WGU D220 EXAM LATEST 2026/2027 | Information
Technology in Nursing Practice | Complete Guide with
Questions & Verified Answers | 100% Correct | Grade A |
Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING INFORMATICS (Questions
1-20)
Q1. According to the DIKW paradigm, which of the following BEST represents
"knowledge" in clinical practice?
A. A patient's blood pressure reading of 142/88 mmHg
B. Recognition that elevated blood pressure over multiple readings indicates
uncontrolled hypertension requiring intervention
C. The numerical value stored in the EHR database
D. A nurse's intuition about a patient's condition
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The DIKW hierarchy progresses: Data (raw facts: "142/88"), Information
(contextualized data: "BP elevated on 3 consecutive visits"), Knowledge (synthesis and
pattern recognition: "This indicates uncontrolled hypertension requiring medication
adjustment"), Wisdom (applied knowledge for ethical decision-making: "Initiating ACE
inhibitor while monitoring renal function and patient preferences"). Option A is data.
Option C describes storage. Option D describes intuition, not structured knowledge.
[WGU D220 emphasis: DIKW paradigm application.]
Q2. The ANA defines nursing informatics as:
A. The use of computers to store patient data
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. A technical support role for hospital IT departments
D. A certification required for all registered nurses
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ANA (2021) defines nursing informatics as a specialty integrating
nursing science with computer science, information science, and cognitive science to
manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom. It encompasses
clinical practice, administration, education, and research. Option A is too narrow. Option
C confuses NI with IT support. Option D is false—NI is a specialty, not a universal
requirement. [WGU D220 emphasis: NI definition and scope.]
Q3. The TIGER (Technology Informatics Guiding Education Reform) initiative focuses
on:
A. Developing new medical devices
B. Preparing nurses to use informatics and technology to improve patient care through
competencies, education, and policy
C. Replacing nurses with automated systems
D. Creating proprietary EHR systems for individual hospitals
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: TIGER (2004-present) aims to prepare nurses to use informatics and
technology to improve patient care through: informatics competencies, education
reform, policy development, and interprofessional collaboration. Key pillars:
management and leadership, education and communication, IT design, culture, policy.
Option A describes biomedical engineering. Option C is contrary to TIGER's purpose.
Option D contradicts interoperability goals. [WGU D220 emphasis: TIGER initiative.]
Q4. Which of the following represents an "intermediate" informatics competency for a
staff nurse?
,A. Designing a new EHR module from scratch
B. Navigating the EHR, documenting care, using CPOE, and utilizing clinical decision
support alerts
C. Writing code for hospital software applications
D. Managing hospital IT infrastructure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Informatics competency levels: Basic (computer literacy, email, word
processing), Intermediate (EHR navigation, documentation, CPOE, BCMA, CDS use),
Advanced (system design, implementation, optimization, data analysis, project
management, leadership). Option A and C are advanced/technical roles. Option D is IT
administration. Staff nurses need intermediate competencies for safe, effective
technology use. [WGU D220 emphasis: Informatics competency levels.]
Q5. The HITECH Act (2009) was significant because it:
A. Prohibited all electronic health records
B. Provided financial incentives for meaningful use of certified EHR technology and
strengthened HIPAA enforcement
C. Eliminated the need for paper records entirely
D. Required all nurses to become informatics specialists
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health
Act) provided $27 billion in Medicare/Medicaid incentives for Meaningful Use (MU) of
certified EHRs (Stages 1-3), established ONC, and strengthened HIPAA enforcement
with breach notification requirements. Option A is opposite. Option C was aspirational
but not achieved. Option D is false. HITECH accelerated EHR adoption from ~20% to
>90%. [WGU D220 emphasis: HITECH Act and MU.]
Q6. Meaningful Use Stage 2 required:
, A. Only basic EHR adoption with no patient engagement
B. Advanced clinical processes including patient electronic access to health information,
health information exchange, and computerized provider order entry
C. Elimination of all paper documentation
D. Mandatory AI implementation in all hospitals
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: MU Stage 2 (2014-2016) focused on advanced clinical processes: patient
electronic access (view, download, transmit), secure messaging, health information
exchange, clinical decision support, CPOE for medications/labs/radiology, quality
reporting, and e-prescribing. Option A describes Stage 1. Option C was not required.
Option D is not part of MU. [WGU D220 emphasis: Meaningful Use stages.]
Q7. The 21st Century Cures Act (2016) and its final rule (2020) primarily addressed:
A. Prohibiting patients from accessing their health records
B. Preventing information blocking and ensuring patients have immediate access to
their electronic health information, including clinical notes and test results
C. Eliminating all EHR systems
D. Restricting telehealth to rural areas only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Cures Act information blocking provisions (enforced 2021/2024)
prohibit practices that interfere with access, exchange, or use of EHI. Patients must have
immediate access to lab results, radiology reports, pathology, and clinical notes (Open
Notes). Exceptions: privacy, security, harm, infeasibility. Option A is opposite. Option C
is false. Option D is unrelated. [WGU D220 emphasis: Cures Act and information
blocking.]
