WGU D220 Informatics for Nursing Practice | Chapter 1 (Complete) Foundational Nursing Informatics Examination
WGU D220 Informatics for Nursing Practice
Chapter 1 (Complete) — Examination
Foundational Nursing Informatics | 35 Questions | 4 Sections
Section Topic Coverage Questions
1 Introduction to Nursing Informatics (Definitions, Evolution, Scope, Practice Settings)
Q1 - Q10
2 Theoretical Foundations (DIKW, Systems Theory, Change Theory, Practice Models)
Q11 - Q20
3 Information Science and Computer Science (Data, Hardware, Software, Networks)
Q21 - Q28
4 The Role of the Informatics Nurse (Competencies, Certification, Roles, Collaboration)
Q29 - Q35
Instructions: This examination contains 35 multiple-choice questions covering the foundational content of
WGU D220 Chapter 1: Introduction to Nursing Informatics. Each question has one verified correct answer with
a detailed rationale reflecting nursing informatics principles, theoretical frameworks (DIKW, systems theory,
change theory), and current professional standards (ANA, TIGER, QSEN, ANCC). Review rationales carefully
to reinforce understanding of foundational concepts.
Section 1: Introduction to Nursing Informatics — Questions 1–10
Q1: Which of the following best reflects the American Nurses Association (ANA) definition of
nursing informatics?
A. The use of electronic health records to document nursing care and patient outcomes in acute care
settings.
B. A specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to
manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice.
[CORRECT]
C. The application of computer technology to administrative tasks such as scheduling, billing, and
payroll in healthcare organizations.
D. The study of how nurses use mobile devices and telehealth platforms to communicate with patients
remotely.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
The ANA defines nursing informatics as a specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and
information science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing
practice. This definition emphasizes the integration of three distinct sciences and the management of the full
DIKW continuum. Option A is too narrow, focusing only on EHR documentation; Option C describes
administrative IT, not nursing informatics; Option D conflates informatics with telehealth technology use.
Page 1 | WGU D220 | Nursing Informatics Chapter 1
, WGU D220 Informatics for Nursing Practice | Chapter 1 (Complete) Foundational Nursing Informatics Examination
Q2: A nurse is using the electronic health record (EHR) to identify trends in fall rates among
elderly patients on a medical-surgical unit, then develops a fall-prevention protocol based on
those findings. This activity best represents which scope of nursing informatics practice?
A. Clinical informatics [CORRECT]
B. Administrative informatics
C. Educational informatics
D. Research informatics
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
The nurse is using informatics tools (the EHR) to analyze clinical data and improve patient outcomes at the
point of care, which is the hallmark of clinical informatics. Although research may be involved, the primary
intent is improving direct patient care through clinical decision support. Option B focuses on
operational/management functions; Option C focuses on teaching and learning; Option D focuses on
generating new knowledge through formal research methodology.
Q3: Which historical milestone is most directly associated with the formal recognition of
nursing informatics as a specialty by the American Nurses Association (ANA)?
A. The publication of the original nursing informatics scope and standards in 1994–1995.
[CORRECT]
B. The establishment of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in 1996.
C. The formation of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) in 1961.
D. The launch of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs (Meaningful Use) in 2009.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
The ANA formally recognized nursing informatics as a specialty with the publication of the Scope and
Standards of Nursing Informatics Practice in 1994–1995, establishing the foundation for subsequent
certification and practice standards. Option B (HIPAA) addresses privacy and security regulations; Option C
(HIMSS) is a professional organization, not a specialty recognition; Option D (Meaningful Use) incentivized
EHR adoption decades later.
Q4: A staff nurse consistently uses the barcode medication administration (BCMA) system,
consults clinical decision support tools, and documents care in the EHR. According to the ANA,
this nurse is functioning at which level of informatics practice?
A. Informatics nurse specialist
B. Informatics innovator
C. All nurse practitioners are informatics nurses
D. All practicing nurses use informatics in their daily practice [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
The ANA emphasizes that all practicing nurses use informatics in daily practice through documentation,
clinical decision support, and technology-mediated care delivery. The informatics nurse specialist (Option A) is
a graduate-prepared expert with formal informatics education. The innovator (Option B) is a higher-level role
conducting research and producing informatics innovations. Option C is incorrect because not all nurses are
formally educated as informatics specialists.
