NR-512 nr-512:Practice Exam & Study Guide:
Fundamentals of Nursing Informatics and
Application for APNs 2025-2026
1. Which of the following best defines nursing informatics?
A. The study of computer programming for nurses
B. The use of information technology to manage and communicate data in nursing
practice
C. The manual recording of patient vital signs
D. The administration of medications using electronic devices
B. The use of information technology to manage and communicate data in nursing
practice
Rationale: Nursing informatics integrates nursing science, computer science, and
information science to manage and communicate patient data effectively.
2. Which term refers to a patient-centered electronic record that allows patients
to access their health information?
A. Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
B. Health Information Exchange (HIE)
C. Personal Health Record (PHR)
D. Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS)
C. Personal Health Record (PHR)
Rationale: A PHR is managed by the patient and includes health information that
the patient can access and share with healthcare providers.
3. Which of the following is a primary goal of nursing informatics?
A. To replace nurses with computers
,B. To improve patient care and safety through data management
C. To eliminate all paperwork in hospitals
D. To teach nurses programming skills
B. To improve patient care and safety through data management
Rationale: The main goal of nursing informatics is to enhance patient outcomes,
streamline workflows, and improve decision-making through efficient information
management.
4. What is the function of a Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS)?
A. Store patient billing information
B. Provide evidence-based recommendations for patient care
C. Replace nurse judgment in care decisions
D. Schedule staff shifts
B. Provide evidence-based recommendations for patient care
Rationale: CDSS provides alerts, reminders, and guidance to support clinicians in
making evidence-based clinical decisions.
5. Which standard is commonly used to ensure electronic health record (EHR)
interoperability?
A. HTML
B. SNOMED CT
C. CSS
D. JPEG
B. SNOMED CT
Rationale: SNOMED CT is a standardized clinical terminology used to ensure that
health information can be exchanged and interpreted consistently across systems.
6. Which is an example of secondary use of healthcare data?
A. Documenting patient vital signs
,B. Conducting research on patient outcomes
C. Recording a medication administration
D. Charting a patient allergy
B. Conducting research on patient outcomes
Rationale: Secondary use refers to using data collected for clinical purposes in
research, quality improvement, or policy-making.
7. What is a key benefit of electronic health records (EHRs)?
A. They reduce the need for nursing education
B. They improve the accuracy and accessibility of patient information
C. They eliminate the need for patient consent
D. They replace bedside assessments
B. They improve the accuracy and accessibility of patient information
Rationale: EHRs allow clinicians to access up-to-date patient information, reducing
errors and enhancing coordination of care.
8. Which legislation in the U.S. promotes the meaningful use of health
information technology?
A. HIPAA
B. HITECH Act
C. Affordable Care Act
D. FDA Modernization Act
B. HITECH Act
Rationale: The HITECH Act incentivizes healthcare providers to adopt and use
EHRs in a meaningful way to improve patient care.
9. In nursing informatics, what is “interoperability”?
A. The ability of a system to function without electricity
B. The ability of different information systems to communicate and exchange data
, accurately
C. The ability of nurses to program software
D. The ability of patients to log into their portals
B. The ability of different information systems to communicate and exchange data
accurately
Rationale: Interoperability ensures that health information systems can share,
interpret, and use data consistently across platforms.
10. What is the main purpose of health information exchange (HIE)?
A. To allow multiple hospitals to merge
B. To enable sharing of patient information across healthcare organizations
C. To store financial information of patients
D. To replace EHRs entirely
B. To enable sharing of patient information across healthcare organizations
Rationale: HIE facilitates the secure sharing of patient data to improve continuity
of care and reduce redundant testing.
11. Which of the following is a challenge of implementing nursing informatics
systems?
A. Improved communication among staff
B. High initial costs and staff training requirements
C. Increased patient satisfaction
D. Reduced documentation errors
B. High initial costs and staff training requirements
Rationale: Implementing informatics systems often requires significant investment
in technology, training, and workflow changes.
