WGU D220 | PRE-ASSESSMENT STUDY GUIDE
WGU D220
Pre-Assessment Study Guide
2026–2027 | Key Concepts & Practice Quiz
Information Technology in Nursing Practice
Core review • Applied scenarios • Original practice quiz • Answer key
Independent learning resource. Not an official WGU pre-assessment or a
reproduction of protected assessment items.
Original educational practice resource • 2026–2027
, WGU D220 | PRE-ASSESSMENT STUDY GUIDE
How to Use This Guide
1. First, review the key concepts and try to explain each in your own words.
2. Complete the quiz without checking the answers. Mark questions you guessed
on as well as those you missed.
3. Review each rationale, then revisit the topic summary for any concept that
remains unclear.
4. Use the final checklist to plan targeted study. Confirm the current course
competencies and assessment guidance in your WGU course.
Key Concepts
1. Nursing informatics and DIKW
Nursing informatics integrates nursing science, information science, and
computer science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge,
and wisdom in support of nursing practice and decision-making. Data are raw
facts; information adds context; knowledge identifies patterns or relationships;
wisdom applies judgment to a specific situation. Technology supports, but does
not replace, clinical judgment.
2. Data quality and integrity
Useful data should be accurate, complete, timely, consistent, valid, relevant, and
traceable to a source. Structured fields support searching and analysis; narrative
notes preserve nuance. Validate patient identity, units, timestamps, source, and
measurement quality before acting on unexpected or imported information.
Original educational practice resource • 2026–2027
, WGU D220 | PRE-ASSESSMENT STUDY GUIDE
3. Health information systems
EHRs support electronic clinical records, often across encounters and connected
care settings. EMR commonly refers to an electronic record within a particular
practice or organization. CPOE supports electronic entry and routing of orders.
CDS/CDSS provides reminders, alerts, order sets, and patient-specific guidance.
eMAR documents medication administration; BCMA uses barcode checks to
support patient/medication verification.
4. Interoperability and standards
Interoperability means systems can exchange information and use it meaningfully.
HL7 is a family of health information exchange standards; FHIR uses modular
resources and web-oriented exchange. LOINC commonly identifies laboratory
tests and observations; SNOMED CT represents clinical concepts; ICD-10-CM
supports diagnosis classification; RxNorm normalizes medication concepts;
DICOM supports medical imaging information.
5. Privacy, security, and ethics
Confidentiality protects information from unauthorized disclosure; integrity
protects accuracy and prevents improper alteration; availability ensures
authorized access when needed. Use unique credentials, role-appropriate access,
secure channels, and screen locking. Report suspected incidents promptly.
Follow applicable law and organizational policy; do not access records out of
curiosity or conceal documentation errors.
6. Clinical decision support and safety
Alerts can support recognition of allergies, interactions, deterioration, and other
risks, but may be inaccurate or poorly configured. Alert fatigue can occur when too
Original educational practice resource • 2026–2027
WGU D220
Pre-Assessment Study Guide
2026–2027 | Key Concepts & Practice Quiz
Information Technology in Nursing Practice
Core review • Applied scenarios • Original practice quiz • Answer key
Independent learning resource. Not an official WGU pre-assessment or a
reproduction of protected assessment items.
Original educational practice resource • 2026–2027
, WGU D220 | PRE-ASSESSMENT STUDY GUIDE
How to Use This Guide
1. First, review the key concepts and try to explain each in your own words.
2. Complete the quiz without checking the answers. Mark questions you guessed
on as well as those you missed.
3. Review each rationale, then revisit the topic summary for any concept that
remains unclear.
4. Use the final checklist to plan targeted study. Confirm the current course
competencies and assessment guidance in your WGU course.
Key Concepts
1. Nursing informatics and DIKW
Nursing informatics integrates nursing science, information science, and
computer science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge,
and wisdom in support of nursing practice and decision-making. Data are raw
facts; information adds context; knowledge identifies patterns or relationships;
wisdom applies judgment to a specific situation. Technology supports, but does
not replace, clinical judgment.
2. Data quality and integrity
Useful data should be accurate, complete, timely, consistent, valid, relevant, and
traceable to a source. Structured fields support searching and analysis; narrative
notes preserve nuance. Validate patient identity, units, timestamps, source, and
measurement quality before acting on unexpected or imported information.
Original educational practice resource • 2026–2027
, WGU D220 | PRE-ASSESSMENT STUDY GUIDE
3. Health information systems
EHRs support electronic clinical records, often across encounters and connected
care settings. EMR commonly refers to an electronic record within a particular
practice or organization. CPOE supports electronic entry and routing of orders.
CDS/CDSS provides reminders, alerts, order sets, and patient-specific guidance.
eMAR documents medication administration; BCMA uses barcode checks to
support patient/medication verification.
4. Interoperability and standards
Interoperability means systems can exchange information and use it meaningfully.
HL7 is a family of health information exchange standards; FHIR uses modular
resources and web-oriented exchange. LOINC commonly identifies laboratory
tests and observations; SNOMED CT represents clinical concepts; ICD-10-CM
supports diagnosis classification; RxNorm normalizes medication concepts;
DICOM supports medical imaging information.
5. Privacy, security, and ethics
Confidentiality protects information from unauthorized disclosure; integrity
protects accuracy and prevents improper alteration; availability ensures
authorized access when needed. Use unique credentials, role-appropriate access,
secure channels, and screen locking. Report suspected incidents promptly.
Follow applicable law and organizational policy; do not access records out of
curiosity or conceal documentation errors.
6. Clinical decision support and safety
Alerts can support recognition of allergies, interactions, deterioration, and other
risks, but may be inaccurate or poorly configured. Alert fatigue can occur when too
Original educational practice resource • 2026–2027
