WGU C790 – Healthcare Informatics &
Information Systems | Complete OA Prep
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Section 1: Foundations of Nursing Informatics (Data, Information, Knowledge, Wisdom)
1. A nurse enters a patient's blood pressure reading of "120/80" into the electronic health
record. At this moment, before any clinical context is applied, this value is considered:
A) Information
B) Knowledge
C) Wisdom
D) Data
Answer: D) Data
Rationale: Data are discrete, objective facts or measurements without interpretation. The
blood pressure reading becomes "Information" only once it is interpreted against normal
values or trends .
2. A nursing informatics specialist analyzes a spreadsheet of hospital fall rates to identify
trends and patterns related to specific times of day. This synthesis of data to identify
relationships represents the transformation of data into:
A) Wisdom
B) Raw facts
C) Knowledge
D) Input
Answer: C) Knowledge
Rationale: Knowledge is created when information is synthesized so that relationships are
identified and formalized. Wisdom is the appropriate application of that knowledge to
manage human problems .
3. Which of the following best describes the role of the "Decoder" in Shannon & Weaver's
Mathematical Model of communication?
,A) The sender who initiates the message
B) The medium used to send the message (e.g., fiber optic lines)
C) The machine or person who converts signals or binary data back into a message
D) The final destination of the message
Answer: C) The machine or person who converts signals or binary data back into a message
Rationale: In this model, the Encoder sends the signal via a Channel. The Decoder (receiver)
must translate the signal back into a comprehensible message for the Destination .
4. A charge nurse decides to override a medication alert because the patient's specific
clinical presentation indicates the alert is a false positive. This decision-making process,
using experience and knowledge to solve a clinical problem, best exemplifies:
A) Data acquisition
B) Information processing
C) Wisdom
D) Raw data storage
Answer: C) Wisdom
Rationale: Wisdom is defined as the appropriate use of knowledge (e.g., knowing the
medication interaction exists) to manage and solve human problems (e.g., recognizing the
exception to the rule) .
Section 2: System Life Cycles (SDLC & SLC) and Project Management
5. A hospital is implementing a new EHR. They are currently assessing the existing
environment, identifying user needs, and defining requirements for the new system.
According to the Solution Life Cycle (SLC), this occurs during the:
A) Design phase
B) Feasibility and Analysis phase
C) Deployment phase
D) Archive phase
Answer: B) Feasibility and Analysis phase
Rationale: This initial phase involves evaluating the current system, conducting readiness
assessments, identifying deficiencies, and defining requirements for the new system .
6. A small physician's office is unsure which EHR system will best fit their unique workflow.
They need a flexible development model that allows for continuous feedback and
adaptation to changing needs as the project progresses. Which approach is best suited?
A) Predictive (Waterfall)
B) Adaptive (Agile)
C) Layered
D) Waterfall
, Answer: B) Adaptive (Agile)
Rationale: The Adaptive approach (often Agile) assumes the project must be flexible and
adapt to changing needs. Predictive approaches (Waterfall) assume the plan can be finalized
in advance .
7. According to Lewin's Change Model, after a new informatics system has been
implemented and staff have begun to master it, the final step of making this new process
the standard operating procedure is called:
A) Unfreezing
B) Moving/Changing
C) Refreezing
D) Reverberation
Answer: C) Refreezing
Rationale: Lewin's model consists of Unfreezing (preparing for change), Changing
(implementing the new system), and Refreezing (establishing stability and making the
change permanent) .
8. Which phase of the traditional System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) involves writing
the actual code and configuring the hardware?
A) Requirement Gathering
B) Design
C) Implementation or Coding
D) Testing
Answer: C) Implementation or Coding
Rationale: While naming conventions vary, the Implementation/Coding phase is where the
technical architecture is physically built according to the design specifications .
9. A health system is using a "Big Bang" go-live strategy. What does this entail?
A) Implementing one module at a time over several months
B) Implementing all applications or modules simultaneously at all locations
C) Testing the system in a simulated environment only
D) Phased rollout by department
Answer: B) Implementing all applications or modules simultaneously at all locations
Rationale: A "Big Bang" approach is high-risk but fast; the entire system goes live at once, as
opposed to a phased or parallel adoption .
10. "Super users" are most critical to the success of an EHR implementation during which
specific step?