Page 2 | WGU D220 | Nursing Informatics Chapter 1
WGU D220 Informatics for Nursing Practice
Chapter 1 (Complete) — Examination
Foundational Nursing Informatics | 35 Questions | 4 Sections
Section Topic Coverage Questions
1 Introduction to Nursing Informatics (Definitions, Evolution, Scope, Practice Settings)
Q1 - Q10
2 Theoretical Foundations (DIKW, Systems Theory, Change Theory, Practice Models)
Q11 - Q20
3 Information Science and Computer Science (Data, Hardware, Software, Networks)
Q21 - Q28
4 The Role of the Informatics Nurse (Competencies, Certification, Roles, Collaboration)
Q29 - Q35
Instructions: This examination contains 35 multiple-choice questions covering the foundational content of
WGU D220 Chapter 1: Introduction to Nursing Informatics. Each question has one verified correct answer with
a detailed rationale reflecting nursing informatics principles, theoretical frameworks (DIKW, systems theory,
change theory), and current professional standards (ANA, TIGER, QSEN, ANCC). Review rationales carefully
to reinforce understanding of foundational concepts.
Section 1: Introduction to Nursing Informatics — Questions 1–10
Q1: Which of the following best reflects the American Nurses Association (ANA) definition of
nursing informatics?
A. The use of electronic health records to document nursing care and patient outcomes in acute care
settings.
B. A specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to
manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice.
[CORRECT]
C. The application of computer technology to administrative tasks such as scheduling, billing, and
payroll in healthcare organizations.
D. The study of how nurses use mobile devices and telehealth platforms to communicate with patients
remotely.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
The ANA defines nursing informatics as a specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and
information science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing
practice. This definition emphasizes the integration of three distinct sciences and the management of the full
DIKW continuum. Option A is too narrow, focusing only on EHR documentation; Option C describes
administrative IT, not nursing informatics; Option D conflates informatics with telehealth technology use.
Page 1 | WGU D220 | Nursing Informatics Chapter 1
, WGU D220 Informatics for Nursing Practice | Chapter 1 (Complete) Foundational Nursing Informatics Examination
Q2: A nurse is using the electronic health record (EHR) to identify trends in fall rates among
elderly patients on a medical-surgical unit, then develops a fall-prevention protocol based on
those findings. This activity best represents which scope of nursing informatics practice?
A. Clinical informatics [CORRECT]
B. Administrative informatics
C. Educational informatics
D. Research informatics
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
The nurse is using informatics tools (the EHR) to analyze clinical data and improve patient outcomes at the
point of care, which is the hallmark of clinical informatics. Although research may be involved, the primary
intent is improving direct patient care through clinical decision support. Option B focuses on
operational/management functions; Option C focuses on teaching and learning; Option D focuses on
generating new knowledge through formal research methodology.
Q3: Which historical milestone is most directly associated with the formal recognition of
nursing informatics as a specialty by the American Nurses Association (ANA)?
A. The publication of the original nursing informatics scope and standards in 1994–1995.
[CORRECT]
B. The establishment of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in 1996.
C. The formation of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) in 1961.
D. The launch of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs (Meaningful Use) in 2009.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
The ANA formally recognized nursing informatics as a specialty with the publication of the Scope and
Standards of Nursing Informatics Practice in 1994–1995, establishing the foundation for subsequent
certification and practice standards. Option B (HIPAA) addresses privacy and security regulations; Option C
(HIMSS) is a professional organization, not a specialty recognition; Option D (Meaningful Use) incentivized
EHR adoption decades later.
Q4: A staff nurse consistently uses the barcode medication administration (BCMA) system,
consults clinical decision support tools, and documents care in the EHR. According to the ANA,
this nurse is functioning at which level of informatics practice?
A. Informatics nurse specialist
B. Informatics innovator
C. All nurse practitioners are informatics nurses
D. All practicing nurses use informatics in their daily practice [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
The ANA emphasizes that all practicing nurses use informatics in daily practice through documentation,
clinical decision support, and technology-mediated care delivery. The informatics nurse specialist (Option A) is
a graduate-prepared expert with formal informatics education. The innovator (Option B) is a higher-level role
conducting research and producing informatics innovations. Option C is incorrect because not all nurses are
formally educated as informatics specialists.
Page 2 | WGU D220 | Nursing Informatics Chapter 1
