, WGU D220 Information Technology in
Nursing Practice, 2026/2027, Western
Governors University – Objective
Assessment Comprehensive
Examination | with complete solutions.
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING
INFORMATICS (Questions 1-20)
Question 1: According to the DIKW paradigm, which of the following BEST
represents "knowledge" in clinical practice?
A. A patient's blood pressure reading of 142/88 mmHg
B. Recognition that elevated blood pressure over multiple readings indicates
uncontrolled hypertension requiring intervention
C. The numerical value stored in the EHR database
D. A nurse's intuition about a patient's condition
Correct Answer: B. Recognition that elevated blood pressure over
multiple readings indicates uncontrolled hypertension requiring
intervention
Rationale: The DIKW hierarchy progresses: Data (raw facts: "142/88"),
Information (contextualized data: "BP elevated on 3 consecutive visits"),
Knowledge (synthesis and pattern recognition: "This indicates uncontrolled
hypertension requiring medication adjustment"), and Wisdom (applied
knowledge for ethical decision-making). Option A is data; Option C describes
storage; Option D describes intuition, not structured knowledge .
Source: WGU D220 Information Technology in Nursing Practice Study Guide;
DIKW Framework Module
,Question 2: The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing
informatics as:
A. The use of computers to store patient data
B. A 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
C. A technical support role for hospital IT departments
D. A certification required for all registered nurses
Correct Answer: B. A 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
Rationale: The ANA defines nursing informatics as a specialty integrating
nursing science with computer science, information science, and cognitive
science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and
wisdom. It encompasses clinical practice, administration, education, and
research. Option A is too narrow; Option C confuses NI with IT support;
Option D is false—NI is a specialty, not a universal requirement .
Source: WGU D220 Information Technology in Nursing Practice Study Guide;
Nursing Informatics Definition Module
Question 3: The TIGER (Technology Informatics Guiding Education Reform)
initiative focuses on:
A. Developing new medical devices
B. Preparing nurses to use informatics and technology to improve patient
care through competencies, education, and policy
C. Replacing nurses with automated systems
D. Creating proprietary EHR systems for individual hospitals
Correct Answer: B. Preparing nurses to use informatics and
technology to improve patient care through competencies,
education, and policy
Rationale: TIGER aims to prepare nurses to use informatics and technology
to improve patient care through informatics competencies, education reform,
policy development, and interprofessional collaboration. Key pillars include
management and leadership, education and communication, IT design,
culture, and policy .
, Source: WGU D220 Information Technology in Nursing Practice Study Guide;
TIGER Initiative Module
Question 4: Which of the following represents an "intermediate" informatics
competency for a staff nurse?
A. Designing a new EHR module from scratch
B. Navigating the EHR, documenting care, using CPOE, and utilizing clinical
decision support alerts
C. Writing code for hospital software applications
D. Managing hospital IT infrastructure
Correct Answer: B. Navigating the EHR, documenting care, using
CPOE, and utilizing clinical decision support alerts
Rationale: Informatics competency levels: Basic (computer literacy, email,
word processing), Intermediate (EHR navigation, documentation, CPOE,
BCMA, CDS use), Advanced (system design, implementation, optimization,
data analysis, project management, leadership). Options A and C are
advanced/technical roles. Option D is IT administration. Staff nurses need
intermediate competencies for safe, effective technology use .
Source: WGU D220 Information Technology in Nursing Practice Study Guide;
Informatics Competencies Module
Question 5: The HITECH Act (2009) was significant because it:
A. Prohibited all electronic health records
B. Provided financial incentives for meaningful use of certified EHR
technology and strengthened HIPAA enforcement
C. Eliminated the need for paper records entirely
D. Required all nurses to become informatics specialists
Correct Answer: B. Provided financial incentives for meaningful use of
certified EHR technology and strengthened HIPAA enforcement
Rationale: HITECH provided $27 billion in Medicare/Medicaid incentives for
Meaningful Use of certified EHRs, established ONC, and strengthened HIPAA
enforcement with breach notification requirements. It accelerated EHR
adoption from approximately 20% to over 80% .