12. What role do nurses play in ensuring data quality in EHRs?
A. They program the EHR system
Fundamentals of Nursing Informatics and
Application for APNs 2025-2026
1. Which of the following best defines nursing informatics?
A. The study of computer programming for nurses
B. The use of information technology to manage and communicate data in nursing
practice
C. The manual recording of patient vital signs
D. The administration of medications using electronic devices
B. The use of information technology to manage and communicate data in nursing
practice
Rationale: Nursing informatics integrates nursing science, computer science, and
information science to manage and communicate patient data effectively.
2. Which term refers to a patient-centered electronic record that allows patients
to access their health information?
A. Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
B. Health Information Exchange (HIE)
C. Personal Health Record (PHR)
D. Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS)
C. Personal Health Record (PHR)
Rationale: A PHR is managed by the patient and includes health information that
the patient can access and share with healthcare providers.
3. Which of the following is a primary goal of nursing informatics?
A. To replace nurses with computers
,B. To improve patient care and safety through data management
C. To eliminate all paperwork in hospitals
D. To teach nurses programming skills
B. To improve patient care and safety through data management
Rationale: The main goal of nursing informatics is to enhance patient outcomes,
streamline workflows, and improve decision-making through efficient information
management.
4. What is the function of a Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS)?
A. Store patient billing information
B. Provide evidence-based recommendations for patient care
C. Replace nurse judgment in care decisions
D. Schedule staff shifts
B. Provide evidence-based recommendations for patient care
Rationale: CDSS provides alerts, reminders, and guidance to support clinicians in
making evidence-based clinical decisions.
5. Which standard is commonly used to ensure electronic health record (EHR)
interoperability?
A. HTML
B. SNOMED CT
C. CSS
D. JPEG
B. SNOMED CT
Rationale: SNOMED CT is a standardized clinical terminology used to ensure that
health information can be exchanged and interpreted consistently across systems.
6. Which is an example of secondary use of healthcare data?
A. Documenting patient vital signs
,B. Conducting research on patient outcomes
C. Recording a medication administration
D. Charting a patient allergy
B. Conducting research on patient outcomes
Rationale: Secondary use refers to using data collected for clinical purposes in
research, quality improvement, or policy-making.
7. What is a key benefit of electronic health records (EHRs)?
A. They reduce the need for nursing education
B. They improve the accuracy and accessibility of patient information
C. They eliminate the need for patient consent
D. They replace bedside assessments
B. They improve the accuracy and accessibility of patient information
Rationale: EHRs allow clinicians to access up-to-date patient information, reducing
errors and enhancing coordination of care.
8. Which legislation in the U.S. promotes the meaningful use of health
information technology?
A. HIPAA
B. HITECH Act
C. Affordable Care Act
D. FDA Modernization Act
B. HITECH Act
Rationale: The HITECH Act incentivizes healthcare providers to adopt and use
EHRs in a meaningful way to improve patient care.
9. In nursing informatics, what is “interoperability”?
A. The ability of a system to function without electricity
B. The ability of different information systems to communicate and exchange data
, accurately
C. The ability of nurses to program software
D. The ability of patients to log into their portals
B. The ability of different information systems to communicate and exchange data
accurately
Rationale: Interoperability ensures that health information systems can share,
interpret, and use data consistently across platforms.
10. What is the main purpose of health information exchange (HIE)?
A. To allow multiple hospitals to merge
B. To enable sharing of patient information across healthcare organizations
C. To store financial information of patients
D. To replace EHRs entirely
B. To enable sharing of patient information across healthcare organizations
Rationale: HIE facilitates the secure sharing of patient data to improve continuity
of care and reduce redundant testing.
11. Which of the following is a challenge of implementing nursing informatics
systems?
A. Improved communication among staff
B. High initial costs and staff training requirements
C. Increased patient satisfaction
D. Reduced documentation errors
B. High initial costs and staff training requirements
Rationale: Implementing informatics systems often requires significant investment
in technology, training, and workflow changes.
12. What role do nurses play in ensuring data quality in EHRs?
A. They program the EHR system
