Midterm Study guide
NR 599 Informatics
, General principles of Nursing Informatics
Nursing informatics is the specialty that integrates nursing science with multiple
information management and analytical sciences to identify, define, manage, and
communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice.
One of the most frequently quoted and widely accepted definitions of nursing informatics is
that it is a combination of nursing science, information science and computer science
· Knowledge
•All nurses have the opportunity to be involved in the formal dissemination of knowledge via
their participation in professional conferences either as presenters or attendees.
•All nurses, regardless of the practice arena, must use informatics and technology to inform
and support that practice.
· Wisdom
•Wisdom is the application of knowledge to an appropriate situation.
•In the practice of nursing science, we expect action and/or actions directed by wisdom.
•Wisdom uses knowledge and experience to heighten common sense and insight to exercise
sound judgment in practical matters. It is developed through knowledge, experience, insight
and reflection.
· Scientific Underpinning
The scientific underpinnings of practice provide the basis of knowledge for advanced
nursing practice. These scientific underpinnings include sciences such as biology, physiology,
psychology, ethics, and nursing.
· The Foundation of Knowledge Model
According to Mastrain and McGonigle (2009), one of the most prominent models
associated with nursing informatics is the Foundation of Knowledge model. This theory
involves integrating four main kinds of knowledge, which are: knowledge acquisition,
knowledge dissemination, knowledge generation and knowledge processing.
Knowledge acquisition: application of knowledge acquired through education, research,
and practice to provide services and interventions to patients to maintain, enhance, or restore
their health, and to acquire, process, generate, and dis- seminate nursing knowledge to
advance the nursing profession.
Knowledge Dissemination: Disturbing and sharing of knowledge learned
, Knowledge Generation: Creating new knowledge by changing and evolving knowledge
based on your experience, education and input from others
Knowledge Processing: The activity or process of gathering, collecting or perceiving,
analyzing, saving and transmitting knowledge
The Foundation of Knowledge mode l specifically prompts nurses to extend their theoretical
and metaphorical knowledge into practical, holistic determinations based on a variety of
factors and contexts. Because competencies in informatics include but are not limited to
information literacy, computer literacy, and the ability to use strategies and system
applications to manage data, knowledge, and information, the ability of nursing students to
use computer-mediated communication skills is essential to their success in the nursing field
and as a means to improve patient safety.
•Organizing conceptual framework for text
•Helps to explain the ties between nursing science and informatics and knowledge
•Informatics is viewed as a tool for founding knowledge
· Computer science
· Computer science is introduced through a focus on computers and the hardware
and software that make up these evolving systems; computer science is one of the building
blocks of nursing informatics. Computer science offers extremely valuable tools that, if used
skillfully, can facilitate the acquisition and manipulation of data and information by nurses,
who can then synthesize these into an evolving knowledge and wisdom base.
Data storage, management, retrieval, and processing.
· Cognitive science
Interdisciplinary field that studies the mind, intelligence, and behavior from an
information processing perspective. A field that involves both cognitive informatics and
artificial intelligence. The science of understanding what information is housed in and
processed by the brain (Cognitive informatics)
· Information science the science of information studying the application and usage of
information and
knowledge in organizations and the interfacing or interaction between people, organizations
and information systems. Integrates features from cognitive science, communication science,
computer science, library science and social sciences
· Informatics Competencies