Chapter 1: Introduction: The Evolution of Health Informatics
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The historical roots of computer science can be traced to:
a. language development, especially English.
b. mathematics and engineering.
c. library science.
d. medicine and nursing.
ANS: B
The historical roots of computer science can be traced back to mathematics and engineering.
The historical roots of information science began in library science. Language development and
medicine and nursing are not the roots of computer science.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: p. 3
2. The historical roots of information science can be traced to:
a. language development, especially English.
b. mathematics and engineering.
c. library science.
d. medicine and nursing.
ANS: C
The historical roots of information science began in library science. The historical roots of
computer science can be traced back to mathematics and engineering. Language development
and medicine and nursing are not the roots of information science.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: pp. 3-4
3. The first book to include the term nursing informatics in the title was written in the:
a. 1960s.
b. 1970s.
c. 1980s.
d. 1990s.
ANS: C
The first book to include the term nursing informatics in the title was published in 1988.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: p. 6
4. As knowledge develops and expands within a discipline, which information source will include
the oldest but best organized representation of that knowledge?
a. Conference presentations
b. Conference proceedings
c. Journal articles
d. Books
ANS: D
1
, The information source that includes the oldest but best organized representation of knowledge
is books.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: p. 5
5. Which technical development created a tension between centralized and decentralized computer
management in healthcare?
a. The development of punch cards
b. The elimination of punch cards
c. The development of the mainframe computer
d. The development of the personal computer
ANS: D
The development of the personal computer created tension between centralized and
decentralized computer management in healthcare. The other responses highlight aspects of
decentralized computer management.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: p. 3
6. Which of the following is not a member organization but rather a group of organizations?
a. AMIA
b. HIMSS
c. AHIMA
d. ANI
ANS: D
The Alliance for Nursing Informatics (ANI) is an organization of organizations. This is not a
member group. AMIA, HIMSS, and AHIMA are all member groups.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: p. 7
7. Which statement concerning educational programs in health informatics is correct?
a. All health informatics programs are offered at the graduate level.
b. Informatics programs offered by medical schools always require students to have
earned an MD for admission.
c. All health informatics programs are located within health-related departments or
schools such as nursing, medicine, or pharmacy.
d. Health informatics programs range from certificate programs offered at the
community college level to post-doctoral programs offered at major research
institutions.
ANS: D
The correct response is health informatics programs range from certificate programs offered at
the community college level to post-doctoral programs offered at major research institutions.
Not all informatics programs require an MD, are at the graduate level, or are located within
schools of health sciences.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: pp. 9-10
8. Which statement related to certification in health informatics is correct?
a. A master’s in nursing is required to sit for the NI examination offered by ANCC.
2
, b. To be certified in clinical informatics in association with AMIA, one must first be a
physician.
c. There are no specific educational requirements for CPHIMS certification through
HIMSS, but three years of full-time clinical experience in health IT is required.
d. To be certified as CPHIMS, you must be a nurse.
ANS: B
To be certified in clinical informatics in association with AMIA, one must first be a physician.
You do not need to have an MSN to sit for the NI exam by the ANCC. There are specific
requirements for CPHIMS, but being a nurse is not one of them.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: p. 11
MULTIPLE RESPONSE
9. The term informatics is derived from: (Select all that apply.)
a. Dutch.
b. English.
c. Russian.
d. Arabic.
e. French.
ANS: B, C, E
The term informatics was derived from the following languages: English, Russian, and French.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: p. 4
10. When the AMIA model is used, which subfields are categorized as clinical informatics? (Select
all that apply.)
a. Medical informatics
b. Nursing informatics
c. Dental informatics
d. Chemical informatics
e. Business informatics
ANS: A, B, C
When the AMIA model is used, the following disciplines are categorized as clinical informatics:
medical informatics, nursing informatics, and dental informatics. The other responses are not
clinically related.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze REF: p. 14
3
, Chapter 2: Theoretical Foundations of Health Informatics
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What is the primary difference between an open and closed system?
a. An open system has no boundary, and therefore there are no limits to the inputs and
outputs between an open system and the environment.
b. An open system has a semipermeable boundary and therefore will filter both inputs
and outputs when interacting with the environment.
c. A closed system has a semipermeable boundary and therefore will filter both inputs
and outputs when interacting with the environment.
d. A closed system does not have a boundary and therefore will not interact with the
environment.
ANS: B
With an open system the boundary is semipermeable, thereby controlling what will be accepted
as input and what will be permitted to leave the system.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: p. 20
2. The primary characteristics used to analyze an open system include:
a. structure, purpose, and functions.
b. sub-system, target system, and super-system.
c. boundary, attributes, and environment.
d. hierarchical, web, and hybrid.
ANS: A
Using these three characteristics, one can determine why the system exists, what functions it
performs to achieve its purpose, and how it is structured to achieve its purpose.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze REF: p. 20
3. A change made to any aspect of an open system, whether it is a health care system or a computer
system, will produce change in other aspects of that same system. As a result, any change can
produce unintended consequences. This process is called:
a. dynamic homeostasis.
b. semi-planned change.
c. negentropy.
d. reverberation.
ANS: D
Change within any part of the system will be reflected across the total system through a process
termed reverberation. Reverberation is reflected in the intended and unintended consequences
of system change.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: p. 23
4. Chaotic systems are in a constant state of change. This degree or scope of change that can occur
has been described as the butterfly effect. The butterfly effect refers to:
4
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The historical roots of computer science can be traced to:
a. language development, especially English.
b. mathematics and engineering.
c. library science.
d. medicine and nursing.