Q8. TEFCA (Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement) establishes:
Technology in Nursing Practice | Complete Guide with
Questions & Verified Answers | 100% Correct | Grade A |
Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING INFORMATICS (Questions
1-20)
Q1. According to the DIKW paradigm, which of the following BEST represents
"knowledge" in clinical practice?
A. A patient's blood pressure reading of 142/88 mmHg
B. Recognition that elevated blood pressure over multiple readings indicates
uncontrolled hypertension requiring intervention
C. The numerical value stored in the EHR database
D. A nurse's intuition about a patient's condition
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The DIKW hierarchy progresses: Data (raw facts: "142/88"), Information
(contextualized data: "BP elevated on 3 consecutive visits"), Knowledge (synthesis and
pattern recognition: "This indicates uncontrolled hypertension requiring medication
adjustment"), Wisdom (applied knowledge for ethical decision-making: "Initiating ACE
inhibitor while monitoring renal function and patient preferences"). Option A is data.
Option C describes storage. Option D describes intuition, not structured knowledge.
[WGU D220 emphasis: DIKW paradigm application.]
Q2. The ANA defines nursing informatics as:
A. The use of computers to store patient data
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. A technical support role for hospital IT departments
D. A certification required for all registered nurses
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ANA (2021) defines nursing informatics as a specialty integrating
nursing science with computer science, information science, and cognitive science to
manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom. It encompasses
clinical practice, administration, education, and research. Option A is too narrow. Option
C confuses NI with IT support. Option D is false—NI is a specialty, not a universal
requirement. [WGU D220 emphasis: NI definition and scope.]
Q3. The TIGER (Technology Informatics Guiding Education Reform) initiative focuses
on:
A. Developing new medical devices
B. Preparing nurses to use informatics and technology to improve patient care through
competencies, education, and policy
C. Replacing nurses with automated systems
D. Creating proprietary EHR systems for individual hospitals
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: TIGER (2004-present) aims to prepare nurses to use informatics and
technology to improve patient care through: informatics competencies, education
reform, policy development, and interprofessional collaboration. Key pillars:
management and leadership, education and communication, IT design, culture, policy.
Option A describes biomedical engineering. Option C is contrary to TIGER's purpose.
Option D contradicts interoperability goals. [WGU D220 emphasis: TIGER initiative.]
Q4. Which of the following represents an "intermediate" informatics competency for a
staff nurse?
,A. Designing a new EHR module from scratch
B. Navigating the EHR, documenting care, using CPOE, and utilizing clinical decision
support alerts
C. Writing code for hospital software applications
D. Managing hospital IT infrastructure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Informatics competency levels: Basic (computer literacy, email, word
processing), Intermediate (EHR navigation, documentation, CPOE, BCMA, CDS use),
Advanced (system design, implementation, optimization, data analysis, project
management, leadership). Option A and C are advanced/technical roles. Option D is IT
administration. Staff nurses need intermediate competencies for safe, effective
technology use. [WGU D220 emphasis: Informatics competency levels.]
Q5. The HITECH Act (2009) was significant because it:
A. Prohibited all electronic health records
B. Provided financial incentives for meaningful use of certified EHR technology and
strengthened HIPAA enforcement
C. Eliminated the need for paper records entirely
D. Required all nurses to become informatics specialists
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health
Act) provided $27 billion in Medicare/Medicaid incentives for Meaningful Use (MU) of
certified EHRs (Stages 1-3), established ONC, and strengthened HIPAA enforcement
with breach notification requirements. Option A is opposite. Option C was aspirational
but not achieved. Option D is false. HITECH accelerated EHR adoption from ~20% to
>90%. [WGU D220 emphasis: HITECH Act and MU.]
Q6. Meaningful Use Stage 2 required:
, A. Only basic EHR adoption with no patient engagement
B. Advanced clinical processes including patient electronic access to health information,
health information exchange, and computerized provider order entry
C. Elimination of all paper documentation
D. Mandatory AI implementation in all hospitals
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: MU Stage 2 (2014-2016) focused on advanced clinical processes: patient
electronic access (view, download, transmit), secure messaging, health information
exchange, clinical decision support, CPOE for medications/labs/radiology, quality
reporting, and e-prescribing. Option A describes Stage 1. Option C was not required.
Option D is not part of MU. [WGU D220 emphasis: Meaningful Use stages.]
Q7. The 21st Century Cures Act (2016) and its final rule (2020) primarily addressed:
A. Prohibiting patients from accessing their health records
B. Preventing information blocking and ensuring patients have immediate access to
their electronic health information, including clinical notes and test results
C. Eliminating all EHR systems
D. Restricting telehealth to rural areas only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Cures Act information blocking provisions (enforced 2021/2024)
prohibit practices that interfere with access, exchange, or use of EHI. Patients must have
immediate access to lab results, radiology reports, pathology, and clinical notes (Open
Notes). Exceptions: privacy, security, harm, infeasibility. Option A is opposite. Option C
is false. Option D is unrelated. [WGU D220 emphasis: Cures Act and information
blocking.]
Q8. TEFCA (Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement) establishes:
