D220 Interactive Learning Guide Final
for OA3| Information Technology in
Nursing practice (Western Governors
University).
, 1
Lakeisha Arrington
Information Technology in Nursing Practice: D220 Learning Guide
Competency One: Explain Health Data
The learner explains how data factors into decision-making to promote high-quality patient
healthcare.
Lesson 1: Healthcare Data Foundations
Objectives:
Describe the purposes for using health data.
Identify sources of health data
Describe data-informed decision-making processes in healthcare.
1. Healthcare Data
a. Define healthcare data: any data relating to the health of an individual patient
or collective population.
b. Describe the purpose of healthcare data related to nursing. The information given
can create a thorough plan that helps patient outcomes, decrease cost and
develop a better plan of care
c. What are three examples of how healthcare data is used in your workplace
or clinical setting: Readmission rates, patient satisfaction scores, quality
reporting(CLABSI,CAUTI, etc)
d. What are common healthcare professions that use healthcare data: Nurses,
doctors, PA’s an administration
2. Importance of Data in Nursing
a. What are three examples of ways healthcare data has influenced the patient care
provided by nurses 1.) notice trends in V/S, collaborate & treat accordingly 2.)
help predict analytics, ID patients at risk for certain disease processes 3.)
evaluate EBP protocols
3. Data Framework
a. Define data framework using the reading Data information, knowledge
wisdom(DIKW) framework refers to the way data becomes a product that can
be used to positively affect patient care
b. What are the components of the DIKW framework Data, Information,
Knowledge, Wisdom
c. How does each component depend on the previous component: D to I to K to W
Data describes the patients disease state, health environment, while information is
data with meaning, then knowledge is information that is processed and
organized so that it relates and inter-actions are identified, wisdom is the
application of knowledge to solve problems
Updated as of March 15, 2025
, 2
4. Informatics
a. Define Informatics using the reading: The science and art of turning data into
information
b. Give an example of how informatics is used in your workplace or clinical
setting Used continuously throughout shift while taking care of patients
c. What fields does health informatics include Bioinformatics, clinical research
informatics, public health informatics
5. Foundational Skills
a. Define foundational skills using the reading: the min req/skills needed for an
information driven culture
b. Give an example of how foundational skills are used in your workplace or
clinical setting Like reading, writing are needed to comprehend and interpret
patient data to provide safe patient care
c. Define Informatics Culture using the reading: A broad term related to the
application of new information technology that impact human culture.
d. How does each of the foundational skills (computer, information, and health
literacy) help to create an informatics culture? Computer literacy,
information literacy, health literacy
6. Ethical Use of Data and Information
a. Define ethical use of data and information using the AHIMA Code of Ethics
Consistent with professional standards of practice and essential to safe
efficient healthcare delivery.
b. How can nurses be patient advocates in the area of ethical use of data and
information Nurses can serve as patient advocates, & protecting health safety
and rights of patients, also protecting systems that house patient information
c. What ethical dilemmas in the use of data and information have you encountered
at your workplace or clinical setting? Nurses discussing health information with
family members not on face sheet as a person of contact. This breaches HIPAA
d. What is the nurse’s primary role in the ethical use of data and
information? Maintaining privacy r/t PHI from public or individuals not
providing direct patient care.
7. Learning Healthcare System
a. Define learning healthcare system using the reading: health system in which
internal data and experience systematically integrated with external evidence,
and knowledge is put into practice
b. Give an example of how a learning healthcare system is modeled in your
workplace or clinical setting: Evidence, practice, research and data. Like when
the
Updated as of March 15, 2025
, 3
pandemic Covid-19 surfaced, our facility followed recommendations from the
CDC regarding proper mask use for healthcare workers.
c. What is essential to a learning healthcare system? strong leadership, effective use
of data in the clinical setting, and both a culture and workforce committed to
continuous learning and improvement.
8. Knowledge Worker
a. Define knowledge worker using the reading Previous knowledge and experience
are applied to take action or intervene in some way
b. Give an example of a knowledge worker in your workplace or clinical setting: I
myself would be considered a knowledge worker. I’ve been with my company
for 15years and my expertise, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills have
assisted in providing a therapeutic work environment for staff and
patients/family.
c. What changes in the healthcare system increased the demand for
knowledge workers? Demands for safe accessible quality care
9. Standardized Languages and Terminologies
a. Define standardized languages and terminologies using the reading: Are
Structured and controlled languages developed according to terminology
development guidelines and approved by an authoritative body. Ensures that
a concept had the same meaning in all settings
b. Give an example of how standardized languages and terminologies are used in
your workplace or clinical setting: While ongoing or off- going shift, assuring
that the EHR matches the patient being discussed
c. What are the benefits of the use of data standardization: facilitate collecting
sorting retrieval selection and aggregation of data
d. What are the consequences if data standardization is not used? A lack of data
standardization jeopardizes opportunities for learning because important data
may not be available for analysis
10. Evidence-Based Practice in Informatics
a. Define Evidence-based practice using the reading: Using current best evidence for
patient care decisions in order to improve patient outcomes
b. Give an example of how Evidence-Based Practice is used in your workplace
or clinical setting: Sepsis protocols
c. How can you identify reliable sources of data? If information has .gov, .edu,
or .org
d. What literature databases can be used to search for Evidence-based
practice? MedPub, EBSCO, ProQuest, Cochran Library
11. Big Data
a. Define Big Data using the reading: A collection of large data which cannot
be analyzed without the use of information technology
Updated as of March 15, 2025
for OA3| Information Technology in
Nursing practice (Western Governors
University).
, 1
Lakeisha Arrington
Information Technology in Nursing Practice: D220 Learning Guide
Competency One: Explain Health Data
The learner explains how data factors into decision-making to promote high-quality patient
healthcare.
Lesson 1: Healthcare Data Foundations
Objectives:
Describe the purposes for using health data.
Identify sources of health data
Describe data-informed decision-making processes in healthcare.
1. Healthcare Data
a. Define healthcare data: any data relating to the health of an individual patient
or collective population.
b. Describe the purpose of healthcare data related to nursing. The information given
can create a thorough plan that helps patient outcomes, decrease cost and
develop a better plan of care
c. What are three examples of how healthcare data is used in your workplace
or clinical setting: Readmission rates, patient satisfaction scores, quality
reporting(CLABSI,CAUTI, etc)
d. What are common healthcare professions that use healthcare data: Nurses,
doctors, PA’s an administration
2. Importance of Data in Nursing
a. What are three examples of ways healthcare data has influenced the patient care
provided by nurses 1.) notice trends in V/S, collaborate & treat accordingly 2.)
help predict analytics, ID patients at risk for certain disease processes 3.)
evaluate EBP protocols
3. Data Framework
a. Define data framework using the reading Data information, knowledge
wisdom(DIKW) framework refers to the way data becomes a product that can
be used to positively affect patient care
b. What are the components of the DIKW framework Data, Information,
Knowledge, Wisdom
c. How does each component depend on the previous component: D to I to K to W
Data describes the patients disease state, health environment, while information is
data with meaning, then knowledge is information that is processed and
organized so that it relates and inter-actions are identified, wisdom is the
application of knowledge to solve problems
Updated as of March 15, 2025
, 2
4. Informatics
a. Define Informatics using the reading: The science and art of turning data into
information
b. Give an example of how informatics is used in your workplace or clinical
setting Used continuously throughout shift while taking care of patients
c. What fields does health informatics include Bioinformatics, clinical research
informatics, public health informatics
5. Foundational Skills
a. Define foundational skills using the reading: the min req/skills needed for an
information driven culture
b. Give an example of how foundational skills are used in your workplace or
clinical setting Like reading, writing are needed to comprehend and interpret
patient data to provide safe patient care
c. Define Informatics Culture using the reading: A broad term related to the
application of new information technology that impact human culture.
d. How does each of the foundational skills (computer, information, and health
literacy) help to create an informatics culture? Computer literacy,
information literacy, health literacy
6. Ethical Use of Data and Information
a. Define ethical use of data and information using the AHIMA Code of Ethics
Consistent with professional standards of practice and essential to safe
efficient healthcare delivery.
b. How can nurses be patient advocates in the area of ethical use of data and
information Nurses can serve as patient advocates, & protecting health safety
and rights of patients, also protecting systems that house patient information
c. What ethical dilemmas in the use of data and information have you encountered
at your workplace or clinical setting? Nurses discussing health information with
family members not on face sheet as a person of contact. This breaches HIPAA
d. What is the nurse’s primary role in the ethical use of data and
information? Maintaining privacy r/t PHI from public or individuals not
providing direct patient care.
7. Learning Healthcare System
a. Define learning healthcare system using the reading: health system in which
internal data and experience systematically integrated with external evidence,
and knowledge is put into practice
b. Give an example of how a learning healthcare system is modeled in your
workplace or clinical setting: Evidence, practice, research and data. Like when
the
Updated as of March 15, 2025
, 3
pandemic Covid-19 surfaced, our facility followed recommendations from the
CDC regarding proper mask use for healthcare workers.
c. What is essential to a learning healthcare system? strong leadership, effective use
of data in the clinical setting, and both a culture and workforce committed to
continuous learning and improvement.
8. Knowledge Worker
a. Define knowledge worker using the reading Previous knowledge and experience
are applied to take action or intervene in some way
b. Give an example of a knowledge worker in your workplace or clinical setting: I
myself would be considered a knowledge worker. I’ve been with my company
for 15years and my expertise, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills have
assisted in providing a therapeutic work environment for staff and
patients/family.
c. What changes in the healthcare system increased the demand for
knowledge workers? Demands for safe accessible quality care
9. Standardized Languages and Terminologies
a. Define standardized languages and terminologies using the reading: Are
Structured and controlled languages developed according to terminology
development guidelines and approved by an authoritative body. Ensures that
a concept had the same meaning in all settings
b. Give an example of how standardized languages and terminologies are used in
your workplace or clinical setting: While ongoing or off- going shift, assuring
that the EHR matches the patient being discussed
c. What are the benefits of the use of data standardization: facilitate collecting
sorting retrieval selection and aggregation of data
d. What are the consequences if data standardization is not used? A lack of data
standardization jeopardizes opportunities for learning because important data
may not be available for analysis
10. Evidence-Based Practice in Informatics
a. Define Evidence-based practice using the reading: Using current best evidence for
patient care decisions in order to improve patient outcomes
b. Give an example of how Evidence-Based Practice is used in your workplace
or clinical setting: Sepsis protocols
c. How can you identify reliable sources of data? If information has .gov, .edu,
or .org
d. What literature databases can be used to search for Evidence-based
practice? MedPub, EBSCO, ProQuest, Cochran Library
11. Big Data
a. Define Big Data using the reading: A collection of large data which cannot
be analyzed without the use of information technology
Updated as of March 15, 2025
