NR 360 Unit 1 Discussion Topic:
What Is Nursing Informatics
(Summer 2020)
Foundational Concepts: Nursing Informatics Definition & Scope
Question 1
Which of the following best defines nursing informatics?
A. The use of computers for billing and scheduling in healthcare settings
B. A specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information
science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom
in nursing practice
C. The process of documenting patient care using paper charts
D. The use of technology for physician order entry only
Answer: B. A specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and
information science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge,
and wisdom in nursing practice
Rationale: Nursing informatics is a recognized specialty that combines nursing science,
computer science, and information science . It focuses on managing and communicating
data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice to improve client safety
and quality of care .
,Question 2
Nursing informatics concentrates on finding ways to impact which aspects of
healthcare? (Select all that apply)
A. Improve information management
B. Improve efficiency
C. Reduce costs
D. Enhance safety and quality of care
E. Replace the need for clinical judgment
Answer: A, B, C, D. Improve information management, Improve efficiency, Reduce
costs, Enhance safety and quality of care
Rationale: Nursing informatics focuses on improving information management and
communication to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and ultimately enhance client safety
and quality of care . It does not replace clinical judgment; rather, it supports clinical
decision-making.
Question 3
According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), nursing informatics
integrates nursing science with which sciences?
A. Information and analytical sciences
B. Computer science only
C. Computer science and cognitive science
D. Computer science and library science
Answer: A. Information and analytical sciences
Rationale: The ANA defines nursing informatics as a distinctive practice specialty that
"integrates nursing science with multiple information and analytical sciences to identify,
define, manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing
practice" .
Question 4
What is the primary goal of nursing informatics?
A. To document patient care electronically
,B. To manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in the
delivery of care
C. To replace traditional nursing methods with technology
D. To train nurses in computer use
Answer: B. To manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and
wisdom in the delivery of care
Rationale: The main goal of nursing informatics is to manage and communicate data,
information, knowledge, and wisdom in the delivery of care to support optimal client
outcomes .
Foundation of Knowledge Model & Data-Information-
Knowledge-Wisdom Framework
Question 5
According to the Foundation of Knowledge Model, which sequence correctly
represents the progression from raw facts to applied clinical judgment?
A. Wisdom → Knowledge → Information → Data
B. Information → Data → Knowledge → Wisdom
C. Data → Information → Knowledge → Wisdom
D. Knowledge → Data → Information → Wisdom
Answer: C. Data → Information → Knowledge → Wisdom
Rationale: The Foundation of Knowledge Model organizes information as: Data →
Information → Knowledge → Wisdom . Data are objective facts. Information is data that
has been interpreted or organized. Knowledge is synthesized information that allows
relationships to be made. Wisdom is the appropriate use of knowledge to manage and
solve human problems .
Question 6
What is data?
A. Interpreted, organized, or structured facts
B. Described objectively without interpretation (numbers or symbols)
, C. Synthesized information that allows relationships to be made
D. The appropriate use of knowledge to solve problems
Answer: B. Described objectively without interpretation (numbers or symbols)
Rationale: Data is described objectively without interpretation. Documenting vital signs
is objective data documented in numbers on the client's chart or electronic health
record .
Question 7
A nurse reviews a patient's vital signs trend in the EHR and notes the heart rate
has increased over the past eight hours. This represents:
A. Data only
B. Information
C. Knowledge
D. Wisdom
Answer: B. Information
Rationale: Information is data that has been interpreted, organized, or structured . The
vital signs themselves are data points. When the nurse organizes these data points and
sees a trend (heart rate increasing over eight hours), it becomes information .
Question 8
A nurse identifies that a patient is tachycardic due to postoperative pain and
contacts the provider to order a narcotic pain medication. This represents:
A. Data
B. Information
C. Knowledge
D. Wisdom
Answer: D. Wisdom
Rationale: Wisdom is the appropriate use of knowledge to manage and solve human
problems. When the nurse assesses the patient, synthesizes the information (pain +
What Is Nursing Informatics
(Summer 2020)
Foundational Concepts: Nursing Informatics Definition & Scope
Question 1
Which of the following best defines nursing informatics?