Nursing Practice, 2026/2027, Western
Governors University – Objective
Assessment Comprehensive
Examination | with complete solutions.
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING
INFORMATICS (Questions 1-20)
Question 1: According to the DIKW paradigm, which of the following BEST
represents "knowledge" in clinical practice?
A. A patient's blood pressure reading of 142/88 mmHg
B. Recognition that elevated blood pressure over multiple readings indicates
uncontrolled hypertension requiring intervention
C. The numerical value stored in the EHR database
D. A nurse's intuition about a patient's condition
Correct Answer: B. Recognition that elevated blood pressure over
multiple readings indicates uncontrolled hypertension requiring
intervention
Rationale: The DIKW hierarchy progresses: Data (raw facts: "142/88"),
Information (contextualized data: "BP elevated on 3 consecutive visits"),
Knowledge (synthesis and pattern recognition: "This indicates uncontrolled
hypertension requiring medication adjustment"), and Wisdom (applied
knowledge for ethical decision-making). Option A is data; Option C describes
storage; Option D describes intuition, not structured knowledge .
Source: WGU D220 Information Technology in Nursing Practice Study Guide;
DIKW Framework Module
,Question 2: The American Nurses Association (ANA) defines nursing
informatics as:
A. The use of computers to store patient data
B. A 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
C. A technical support role for hospital IT departments
D. A certification required for all registered nurses
Correct Answer: B. A 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
Rationale: The ANA defines nursing informatics as a specialty integrating
nursing science with computer science, information science, and cognitive
science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and
wisdom. It encompasses clinical practice, administration, education, and
research. Option A is too narrow; Option C confuses NI with IT support;
Option D is false—NI is a specialty, not a universal requirement .
Source: WGU D220 Information Technology in Nursing Practice Study Guide;
Nursing Informatics Definition Module
Question 3: The TIGER (Technology Informatics Guiding Education Reform)
initiative focuses on:
A. Developing new medical devices
B. Preparing nurses to use informatics and technology to improve patient
care through competencies, education, and policy
C. Replacing nurses with automated systems
D. Creating proprietary EHR systems for individual hospitals
Correct Answer: B. Preparing nurses to use informatics and
technology to improve patient care through competencies,
education, and policy
Rationale: TIGER aims to prepare nurses to use informatics and technology
to improve patient care through informatics competencies, education reform,
policy development, and interprofessional collaboration. Key pillars include
management and leadership, education and communication, IT design,
culture, and policy .
, Source: WGU D220 Information Technology in Nursing Practice Study Guide;
TIGER Initiative Module
Question 4: Which of the following represents an "intermediate" informatics
competency for a staff nurse?
A. Designing a new EHR module from scratch
B. Navigating the EHR, documenting care, using CPOE, and utilizing clinical
decision support alerts
C. Writing code for hospital software applications
D. Managing hospital IT infrastructure
Correct Answer: B. Navigating the EHR, documenting care, using
CPOE, and utilizing clinical decision support alerts
Rationale: Informatics competency levels: Basic (computer literacy, email,
word processing), Intermediate (EHR navigation, documentation, CPOE,
BCMA, CDS use), Advanced (system design, implementation, optimization,
data analysis, project management, leadership). Options A and C are
advanced/technical roles. Option D is IT administration. Staff nurses need
intermediate competencies for safe, effective technology use .
Source: WGU D220 Information Technology in Nursing Practice Study Guide;
Informatics Competencies Module
Question 5: The HITECH Act (2009) was significant because it:
A. Prohibited all electronic health records
B. Provided financial incentives for meaningful use of certified EHR
technology and strengthened HIPAA enforcement
C. Eliminated the need for paper records entirely
D. Required all nurses to become informatics specialists
Correct Answer: B. Provided financial incentives for meaningful use of
certified EHR technology and strengthened HIPAA enforcement
Rationale: HITECH provided $27 billion in Medicare/Medicaid incentives for
Meaningful Use of certified EHRs, established ONC, and strengthened HIPAA
enforcement with breach notification requirements. It accelerated EHR
adoption from approximately 20% to over 80% .