A) Strategic Planning
B) Vendor selection
C) Managing go-live activities and post go-live support
D) Contract negotiation
Information Systems | Complete OA Prep
Guide Questions Verified and Provided with
A+ Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026
Pass100% (| Examination (100+ Questions)
Section 1: Foundations of Nursing Informatics (Data, Information, Knowledge, Wisdom)
1. A nurse enters a patient's blood pressure reading of "120/80" into the electronic health
record. At this moment, before any clinical context is applied, this value is considered:
A) Information
B) Knowledge
C) Wisdom
D) Data
Answer: D) Data
Rationale: Data are discrete, objective facts or measurements without interpretation. The
blood pressure reading becomes "Information" only once it is interpreted against normal
values or trends .
2. A nursing informatics specialist analyzes a spreadsheet of hospital fall rates to identify
trends and patterns related to specific times of day. This synthesis of data to identify
relationships represents the transformation of data into:
A) Wisdom
B) Raw facts
C) Knowledge
D) Input
Answer: C) Knowledge
Rationale: Knowledge is created when information is synthesized so that relationships are
identified and formalized. Wisdom is the appropriate application of that knowledge to
manage human problems .
3. Which of the following best describes the role of the "Decoder" in Shannon & Weaver's
Mathematical Model of communication?
,A) The sender who initiates the message
B) The medium used to send the message (e.g., fiber optic lines)
C) The machine or person who converts signals or binary data back into a message
D) The final destination of the message
Answer: C) The machine or person who converts signals or binary data back into a message
Rationale: In this model, the Encoder sends the signal via a Channel. The Decoder (receiver)
must translate the signal back into a comprehensible message for the Destination .
4. A charge nurse decides to override a medication alert because the patient's specific
clinical presentation indicates the alert is a false positive. This decision-making process,
using experience and knowledge to solve a clinical problem, best exemplifies:
A) Data acquisition
B) Information processing
C) Wisdom
D) Raw data storage
Answer: C) Wisdom
Rationale: Wisdom is defined as the appropriate use of knowledge (e.g., knowing the
medication interaction exists) to manage and solve human problems (e.g., recognizing the
exception to the rule) .
Section 2: System Life Cycles (SDLC & SLC) and Project Management
5. A hospital is implementing a new EHR. They are currently assessing the existing
environment, identifying user needs, and defining requirements for the new system.
According to the Solution Life Cycle (SLC), this occurs during the:
A) Design phase
B) Feasibility and Analysis phase
C) Deployment phase
D) Archive phase
Answer: B) Feasibility and Analysis phase
Rationale: This initial phase involves evaluating the current system, conducting readiness
assessments, identifying deficiencies, and defining requirements for the new system .
6. A small physician's office is unsure which EHR system will best fit their unique workflow.
They need a flexible development model that allows for continuous feedback and
adaptation to changing needs as the project progresses. Which approach is best suited?
A) Predictive (Waterfall)
B) Adaptive (Agile)
C) Layered
D) Waterfall
, Answer: B) Adaptive (Agile)
Rationale: The Adaptive approach (often Agile) assumes the project must be flexible and
adapt to changing needs. Predictive approaches (Waterfall) assume the plan can be finalized
in advance .
7. According to Lewin's Change Model, after a new informatics system has been
implemented and staff have begun to master it, the final step of making this new process
the standard operating procedure is called:
A) Unfreezing
B) Moving/Changing
C) Refreezing
D) Reverberation
Answer: C) Refreezing
Rationale: Lewin's model consists of Unfreezing (preparing for change), Changing
(implementing the new system), and Refreezing (establishing stability and making the
change permanent) .
8. Which phase of the traditional System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) involves writing
the actual code and configuring the hardware?
A) Requirement Gathering
B) Design
C) Implementation or Coding
D) Testing
Answer: C) Implementation or Coding
Rationale: While naming conventions vary, the Implementation/Coding phase is where the
technical architecture is physically built according to the design specifications .
9. A health system is using a "Big Bang" go-live strategy. What does this entail?
A) Implementing one module at a time over several months
B) Implementing all applications or modules simultaneously at all locations
C) Testing the system in a simulated environment only
D) Phased rollout by department
Answer: B) Implementing all applications or modules simultaneously at all locations
Rationale: A "Big Bang" approach is high-risk but fast; the entire system goes live at once, as
opposed to a phased or parallel adoption .
10. "Super users" are most critical to the success of an EHR implementation during which
specific step?
A) Strategic Planning
B) Vendor selection
C) Managing go-live activities and post go-live support
D) Contract negotiation