A. The use of computers for billing and scheduling in healthcare settings
B. A specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information
science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom
in nursing practice
C. The process of documenting patient care using paper charts
D. The use of technology for physician order entry only
Answer: B. A specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and
information science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge,
and wisdom in nursing practice
Rationale: Nursing informatics is a recognized specialty that combines nursing science,
computer science, and information science . It focuses on managing and communicating
data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice to improve client safety
and quality of care .
,Question 2
Nursing informatics concentrates on finding ways to impact which aspects of
healthcare? (Select all that apply)
A. Improve information management
B. Improve efficiency
C. Reduce costs
D. Enhance safety and quality of care
E. Replace the need for clinical judgment
Answer: A, B, C, D. Improve information management, Improve efficiency, Reduce
costs, Enhance safety and quality of care
Rationale: Nursing informatics focuses on improving information management and
communication to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and ultimately enhance client safety
and quality of care . It does not replace clinical judgment; rather, it supports clinical
decision-making.
Question 3
According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), nursing informatics
integrates nursing science with which sciences?
A. Information and analytical sciences
B. Computer science only
C. Computer science and cognitive science
D. Computer science and library science
Answer: A. Information and analytical sciences
Rationale: The ANA defines nursing informatics as a distinctive practice specialty that
"integrates nursing science with multiple information and analytical sciences to identify,
define, manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing
practice" .
Question 4
What is the primary goal of nursing informatics?
A. To document patient care electronically
,B. To manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in the
delivery of care
C. To replace traditional nursing methods with technology
D. To train nurses in computer use
Answer: B. To manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and
wisdom in the delivery of care
Rationale: The main goal of nursing informatics is to manage and communicate data,
information, knowledge, and wisdom in the delivery of care to support optimal client
outcomes .
Foundation of Knowledge Model & Data-Information-
Knowledge-Wisdom Framework
Question 5
According to the Foundation of Knowledge Model, which sequence correctly
represents the progression from raw facts to applied clinical judgment?
A. Wisdom → Knowledge → Information → Data
B. Information → Data → Knowledge → Wisdom
C. Data → Information → Knowledge → Wisdom
D. Knowledge → Data → Information → Wisdom
Answer: C. Data → Information → Knowledge → Wisdom
Rationale: The Foundation of Knowledge Model organizes information as: Data →
Information → Knowledge → Wisdom . Data are objective facts. Information is data that
has been interpreted or organized. Knowledge is synthesized information that allows
relationships to be made. Wisdom is the appropriate use of knowledge to manage and
solve human problems .
Question 6
What is data?
A. Interpreted, organized, or structured facts
B. Described objectively without interpretation (numbers or symbols)
, C. Synthesized information that allows relationships to be made
D. The appropriate use of knowledge to solve problems
Answer: B. Described objectively without interpretation (numbers or symbols)
Rationale: Data is described objectively without interpretation. Documenting vital signs
is objective data documented in numbers on the client's chart or electronic health
record .
Question 7
A nurse reviews a patient's vital signs trend in the EHR and notes the heart rate
has increased over the past eight hours. This represents:
A. Data only
B. Information
C. Knowledge
D. Wisdom
Answer: B. Information
Rationale: Information is data that has been interpreted, organized, or structured . The
vital signs themselves are data points. When the nurse organizes these data points and
sees a trend (heart rate increasing over eight hours), it becomes information .
Question 8
A nurse identifies that a patient is tachycardic due to postoperative pain and
contacts the provider to order a narcotic pain medication. This represents:
A. Data
B. Information
C. Knowledge
D. Wisdom
Answer: D. Wisdom
Rationale: Wisdom is the appropriate use of knowledge to manage and solve human
problems. When the nurse assesses the patient, synthesizes the information (pain +
