lOMoAR cPSD| 22896205
NURSING INFORMATICS FOR ADVANCED PRACTICE MIDTERM
STUDY GUIDE
• Informatics Nurse Specialist o Definition: A registered nurse with formal, graduate education in the
field of informatics or a related field, who is considered a specialist in the field of nursing informatics.
o RN with advanced education who possesses additional knowledge and skills specific to
computer technology and information management
o Focuses on nursing’s information needs, which include education, administration, research, and
clinical practice
o Application and integration of the core informatics sciences: information, computer, and
nursing science
o Uses critical thinking, process skills, data management skills, systems life cycle development,
and computer skills
o Fluent in nursing informatics and nursing terminologies
o Applies aspects of human technology interface to screen, device, and software design o Teach
nurses how to locate, access, retrieve, and evaluate information
• The Foundation of Knowledge Model o A model proposing that humans are organic information
systems constantly acquiring, processing, generating, and disseminating information or knowledge in
both their professional and personal lives.
o At its base, the model contains bits, bytes (a computer term used to quantify data), data, and
information in a random representation. Growing out of the base are separate cones of light
that expand as they reflect upward; these cones represent knowledge acquisition, knowledge
generation, and knowledge dissemination. At the intersection of the cones and forming a new
cone is knowledge processing. Encircling and cutting through the knowledge cones is feedback
that acts on and may transform any or all aspects of knowledge represented by the cones.
o The application of the model is described to help the reader understand and appreciate the
foundation of knowledge in nursing science and see how it applies to nursing informatics.
o Knowledge:
Definition: The awareness and understanding of a set of information and ways that
information can be made useful to support a specific task or arrive at a decision;
abounds with others’ thoughts and information. Information that is synthesized so that
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, lOMoAR cPSD| 22896205
relationships are identified and formalized. Understanding that comes through a
process of interaction or experience with the world around us. Information that has
judgment applied to it or meaning extracted from it. Processed information that helps
to clarify or explain some portion of our environment or world that we can use as a
basis for action or upon which we can act. Internal process of thinking or cognition.
External process of testing, senses, observation, and interacting. o Wisdom:
Wisdom is the application of knowledge to an appropriate situation.
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. Wisdom is sometimes thought of as the highest form
of common sense, resulting from accumulated knowledge or erudition (deep, thorough
learning) or enlightenment (education that results in understanding and the dissemination
of knowledge).
o Knowledge Workers:
Those who work with information and generate information and knowledge as a product.
They are knowledge acquirers, providing convenient and efficient means of capturing
and storing knowledge. They are knowledge users, meaning individuals or groups who
benefit from valuable, viable knowledge. Nurses are knowledge engineers, designing,
developing, implementing, and maintaining knowledge.
o Refer to chapter 1 outline
• Computer Science
o Definition: Branch of engineering (application of science) that studies the theoretical
foundations of information and computation and their implementation and application in
computer systems. The study of storage/memory, conversion and transformation, and transfer
or transmission of information in machines— that is, computers—through both algorithms and
practical implementation problems. Algorithms are detailed, unambiguous action sequences in
the design, efficiency, and application of computer systems, whereas practical implementation
problems deal with the software and hardware. o READ CHAPTER 3 OUTLINE! Too much
information!
• Cognitive Science/Cognitive Informatics o Definition of Cognitive Science: Interdisciplinary field
that studies the mind, intelligence, and behavior from an information processing
perspectives. o Definition of Cognitive Informatics: Field of study made up of the
pg. 2
NURSING INFORMATICS FOR ADVANCED PRACTICE MIDTERM
STUDY GUIDE
• Informatics Nurse Specialist o Definition: A registered nurse with formal, graduate education in the
field of informatics or a related field, who is considered a specialist in the field of nursing informatics.
o RN with advanced education who possesses additional knowledge and skills specific to
computer technology and information management
o Focuses on nursing’s information needs, which include education, administration, research, and
clinical practice
o Application and integration of the core informatics sciences: information, computer, and
nursing science
o Uses critical thinking, process skills, data management skills, systems life cycle development,
and computer skills
o Fluent in nursing informatics and nursing terminologies
o Applies aspects of human technology interface to screen, device, and software design o Teach
nurses how to locate, access, retrieve, and evaluate information
• The Foundation of Knowledge Model o A model proposing that humans are organic information
systems constantly acquiring, processing, generating, and disseminating information or knowledge in
both their professional and personal lives.
o At its base, the model contains bits, bytes (a computer term used to quantify data), data, and
information in a random representation. Growing out of the base are separate cones of light
that expand as they reflect upward; these cones represent knowledge acquisition, knowledge
generation, and knowledge dissemination. At the intersection of the cones and forming a new
cone is knowledge processing. Encircling and cutting through the knowledge cones is feedback
that acts on and may transform any or all aspects of knowledge represented by the cones.
o The application of the model is described to help the reader understand and appreciate the
foundation of knowledge in nursing science and see how it applies to nursing informatics.
o Knowledge:
Definition: The awareness and understanding of a set of information and ways that
information can be made useful to support a specific task or arrive at a decision;
abounds with others’ thoughts and information. Information that is synthesized so that
pg. 1
, lOMoAR cPSD| 22896205
relationships are identified and formalized. Understanding that comes through a
process of interaction or experience with the world around us. Information that has
judgment applied to it or meaning extracted from it. Processed information that helps
to clarify or explain some portion of our environment or world that we can use as a
basis for action or upon which we can act. Internal process of thinking or cognition.
External process of testing, senses, observation, and interacting. o Wisdom:
Wisdom is the application of knowledge to an appropriate situation.
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. Wisdom is sometimes thought of as the highest form
of common sense, resulting from accumulated knowledge or erudition (deep, thorough
learning) or enlightenment (education that results in understanding and the dissemination
of knowledge).
o Knowledge Workers:
Those who work with information and generate information and knowledge as a product.
They are knowledge acquirers, providing convenient and efficient means of capturing
and storing knowledge. They are knowledge users, meaning individuals or groups who
benefit from valuable, viable knowledge. Nurses are knowledge engineers, designing,
developing, implementing, and maintaining knowledge.
o Refer to chapter 1 outline
• Computer Science
o Definition: Branch of engineering (application of science) that studies the theoretical
foundations of information and computation and their implementation and application in
computer systems. The study of storage/memory, conversion and transformation, and transfer
or transmission of information in machines— that is, computers—through both algorithms and
practical implementation problems. Algorithms are detailed, unambiguous action sequences in
the design, efficiency, and application of computer systems, whereas practical implementation
problems deal with the software and hardware. o READ CHAPTER 3 OUTLINE! Too much
information!
• Cognitive Science/Cognitive Informatics o Definition of Cognitive Science: Interdisciplinary field
that studies the mind, intelligence, and behavior from an information processing
perspectives. o Definition of Cognitive Informatics: Field of study made up of the
pg. 2
