Developing a Health Advocacy

Using the Data/Information/Knowledge/Wisdom Continuum

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Introduction

The libraries and databases offer vast information. The information is not useful when knowledge and wisdom are not derived. The data, information, knowledge, and wisdom continuum is very important in the quest to derive wisdom from the vast available sources of information (McGonigle, & Mastrian, 2015). The data should be specific to provide information which leads to a special knowledge amassing to wisdom (Hannah, et al., 2015). There is always a possibility that data does not provide information if it is not understood. If the information derived from the data is not applied, then it becomes hard to gain knowledge as well as wisdom (Hannah, et al., 2015). In this paper, I will develop a clinical question to explore associated with my practice, describe the additional information required regarding the question, apply data, information, knowledge, and wisdom continuum in the topic research, identify databases to use and the search process itself and lastly describe my progress through the continuum.

Clinical question

I have had a lot of interest in the integration of technology into the nursing practice. Technology has been in integrated into healthcare. Electronic medication administration is an area I consider to have not been widely explored. The clinical question for this assignment becomes; has the utilization of electronic medication administration (e-MAR) improved the safety of medication in the healthcare setting in any way? The role technology plays in healthcare delivery cannot be underestimated at any instant. The technology has reduced many errors in the healthcare delivery which were experienced during the pre-technology era. Technology, therefore, has taken the healthcare system by storm by minimizing many of the obvious errors which were as a result of human error. There is no enough information regarding the safety of electronic medication administration. It is important because; it will ensure that the healthcare givers are well informed on the safety indexes of administering medication electronically. Similarly, patients will be informed about their safety.

The data, information, knowledge, and wisdom continuum will be useful for me to turn raw data into the processes to wisdom (Matney, et al., 2011 & McGonigle, & Mastrian, 2015). Forming or developing the topic of concern is always a crucial step before one starts to move on the continuum. It helps the individual searching for data to narrow down and be specific. After the question is developed, then an individual passes through the DIKW continuum step-wise. Data is the first step. The data involve the details about an area of concern McGonigle, & Mastrian, 2015). Regarding my clinical question, identification of data about electronic medication administration and patient safety levels will be sought. After identifying relevant data, gleaning it to information will follow. Information refers to the meaning of data. Information answers the questions how, what, and when McGonigle, & Mastrian, 2015). I would utilize this step to find meaning include interrelationships between the data on the safety of electronic medication administration. I will evaluate and try to understand all the points from the data. After identifying the information, then they move to the next step of the continuum which is the knowledge.

Knowledge is the third step of the continuum. The information gained is now applied into the practice McGonigle, & Mastrian, 2015). Regarding the clinical question on the safety offered by e-MAR, knowledge will be gained when the information gained is applied while utilizing the e-MAR in care delivery. It is in this step that I will apply the insights gained from the information. While applying the information, I would evaluate and reflect the changes in my practice and embrace them as the knowledge gained. Wisdom is the last step of the continuum. Gaining a lot of knowledge makes an individual able to manipulate it to new heights or in different situations to do the right things. Therefore, the knowledge about e-MAR can be turned into wisdom by doing the right things McGonigle, & Mastrian, 2015). It integrates the use of principles and becoming sophisticated in the area. The wisdom will help me increase the effectiveness of e-MAR by attending to the shortcomings and challenges as well.

Databases

Regarding my clinical question and topic of interest, the databases I would use are CINAHL, WebMD, and other nursing databases. These databases provided health-related information. Given my clinical question, they are the best placed to provide valid information. The Walden University Library website will offer me access to the databases. I would set the types articles I require. ‘Peer-reviewed’ are the best to provide me with credible and valid information. The search keywords for my topic would be; ‘electronic medication administration,' ‘patient safety and e-MAR’ and ‘safety indexes of e-MAR.’ I will set the advanced search engine to ‘nursing field’ only. This will help me narrow down my search and make it more specific.

Information to Knowledge

After I access relevant articles, I would then go through the articles to identify the data provided on e-MAR and patient safety. I would note down all the data provided by the articles. Afterward, I would go through my points editing them and trying to understand them. I would delete those that are not relevant to my clinical question. With the relevant remaining, I would figure out what they insinuate in a bigger picture in matters the practice area. This is through evaluation of the whole points and reflecting them regarding the clinical question. This way, I would have extracted information from the articles. With the available information, I would utilize it in my practice. This helps me understand better all the aspects of the information. While using the information to execute my roles, I would evaluate and reflect how my practice is different from the previous before the information. By identifying the peculiar inclusions, then I would have turned the information I have into knowledge because my new practice would be based on the information gained.

Knowledge to Wisdom

It is true that nursing informatics can be used to gain wisdom (American Nurses Association, 2015 & McGonigle, & Mastrian, 2015). Wisdom does not exist solely. It is derived from the raw data in the first step of the continuum. After the data is turned into information and later to knowledge, then the next step is wisdom. Wisdom is a step of expertise, and it entails making informed and crucial decision regarding the knowledge and information available. Therefore, non-dependent with the knowledge gained from the articles, the right decisions has to be made, and this shows wisdom. Decisions about the safety of patients when it comes to e-MAR are important.

Summary

The DIKW continuum is crucial when it comes to nursing practice. Nursing informatics provides data which is eventually turned into wisdom and then enhances nursing practice (American Nurses Association, 2015). From the discussion of the model, data is the first step. The data should be sought carefully and analyzed carefully to provide relevant information. The information gained from the data should be consistent with the clinical question. The information is then put into practice to brew knowledge. Increased knowledge provides the ability to make decisions. This ability describes wisdom. Therefore, the ultimate goal of DIKW model is to provide wisdom important in nursing practice (Matney, et al., 2011).

References

American Nurses Association. (2015). Nursing informatics: Scope & standards of practice (2nd ed.). Silver Springs, MD: Author.

Hannah, K. J., Hussey, P., Kennedy, M. A., & Ball, M. J. (2015). Introduction to nursing informatics.

Matney, S., Brewster, P. J., 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. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2015). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.