The enhancement of the management of data, information, knowledge, and wisdom continuum (DIKW) is the core purpose of nursing informatics. The nurses’ work in long-term care facilities incorporates a number of duties and requires proficient skills and knowledge. The research question of the current essay is dedicated to the issue of informatics as a method of developing wisdom in long-term facilities. I employed two databases to search for relevant data and information: ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health database and Google Scholar database. To find the most suitable sources, I limited the search results by publication date and the keywords. The identified scholarly articles and books gave insight to what was previously unknown about the research question.
There are two major reasons why I chose this clinical question. For one thing, I find it crucial to investigate the possibilities of enhancing the understanding of nursing information about the elderly patients. This population group is rather vulnerable, and its number is growing every year. For another thing, I realize that my knowledge of the issue needs to be increased. As for now, I know the basic issue of DIKW continuum. As a result of research, I hope to enrich my understanding of how wisdom can be developed with the help of informatics. Clinical data and population data related to the research problem incorporate medical health records with notes about the patients’ diagnosis, age, and risk factors (Hern, Key, Goss, & Owens, 2015). Also, such data includes the social, emotional, and mental status of the population (Tak, 2010). Furthermore, residential and administrative peculiarities of the elderly patients are taken into account (Georgiou, Marks, Braithwaite, & Westbrook, 2012). The clinical data can help answer the research question by providing the material for investigating the impact of each phase of the DIKW continuum.
Data is the elementary constituent of DIKW hierarchy and is defined as objective facts or conclusions which do not transfer any concrete meaning (Baškarada & Koronios, 2013). Without a particular framework or analysis, data does not bear any value (Baškarada & Koronios, 2013). Information is “data with meaning,” it presents the analyzed pieces of data (Baškarada & Koronios, 2013, p. 7). Information eliminates the uncertainty and allows to understand the data better. Information is context-oriented and appears when data is structured and given some context (Matney, Brewster, Sward, Cloyes, & Staggers, 2011). For instance, a number 110 is merely data. However, when we see a phase “heart-rate = 110,” it already is information (Matney et al., 2011). When more context is given (for instance, older adult), we see even more meaning. Therefore, to be transformed into information, data has to be analyzed and interpreted.
Information is further synthesized to form knowledge, which is the merger of data and information with experience and expert conclusions (Baškarada & Koronios, 2013). Knowledge simplifies the process of decision-making and enhances understanding. The transformation of information into knowledge is similar to the transformation of data into information. Knowledge represents the information which has been arranged and has shown the relationships within the elements (Matney et al., 2011). The two core types of knowledge are tacit and explicit (Matney et al., 2011). Tacit knowledge is more personal and, thus, difficult to explain. Explicit knowledge is easier to synthesize and share with others. In nursing, the conversion of information into knowledge equals growing understanding. Knowledge may be demonstrated when formulating a nursing diagnosis (Matney et al., 2011).
The preeminent purpose of DIKW is the movement towards wisdom (Ronquillo, Currie, & Rodney, 2016). Wisdom incorporates the ability to discern the most significant information (Matney et al., 2011). Thus, to progress from merely having knowledge to the wisdom to make appropriate clinical decisions, it is necessary to employ internalization. For instance, choosing a particular method of providing care is the expression of wisdom, since the nurse makes the decision as a result of thorough interpretation of the knowledge (Matney et al., 2011).
The DIKW continuum is widely employed in nursing informatics (NI). NI is defined as a blend of information science, nursing science, and computer science created to enhance the management and transformation of “data, information, and knowledge” (Ronquillo et al., 2016). NI helps to improve the nursing practice and optimize the nursing care. Graves and Corcoran defended the shift of NI from pure technology to the aim of technology (as cited in Ronquillo et al., 2016, p. E2). Matney et al. (2011) remark that the DIKW hierarchy may be reflected with the help of computer systems. Thus, NI can help in the process of gaining wisdom.
Nursing informatics helps to manage the data, information, knowledge, and wisdom continuum. The elementary component – data – is gradually transformed into wisdom via several phases. NI plays a crucial role in gaining wisdom as it helps to generate the significant data, analyze and synthesize it into information and knowledge, and apply it in practice. NI is an inseparable part of DIKW framework which allows to make each phase more efficient and ultimately leads to the highest aim – reaching the phase of wisdom.
References
Baškarada, S., & Koronios, A. (2013). Data, information, knowledge, wisdom (DIKW): A semiotic theoretical and empirical exploration of the hierarchy and its quality dimension. Australasian Journal of Information Systems, 18(1), 5-24.
Georgiou, A., Marks, A., Braithwaite, J., & Westbrook, J. I. (2012). Gaps, disconnections, and discontinuities -the role of information exchange in the delivery of quality long-term care. The Gerontologist, 53(5), 770-779.
Hern, M J., Key, M., Goss, L. K., & Owens, H. (2015). Facilitating adoption of informatics and meaningful use of electronic health records with nursing faculty. Journal of Nursing Education and practice, 5(3), 118-126.
Matney, S., Brewster, P., Sward, K. A., Cloyes, K. G., & Staggers, N. (2011). Philosophical approaches to the nursing informatics data-information-knowledge-wisdom framework. Advances in Nursing Science, 34(1), 6-18.
Ronquillo, C., Currie, L. M., & Rodney, P. (2016). The evolution of data-information-knowledge-wisdom in nursing informatics. Advances in Nursing Science, 39(1), E1-E18.
Tak, S. H., Benefield, L. E., & Mahoney, D. F. (2010). Technology for long-term care. Research in Gerontological Nursing, 3(1), 61-73.