Nursing Science and

Concepts of Knowledge
 Tom is a registered nurse who works in a very
busy metropolitan hospital emergency room.

Tom
He has just admitted a 79-year-old man whose
wife brought him to the hospital because he is
having trouble breathing.
Tom immediately clips a pulse oximeter to the
patient’s finger and performs a very quick
assessment of the patient’s other vital signs.
He discovers a rapid pulse rate and
decreased oxygen saturation level in
addition to the rapid and labored breathing.
Tom determines that the patient is not in
immediate danger and that he does not require
intubation.
Tom focuses his initial attention on easing the
patient’s labored breathing by elevating the
head of the bed and initiating oxygen
treatment; he then hooks the patient up to a
heart monitor.
Tom continues to assess the patient’s breathing
status as he performs a head-to-toe assessment
of the patient that leads to the nursing diagnoses
and additional interventions necessary to
provide comprehensive care to this patient.
Nursing Informatics
 Technical skills Interpersonal Cognitive skills to
to manage skills to interact observe, recognize,
equipment and appropriately with collect, analyze, and
perform people interpret data to reach
procedures a reasonable
conclusion, which
forms the basis of
decision
Tom

At the heart of all of these skills lies the management of

data and information.
 focuses on the ethical application of
knowledge acquired through
Nursing education, research, and practice to
provide services and interventions to
Science patients to maintain, enhance, or
restore their health and to acquire,
process, generate, and disseminate
nursing knowledge to advance the
nursing profession.
Nursing is an information-
intensive profession.

Knowledge management is a
fundamental part of nursing
science.
Humans acquire data and
information in bits and pieces and
then transform the information
into knowledge.

Humans can be thought of as

organic information systems that
are constantly acquiring, processing,
and generating information or
knowledge in their professional and
personal lives.
Foundation of
Knowledge Model
Conceptual
Framework
The FoK Model examines the
dynamic interrelationships among
data, information, and knowledge,
ultimately aiming to create wisdom
for better decision-making.
Four Key Components
• Acquired knowledge: Obtaining knowledge from various sources,
such as education, experience, research, and expert opinions.

• Processed knowledge: Organizing, analyzing, and interpreting

acquired knowledge to make it meaningful and applicable.

• Generated knowledge: Creating new knowledge through research,

innovation, and critical thinking.

• Disseminated knowledge: Sharing knowledge with others through

teaching, publications, presentations, and technology.
Central Role of Nursing Informatics

Facilitates knowledge acquisition, processing, generation, and

dissemination within healthcare settings.
Acquired knowledge: Nurses collect patient data (vital signs,
symptoms, medical history) from electronic health records
(EHRs) and assessments.

Processed knowledge: Nurses analyze data to identify

patterns, formulate nursing diagnosis, and develop care plans.

Generated knowledge: Nurses conduct research to evaluate

interventions and create evidence-based practice guidelines.

Disseminated knowledge: Nurses share findings through

conferences, publications, and clinical decision support
systems (CDSS) integrated into EHRs.
Novice nurses (student Nursing instructors and Nursing theorists and
nurses) focus mainly on experienced practitioners researchers perform
knowledge acquisition process, generate, and knowledge generation and
disseminate knowledge. dissemination.
Nurses are committed to lifelong learning and the
use of knowledge in the practice of nursing science.
Knowledge is a
powerful tool.
Nurses focus on information as a key building
block of knowledge.
 Knowledge
Acquirers
Knowledge
Engineers
Knowledge
Workers
Knowledge
Managers
Knowledge
Users
Knowledge
Developers
and
Generators
To have ongoing value, knowledge must be
viable.

Knowledge viability refers to applications that offer

easily accessible, accurate, and timely information
obtained from a variety of resources and methods and
presented in a manner so as to provide the necessary
elements to generate new knowledge.
The Nature of Knowledge
Explicit knowledge is the knowledge that one can convey in
letters, words, and numbers. It can be exchanged or shared in the
form of data, manuals, etc. Nurses can disseminate and share this
knowledge. Example is a nursing theory.

