Models in Nursing Informatics
Frameworks for Nursing, Technology,
and Information Integration
What is a Model in Nursing
Informatics?
• A structured framework explaining how
nursing science, information science, and
computer science interact with technology to:
• - Support nursing practice
• - Improve patient care
• - Enhance decision-making
• Models guide how information is collected,
processed, stored, and used in healthcare.
Importance of Models in Nursing
Informatics
• 1. Guide practice – show how data,
information, and knowledge are used.
• 2. Support decision-making – evidence-based
clinical decisions.
• 3. Enhance communication – sharing across
healthcare teams.
• 4. Improve training – design education and
training programs.
• 5. Support evaluation – assess effectiveness of
informatics systems.
Data–Information–Knowledge–
Wisdom (DIKW) Model
• • Shows transformation of raw data →
information → knowledge → wisdom.
• • Example:
• - Data: Patient temperature 39°C
• - Information: Recognized as fever
• - Knowledge: Understood as infection
• - Wisdom: Decision to administer antibiotics
Schwirian’s Model (1986)
• • One of the earliest nursing informatics
models.
• • Focuses on nursing practice, education,
research, and administration.
• • Uses a systems approach: input → process
→ output → feedback.
Graves and Corcoran’s Model
(1989)
• • Defines nursing informatics as the
combination of nursing science, computer
science, and information science.
• • Emphasizes integration of these sciences to
manage nursing data and improve outcomes.
Turley’s Model (1996)
• • Expands Graves & Corcoran’s work by adding
cognitive science.
• • Focuses on how nurses think and make
decisions when interacting with technology.
Staggers, Riley & Gassert Model
• • Nursing informatics competencies at four
levels:
• - Beginner
• - Experienced nurse
• - Informatics specialist
• - Informatics innovator
• • Helps design training programs for different
nurse categories.
Summary
• • Nursing informatics models provide a
roadmap for how nursing, technology, and
information work together.
• • They guide practice, education, research,
and administration.
• • Show how data → information → knowledge
→ wisdom improves healthcare outcomes.
REFERENCES
Ackoff, R. L. (1989). From data to wisdom. Journal of Applied
Systems Analysis, 16, 3–9.
• Graves, J. R., & Corcoran, S. (1989). The study of nursing
informatics. Image: The Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 21(4), 227–
231.
• Schwirian, P. M. (1986). The NI pyramid: A model for research
in nursing informatics. Computers in Nursing, 4(3), 134–136.
• Turley, J. P. (1996). Toward a model for nursing informatics.
Image: The Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 28(4), 309–313.
• Staggers, N., Gassert, C. A., & Curran, C. (2001). Informatics
competencies for nurses at four levels of practice. Journal of
Nursing Education, 40(7), 303–316.