve human problems.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Wisdom is the highest level of the DIKW hierarchy, referring to
the application of knowledge to make clinical decisions and solve complex problems.
3. What is the primary difference between an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and an
Electronic Health Record (EHR)?
A. EMRs are controlled by patients, while EHRs are controlled by doctors.
B. There is no functional difference between the two terms.
C. EMRs contain legal documents, while EHRs only contain clinical notes.
D. EHRs are designed to be shared among different healthcare organizations, whereas
EMRs are restricted to a single provider.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: EHRs are interoperable and follow the patient across different
health systems, while EMRs are generally the digital version of a paper chart within one
practice.
4. Which legislation, passed in 2009, provided financial incentives for the ‘Meaningful Use’ of
EHRs?
A. The Affordable Care Act (ACA)
, B. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
C. The Social Security Act
D. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The HITECH Act was part of the ARRA of 2009 and promoted the
adoption and meaningful use of health information technology.
5. In the context of health informatics, what is ‘Interoperability’?
A. The process of converting paper records to digital formats.
B. The ability of two or more systems to exchange and use information.
C. The security measures taken to prevent data breaches.
D. A specific type of coding used for surgical procedures.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Interoperability is the ability of different information systems,
devices, and applications to access, exchange, and cooperatively use data in a coordinated
manner.
6. Which level of interoperability refers to the common understanding of the meaning of the
data being exchanged?
A. Foundational Interoperability
B. Semantic Interoperability
