WGU D220 PRACTICE EXAM LATEST 2026/2027 |
Information Technology in Nursing Practice |
Questions & Verified Answers | 100% Correct |
Grade A | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Foundations & Core Concepts (Questions 1-18)
Question 1
A nurse reviews a patient's vital signs (temperature 101.2°F, heart rate 110, blood
pressure 142/88, respiratory rate 22, SpO₂ 94%) and recognizes the patient may be
developing sepsis based on the pattern of abnormal values. This transformation of raw
data into meaningful interpretation represents which level of the DIKW pyramid?
A. Data
B. Information
C. Knowledge
D. Wisdom
Correct Answer: C. Knowledge [CORRECT]
Rationale: Knowledge involves applying information (organized data) to a clinical
context using expertise and pattern recognition to derive meaning—here, recognizing
sepsis risk from vital sign patterns. Data (Option A) would be individual uninterpreted
values. Information (Option B) is organized data without applied meaning. Wisdom
(Option D) would involve making the clinical decision to act on this knowledge. WGU
D220 emphasizes the DIKW pyramid as foundational to nursing informatics, aligning
with ANA Scope and Standards and the TIGER Initiative's informatics competency
framework.
Question 2
According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), nursing informatics is defined as:
,A. The use of computers to document patient care in electronic health records
B. A specialty that integrates nursing science with multiple information and analytical
sciences to identify, define, manage, and communicate data, information, knowledge,
and wisdom in nursing practice
C. The technical support department that maintains hospital computer systems
D. A field focused exclusively on nursing research data collection
Correct Answer: B. A specialty that integrates nursing science with multiple
information and analytical sciences to identify, define, manage, and communicate
data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice [CORRECT]
Rationale: The ANA defines nursing informatics as the integration of nursing science
with information and analytical sciences to manage and communicate data through
wisdom in nursing practice. Option A is too narrow (documentation only). Option C
describes IT support, not nursing informatics. Option D is limited to research. WGU
D220 emphasizes this comprehensive ANA definition, which aligns with QSEN
informatics competencies and HIMSS Nursing Informatics Scope and Standards.
Question 3
The HITECH Act of 2009 was significant for nursing informatics because it:
A. Established the first electronic health record system in the United States
B. Provided financial incentives for meaningful use of certified EHR technology and
strengthened HIPAA privacy and security protections
C. Required all nurses to obtain informatics certification within five years
D. Mandated that all hospitals use paper documentation exclusively
Correct Answer: B. Provided financial incentives for meaningful use of certified
EHR technology and strengthened HIPAA privacy and security protections
[CORRECT]
Rationale: HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health
Act) established the EHR Incentive Program (meaningful use stages 1-3) and enhanced
HIPAA enforcement through breach notification requirements and increased penalties.
EHRs existed before HITECH (Option A). There is no nurse certification mandate
,(Option C). Option D is the opposite of HITECH's purpose. WGU D220 emphasizes
HITECH as the catalyst for widespread EHR adoption in the United States.
Question 4
Meaningful Use Stage 3 focused primarily on:
A. Basic data capture and sharing
B. Advanced clinical processes and decision support
C. Improved outcomes through patient engagement, health information exchange, and
clinical decision support
D. Transition from paper to electronic documentation
Correct Answer: C. Improved outcomes through patient engagement, health
information exchange, and clinical decision support [CORRECT]
Rationale: Meaningful Use Stage 3 (2015-2017) emphasized improved outcomes
through patient engagement, robust HIE, and advanced CDS. Stage 1 (Option A/D)
focused on data capture and EHR adoption. Stage 2 (Option B) focused on advanced
clinical processes. WGU D220 emphasizes the evolution from meaningful use to the
Promoting Interoperability program, reflecting CMS's shift toward outcome-based
measurement.
Question 5
The 21st Century Cures Act (2016/2020) includes provisions for information blocking
that apply to:
A. Only healthcare providers
B. Only health IT developers
C. Healthcare providers, health IT developers, and health information
networks/exchanges
D. Only patients requesting their records
, Correct Answer: C. Healthcare providers, health IT developers, and health
information networks/exchanges [CORRECT]
Rationale: The Cures Act defines "actors" subject to information blocking prohibitions
as healthcare providers, health IT developers of certified health IT, and health
information networks/exchanges (HIN/HIEs). It does not apply to patients (Option D)
and applies to more than just providers (Option A) or developers alone (Option B). WGU
D220 emphasizes that information blocking exceptions (privacy, security, harm,
infeasibility) must be carefully applied, with ONC enforcing penalties up to $1M per
violation for developers.
Question 6
TEFCA (Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement) establishes:
A. A federal mandate for all hospitals to use the same EHR vendor
B. A common set of principles, terms, and conditions to support nationwide health
information exchange through Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs)
C. A requirement that patients cannot access their electronic health information
D. A prohibition on all interstate health data sharing
Correct Answer: B. A common set of principles, terms, and conditions to support
nationwide health information exchange through Qualified Health Information
Networks (QHINs) [CORRECT]
Rationale: TEFCA creates the governance framework for QHINs to exchange health
information nationwide, promoting interoperability without mandating specific
vendors (Option A). It supports patient access (Option C is wrong) and enables
interstate sharing (Option D is wrong). WGU D220 emphasizes TEFCA's role in
advancing the 2026 expanded QHIN network and seamless nationwide interoperability.
