NURSING INFORMATICS
SECTION B: STRUCTURAL QUESTIONS (30 MARKS)
1. Define an electronic health record (2 marks)
An EHR is a digital record of a patient's health information, created
and stored electronically, and accessible to authorized providers
across different care settings.
2. Briefly explain five data components documented in an EHR (5
marks)
- Demographics: Patient's name, age, sex, address, and contact
details.
- Medical history: Record of past illnesses, surgeries, and allergies.
- Diagnoses and treatment plans: Current health conditions and
the care plan for managing them.
- Medication records: Prescriptions, dosages, and medication
history.
- Lab/diagnostic results: Test results, imaging, and vital signs.
3. What is the difference between eHealth and mHealth? (2 marks)
- eHealth: The broad use of information and communication
technology (ICT) to support health services, such as EHRs and
telemedicine.
- mHealth: A subset of eHealth that specifically uses mobile devices
(phones, tablets, apps) to deliver health services.
4. Outline four benefits of Computer Automation in Health Care (5
marks)
- Reduces medical/documentation errors
- Saves time and improves efficiency
- Improves accuracy of patient records
- Improves coordination among providers
5. What is Information and Communication Technology? (3 marks)
ICT refers to technologies - computers, software, networks, mobile
devices, and the internet - used to store, process, and transmit
information, including within healthcare systems.
6. a) Define nursing informatics (2 marks)
Nursing informatics is a specialty that integrates nursing science with
information and computer science to manage data, information, and
knowledge in nursing practice.
b) State the scope of nursing informatics (3 marks)
- Clinical documentation and EHR management
- Clinical decision support systems
- Data management and research
- Education and training in health IT
- Administration of health information systems
7. Briefly describe the role health information management
professionals play in health care delivery in Cameroon (5 marks)
- Records management: Ensure accurate collection and storage of
patient records.
- Data protection: Maintain confidentiality and security of health
information.
- Decision support: Provide reliable data to support clinical
decision-making.
- Reporting: Compile health statistics used for planning and
policy-making.
- Compliance: Ensure health data practices meet required
standards and regulations.
8. What is the main difference between synchronous and
asynchronous telehealth? (2 marks)
- Synchronous: Real-time interaction between patient and provider
(e.g., a live video consultation).
- Asynchronous: Store-and-forward method, where information is
sent and reviewed by the provider at a later time (e.g., sending
images for later review).
9. Outline two major challenges in implementing new health IT
systems (1 mark)
- High cost of implementation and maintenance
- Staff resistance to change / lack of training
SECTION C: ESSAY QUESTIONS (20 MARKS)
1. Discuss the risks and benefits of using social media platforms in
healthcare settings (10 marks)
Benefits:
- Health education: Enables public awareness campaigns and
health promotion.
- Communication: Facilitates faster patient-provider interaction.
- Networking: Supports professional knowledge-sharing among
healthcare workers.
- Outbreak alerts: Allows rapid dissemination of information during
emergencies.
- Peer support: Builds patient communities for emotional/social
support.
Risks:
- Confidentiality breach: Patient information may be disclosed
without consent.
- Misinformation: False or unverified health information can spread
quickly.
- Unprofessionalism: Inappropriate posts can damage
provider/institution reputation.
- Legal liability: Improper disclosures can lead to lawsuits or
disciplinary action.
- Harassment: Patients or staff may face cyberbullying online.
2. Demonstrate the DIKW framework relationship in nursing (10
marks)
- Data: Raw, unprocessed fact - e.g., a temperature reading of 39C.
- Information: Data given context - e.g., "the patient has a fever of
39C."
- Knowledge: Information interpreted using clinical understanding -
e.g., recognizing the fever as a possible sign of infection based on
other symptoms.
- Wisdom: Applying knowledge with judgment and experience to
make the right decision - e.g., choosing the most appropriate
treatment for this specific patient, considering their full clinical
picture.
The DIKW continuum shows how nursing practice moves from
collecting raw data, to giving it meaning as information, to building
clinical knowledge, and finally to applying wisdom for sound,
patient-centered decisions.
Wisdom:
WISDOM "Give antipyretic + monitor"
Knowledge:
KNOWLEDGE "Fever = infection sign"
Information:
INFORMATION "Patient has fever"
Data:
DATA Temp = 39C (raw fact)
Figure: DIKW pyramid showing how nursing practice moves from raw data to wise,
patient-centered action.