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C790 Nursing Informatics (WGU)
THEORIES AND MODELS Questions and
Answers (Expert Solutions)
Q: Open System (Systems Theory)
ANS 🗹🗹: Open systems take input (information, matter, and energy) from the
environment, process the input, and then return output to the environment. The
output then becomes feedback to the system. Open systems are sometimes referred
to as closed. This reference does not mean that the system is truly a closed system
but rather that the boundaries are less permeable and as a result input is limited.
Q: Dynamic homeostasis
ANS 🗹🗹: refers to the processes used by a system to maintain a steady state or
balance. Feedback loop-goal of maintaining a steady state can affect how clinical
settings respond when changes are made or a new system is implemented.
Q: Equifinality
ANS 🗹🗹: is the tendency of open systems to reach a characteristic final state from
different initial conditions and in different ways. Example: two different clinics with
different charting systems adopt a new system, and end up with the same result.
Q: Entropy
ANS 🗹🗹: is the tendency of all systems to break down into their simplest parts. As it
breaks down the system becomes increasingly disorganized or random.
In data transmission, entropy measures the loss of information when a signal is
transmitted.
All systems eventually must be replaced.
Q: Negentropy
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ANS 🗹🗹: is the opposite of entropy. This is the tendency of living systems to grow
and become more complex.
Q: Reverberation
ANS 🗹🗹: is reflected in the intended and unintended consequences of system
change. Chaos theory was developed in the 50s to explain the phenomena of
unintended consequences.
Q: dynamic systems
ANS 🗹🗹: chaotic systems. While chaotic systems vary in their state of stability, they
are in a constant state of change. The change is nonlinear. In a nonlinear system the
output of the system is not proportional to the input.
Q: reiterative feedback loop
ANS 🗹🗹: major impact on how imput affects output. A minor change in input can
cause a major change in output (butterfly effect).
Q: fractal-type patterns
ANS 🗹🗹: while the output or behavior of a chaotic system will appear unstable,
aperiodic, and even random, these systems are deterministic. Their output is
determined by the initial input, reiterative feedback loops, and the dynamic
changes that occur over time. Out of chaos comes order: snowflake
Q: chaos theory
ANS 🗹🗹: Both chaos and complexity theory involve the study of dynamic nonlinear
systems that change with time and demonstrate complex relationships between
inputs and outputs due to reiterative feedback loops. "The quantitative study of
these systems is chaos theory. Complexity theory is the qualitative aspect drawing
upon insights and metaphors that are derived from chaos theory."
Q: complexity theory
ANS 🗹🗹: Both chaos and complexity theory involve the study of dynamic nonlinear
systems that change with time and demonstrate complex relationships between
inputs and outputs due to reiterative feedback loops. "The quantitative study of
these systems is chaos theory. Complexity theory is the qualitative aspect drawing
upon insights and metaphors that are derived from chaos theory." (complexity
theory=pseudoscience ?)
C790 Nursing Informatics (WGU)
THEORIES AND MODELS Questions and
Answers (Expert Solutions)
Q: Open System (Systems Theory)
ANS 🗹🗹: Open systems take input (information, matter, and energy) from the
environment, process the input, and then return output to the environment. The
output then becomes feedback to the system. Open systems are sometimes referred
to as closed. This reference does not mean that the system is truly a closed system
but rather that the boundaries are less permeable and as a result input is limited.
Q: Dynamic homeostasis
ANS 🗹🗹: refers to the processes used by a system to maintain a steady state or
balance. Feedback loop-goal of maintaining a steady state can affect how clinical
settings respond when changes are made or a new system is implemented.
Q: Equifinality
ANS 🗹🗹: is the tendency of open systems to reach a characteristic final state from
different initial conditions and in different ways. Example: two different clinics with
different charting systems adopt a new system, and end up with the same result.
Q: Entropy
ANS 🗹🗹: is the tendency of all systems to break down into their simplest parts. As it
breaks down the system becomes increasingly disorganized or random.
In data transmission, entropy measures the loss of information when a signal is
transmitted.
All systems eventually must be replaced.
Q: Negentropy
, Page | 2
ANS 🗹🗹: is the opposite of entropy. This is the tendency of living systems to grow
and become more complex.
Q: Reverberation
ANS 🗹🗹: is reflected in the intended and unintended consequences of system
change. Chaos theory was developed in the 50s to explain the phenomena of
unintended consequences.
Q: dynamic systems
ANS 🗹🗹: chaotic systems. While chaotic systems vary in their state of stability, they
are in a constant state of change. The change is nonlinear. In a nonlinear system the
output of the system is not proportional to the input.
Q: reiterative feedback loop
ANS 🗹🗹: major impact on how imput affects output. A minor change in input can
cause a major change in output (butterfly effect).
Q: fractal-type patterns
ANS 🗹🗹: while the output or behavior of a chaotic system will appear unstable,
aperiodic, and even random, these systems are deterministic. Their output is
determined by the initial input, reiterative feedback loops, and the dynamic
changes that occur over time. Out of chaos comes order: snowflake
Q: chaos theory
ANS 🗹🗹: Both chaos and complexity theory involve the study of dynamic nonlinear
systems that change with time and demonstrate complex relationships between
inputs and outputs due to reiterative feedback loops. "The quantitative study of
these systems is chaos theory. Complexity theory is the qualitative aspect drawing
upon insights and metaphors that are derived from chaos theory."
Q: complexity theory
ANS 🗹🗹: Both chaos and complexity theory involve the study of dynamic nonlinear
systems that change with time and demonstrate complex relationships between
inputs and outputs due to reiterative feedback loops. "The quantitative study of
these systems is chaos theory. Complexity theory is the qualitative aspect drawing
upon insights and metaphors that are derived from chaos theory." (complexity
theory=pseudoscience ?)