Question 7
Information Technology in Nursing Practice |
Questions & Verified Answers | 100% Correct |
Grade A | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Foundations & Core Concepts (Questions 1-18)
Question 1
A nurse reviews a patient's vital signs (temperature 101.2°F, heart rate 110, blood
pressure 142/88, respiratory rate 22, SpO₂ 94%) and recognizes the patient may be
developing sepsis based on the pattern of abnormal values. This transformation of raw
data into meaningful interpretation represents which level of the DIKW pyramid?
A. Data
B. Information
C. Knowledge
D. Wisdom
Correct Answer: C. Knowledge [CORRECT]
Rationale: Knowledge involves applying information (organized data) to a clinical
context using expertise and pattern recognition to derive meaning—here, recognizing
sepsis risk from vital sign patterns. Data (Option A) would be individual uninterpreted
values. Information (Option B) is organized data without applied meaning. Wisdom
(Option D) would involve making the clinical decision to act on this knowledge. WGU
D220 emphasizes the DIKW pyramid as foundational to nursing informatics, aligning
with ANA Scope and Standards and the TIGER Initiative's informatics competency
framework.
Question 2
According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), nursing informatics is defined as:
,A. The use of computers to document patient care in electronic health records
B. A specialty that integrates nursing science with multiple information and analytical
sciences to identify, define, manage, and communicate data, information, knowledge,
and wisdom in nursing practice
C. The technical support department that maintains hospital computer systems
D. A field focused exclusively on nursing research data collection
Correct Answer: B. A specialty that integrates nursing science with multiple
information and analytical sciences to identify, define, manage, and communicate
data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice [CORRECT]
Rationale: The ANA defines nursing informatics as the integration of nursing science
with information and analytical sciences to manage and communicate data through
wisdom in nursing practice. Option A is too narrow (documentation only). Option C
describes IT support, not nursing informatics. Option D is limited to research. WGU
D220 emphasizes this comprehensive ANA definition, which aligns with QSEN
informatics competencies and HIMSS Nursing Informatics Scope and Standards.
Question 3
The HITECH Act of 2009 was significant for nursing informatics because it:
A. Established the first electronic health record system in the United States
B. Provided financial incentives for meaningful use of certified EHR technology and
strengthened HIPAA privacy and security protections
C. Required all nurses to obtain informatics certification within five years
D. Mandated that all hospitals use paper documentation exclusively
Correct Answer: B. Provided financial incentives for meaningful use of certified
EHR technology and strengthened HIPAA privacy and security protections
[CORRECT]
Rationale: HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health
Act) established the EHR Incentive Program (meaningful use stages 1-3) and enhanced
HIPAA enforcement through breach notification requirements and increased penalties.
EHRs existed before HITECH (Option A). There is no nurse certification mandate
,(Option C). Option D is the opposite of HITECH's purpose. WGU D220 emphasizes
HITECH as the catalyst for widespread EHR adoption in the United States.
Question 4
Meaningful Use Stage 3 focused primarily on:
A. Basic data capture and sharing
B. Advanced clinical processes and decision support
C. Improved outcomes through patient engagement, health information exchange, and
clinical decision support
D. Transition from paper to electronic documentation
Correct Answer: C. Improved outcomes through patient engagement, health
information exchange, and clinical decision support [CORRECT]
Rationale: Meaningful Use Stage 3 (2015-2017) emphasized improved outcomes
through patient engagement, robust HIE, and advanced CDS. Stage 1 (Option A/D)
focused on data capture and EHR adoption. Stage 2 (Option B) focused on advanced
clinical processes. WGU D220 emphasizes the evolution from meaningful use to the
Promoting Interoperability program, reflecting CMS's shift toward outcome-based
measurement.
Question 5
The 21st Century Cures Act (2016/2020) includes provisions for information blocking
that apply to:
A. Only healthcare providers
B. Only health IT developers
C. Healthcare providers, health IT developers, and health information
networks/exchanges
D. Only patients requesting their records
, Correct Answer: C. Healthcare providers, health IT developers, and health
information networks/exchanges [CORRECT]
Rationale: The Cures Act defines "actors" subject to information blocking prohibitions
as healthcare providers, health IT developers of certified health IT, and health
information networks/exchanges (HIN/HIEs). It does not apply to patients (Option D)
and applies to more than just providers (Option A) or developers alone (Option B). WGU
D220 emphasizes that information blocking exceptions (privacy, security, harm,
infeasibility) must be carefully applied, with ONC enforcing penalties up to $1M per
violation for developers.
Question 6
TEFCA (Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement) establishes:
A. A federal mandate for all hospitals to use the same EHR vendor
B. A common set of principles, terms, and conditions to support nationwide health
information exchange through Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs)
C. A requirement that patients cannot access their electronic health information
D. A prohibition on all interstate health data sharing
Correct Answer: B. A common set of principles, terms, and conditions to support
nationwide health information exchange through Qualified Health Information
Networks (QHINs) [CORRECT]
Rationale: TEFCA creates the governance framework for QHINs to exchange health
information nationwide, promoting interoperability without mandating specific
vendors (Option A). It supports patient access (Option C is wrong) and enables
interstate sharing (Option D is wrong). WGU D220 emphasizes TEFCA's role in
advancing the 2026 expanded QHIN network and seamless nationwide interoperability.
Question 7