Tacit knowledge is individualized and highly personal. Knowing

intuitively when and how to care is an example of tacit knowledge.
It is difficult to convey and share. It reflects skills and beliefs.
1. Recognizing subtle changes
in a patient's condition:
An experienced nurse might
notice a slight change in a
patient's breathing pattern or
posture, even before vital signs
show any abnormality. This
intuitive understanding could lead
to early intervention and prevent
potential complications.
2. Providing emotional support
and comfort:
Nurses often develop a sixth
sense for a patient's emotional
state. They can anticipate
feelings of fear, anxiety, or
loneliness and offer a comforting
presence, a reassuring touch, or
a listening ear. This tacit
knowledge of emotional needs is
crucial for holistic patient care.
3. Prioritizing tasks and
managing time effectively:
In a busy healthcare environment,
nurses must juggle multiple tasks
and make quick decisions about
what needs immediate attention.
Their experience helps them
prioritize tasks based on patient
needs, urgency, and resource
availability. This efficient time
management ensures timely care
for all patients.
4. Building rapport and trust
with patients:
Nurses often develop strong
relationships with their patients,
built on trust and mutual
understanding. Their ability to
establish rapport stems from their
experience in communication,
empathy, and active listening.
This trust is essential for effective
patient education, adherence to
treatment plans, and overall
satisfaction with care.
Types of Knowledge Workers
• Knowledge consumer do not have the expertise to provide
knowledge for themselves. They are the novice nurses who use
the knowledge of experienced nurses or an information system.

• Knowledge broker know where to find information and

knowledge. Experienced nurses are knowledge brokers.

• Knowledge generators are the primary sources of new

knowledge. They include nursing researchers and nursing experts
- the people who know.
Knowledge workers need to acquire new knowledge
every 4-5 years or else become obsolete

Knowledge work is invisible, interdependent, and

constantly changing

Knowledge workers, whether they are scientists,

engineers, others, must continuously read the situation
in front of them and then, based on that interpretation,
determine the appropriate next action to take

Knowledge workers view their knowledge as their

personal possession.
Wisdom is the application of knowledge to an appropriate
situation. In the practice of nursing science, one expects actions
to be directed by wisdom. Wisdom is developed through
knowledge, experience, insight, and reflection.

Knowledge and wisdom are not synonymous: knowledge

abounds with other’s thoughts and information, whereas wisdom is
focused on one’s own minds and the synthesis of experience,
insight, understanding, and knowledge.
 Imagine Tom is a nurse informaticist in a
busy hospital. You're constantly bombarded
with data from various sources: patient
records, monitoring systems, lab results,
research articles.

Tom
Knowledge
Understanding what the data means: Recognizing abnormal vital
signs, interpreting lab values, analyzing trends in patient records.

Knowing best practices: Applying evidence-based guidelines for

clinical decision-making, using technology securely and
ethically, understanding data privacy regulations.

Mastering specific skills: Operating electronic health

records, designing clinical decision support
systems, troubleshooting technical issues.
Wisdom
Knowing when to follow the rules and when to adapt: Recognizing
nuances in a patient's condition that might not be captured by data alone,
tailoring care interventions based on individual needs and preferences.

Prioritizing and filtering information: Distinguishing the most relevant

data from the noise, making quick decisions in time-sensitive situations,
knowing when to seek additional information and when to trust your gut
feeling.

Understanding the human context: Recognizing the emotional and

social aspects of patient care, using technology to facilitate
communication and collaboration within the healthcare team, advocating
for patients' best interests even when data suggests otherwise.
 Scenario:
A patient's blood pressure is slightly
elevated, but within normal range.
Her medical history indicates high
anxiety.
Tom
Knowledge: You know the normal blood pressure range,
understand the potential risks of hypertension, and are familiar
with anxiety management techniques.

Wisdom: You recognize that the patient might be experiencing

situational anxiety instead of a true medical emergency. You
decide to talk to her, assess her emotional state, and offer
calming strategies before resorting to medication.