ANS: B
The historical roots of computer science can be traced back to mathematics and engineering.
The historical roots of information science began in library science. Language development and
medicine and nursing are not the roots of computer science.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: p. 3
2. The historical roots of information science can be traced to:
a. language development, especially English.
b. mathematics and engineering.
c. library science.
d. medicine and nursing.
ANS: C
The historical roots of information science began in library science. The historical roots of
computer science can be traced back to mathematics and engineering. Language development
and medicine and nursing are not the roots of information science.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: pp. 3-4
3. The first book to include the term nursing informatics in the title was written in the:
a. 1960s.
b. 1970s.
c. 1980s.
d. 1990s.
ANS: C
The first book to include the term nursing informatics in the title was published in 1988.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: p. 6
4. As knowledge develops and expands within a discipline, which information source will include
the oldest but best organized representation of that knowledge?
a. Conference presentations
b. Conference proceedings
c. Journal articles
d. Books
ANS: D
1
, The information source that includes the oldest but best organized representation of knowledge
is books.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: p. 5
5. Which technical development created a tension between centralized and decentralized computer
management in healthcare?
a. The development of punch cards
b. The elimination of punch cards
c. The development of the mainframe computer
d. The development of the personal computer
ANS: D
The development of the personal computer created tension between centralized and
decentralized computer management in healthcare. The other responses highlight aspects of
decentralized computer management.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: p. 3
6. Which of the following is not a member organization but rather a group of organizations?
a. AMIA
b. HIMSS
c. AHIMA
d. ANI
ANS: D
The Alliance for Nursing Informatics (ANI) is an organization of organizations. This is not a
member group. AMIA, HIMSS, and AHIMA are all member groups.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: p. 7
7. Which statement concerning educational programs in health informatics is correct?
a. All health informatics programs are offered at the graduate level.
b. Informatics programs offered by medical schools always require students to have
earned an MD for admission.
c. All health informatics programs are located within health-related departments or
schools such as nursing, medicine, or pharmacy.
d. Health informatics programs range from certificate programs offered at the
community college level to post-doctoral programs offered at major research
institutions.
ANS: D
The correct response is health informatics programs range from certificate programs offered at
the community college level to post-doctoral programs offered at major research institutions.
Not all informatics programs require an MD, are at the graduate level, or are located within
schools of health sciences.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: pp. 9-10
8. Which statement related to certification in health informatics is correct?
a. A master’s in nursing is required to sit for the NI examination offered by ANCC.
2
, b. To be certified in clinical informatics in association with AMIA, one must first be a
physician.
c. There are no specific educational requirements for CPHIMS certification through
HIMSS, but three years of full-time clinical experience in health IT is required.
d. To be certified as CPHIMS, you must be a nurse.
ANS: B
To be certified in clinical informatics in association with AMIA, one must first be a physician.
You do not need to have an MSN to sit for the NI exam by the ANCC. There are specific
requirements for CPHIMS, but being a nurse is not one of them.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: p. 11
MULTIPLE RESPONSE
9. The term informatics is derived from: (Select all that apply.)
a. Dutch.
b. English.
c. Russian.
d. Arabic.
e. French.
ANS: B, C, E
The term informatics was derived from the following languages: English, Russian, and French.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: p. 4
10. When the AMIA model is used, which subfields are categorized as clinical informatics? (Select
all that apply.)
a. Medical informatics
b. Nursing informatics
c. Dental informatics
d. Chemical informatics
e. Business informatics
ANS: A, B, C
When the AMIA model is used, the following disciplines are categorized as clinical informatics:
medical informatics, nursing informatics, and dental informatics. The other responses are not
clinically related.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze REF: p. 14
3
, Chapter 2: Theoretical Foundations of Health Informatics
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What is the primary difference between an open and closed system?
a. An open system has no boundary, and therefore there are no limits to the inputs and
outputs between an open system and the environment.
b. An open system has a semipermeable boundary and therefore will filter both inputs
and outputs when interacting with the environment.
c. A closed system has a semipermeable boundary and therefore will filter both inputs
and outputs when interacting with the environment.
d. A closed system does not have a boundary and therefore will not interact with the
environment.
ANS: B
With an open system the boundary is semipermeable, thereby controlling what will be accepted
as input and what will be permitted to leave the system.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: p. 20
2. The primary characteristics used to analyze an open system include:
a. structure, purpose, and functions.
b. sub-system, target system, and super-system.
c. boundary, attributes, and environment.
d. hierarchical, web, and hybrid.
ANS: A
Using these three characteristics, one can determine why the system exists, what functions it
performs to achieve its purpose, and how it is structured to achieve its purpose.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze REF: p. 20
3. A change made to any aspect of an open system, whether it is a health care system or a computer
system, will produce change in other aspects of that same system. As a result, any change can
produce unintended consequences. This process is called:
a. dynamic homeostasis.
b. semi-planned change.
c. negentropy.
d. reverberation.
ANS: D
Change within any part of the system will be reflected across the total system through a process
termed reverberation. Reverberation is reflected in the intended and unintended consequences
of system change.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: p. 23
4. Chaotic systems are in a constant state of change. This degree or scope of change that can occur
has been described as the butterfly effect. The butterfly effect refers to:
4
