Nursing Informatics and Computer Fundamentals

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering nursing informatics definitions, historical milestones, computer hardware and software components, system theories, and healthcare technology protocols.

Nursing Informatics (NI)

A specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice (ANA, 2006).

Clinical Information System (CIS)

A system designed to create, store, retrieve, and use patient records, composed of people, data, rules, procedures, and processing/storage devices.

Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT)

Technology introduced in the 1960s during the early research phase of nursing informatics to improve computer interfaces.

Management Information Systems (MIS)

Cost-saving systems developed in the 1970s that helped nurses process and manage hospital resource and financial data.

Computer-based Patient Record (CPR)

A technology identified by the Institute of Medicine in 1989 as an essential tool for healthcare professionals to provide complete and accurate patient data and decision support.

HIPAA (1996)

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which established national standards for the security and privacy of electronic health information.

HITECH Act (2009)

Legislation focused on addressing the privacy and security concerns associated with the electronic transmission of health information, including penalties for breaches.

Analog Computer

A machine used for scientific and engineering process control that measures continuous physical properties such as temperature and pressure.

Digital Computer

A machine used for business and scientific processing that performs calculations and data processing with high accuracy.

Hybrid Computer

A computer that combines the functions of analog and digital machines, frequently used in ICU monitoring systems.

Supercomputer

An extremely fast computer capable of performing millions of instructions per second, used for complex scientific computations.

Mainframe

A powerful multi-user system used by large organizations to support hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously.

Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

The component of the CPU that performs mathematical operations like addition and subtraction, as well as logical comparisons.

Control Unit (CU)

The CPU component that manages the execution cycle by fetching, decoding, executing, and storing instructions.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

A type of temporary working memory where data is lost when power is turned off.

ROM (Read Only Memory)

Permanent memory that stores firmware and cannot be altered by the user.

Register

Very high-speed memory internal to the CPU, typically found in $16$, $32$, or $64$-bit sizes.

Augusta Ada Byron

The person known as the first computer programmer who contributed the concepts of the stored program and loops.

Charles Babbage

The inventor of the Analytical Engine, which was capable of performing mathematical operations and logical instructions.

Grace Murray Hopper

The Mother of Computing who developed the concept of debugging and helped create the COBOL programming language.

BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

The first system to run during startup, responsible for loading the Operating System from the hard drive into RAM.

Hospital Information System (HIS)

An integrated system used to manage clinical and administrative data, including modules for Admission, Discharge, and Transfer (ADT).

CARE2x

An open-source, integrated Hospital Information System (HIS) developed by a nurse named Elpidio Latorilla.

Data → Information → Knowledge → Wisdom Continuum

A conceptual framework by Abbott and Goodwin describing how raw facts are transformed into organized patterns and clinical decision-making.

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)

An internet protocol that breaks data into small packets called datagrams and ensures their reliable delivery across a network.

IP (Internet Protocol)

A protocol that handles addressing and routing to ensure data packets reach the correct destination.

DNS (Domain Name System)

A system that converts human-readable domain names into IP addresses for easy website access.

Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS)

Active knowledge systems that use patient data to provide case-specific clinical advice and support diagnosis or treatment planning.

MYCIN

An early rule-based expert system designed for identifying blood infections and recommending treatments using IF-THEN rules.

Telehealth

The use of electronic communication networks to support remote healthcare functions including diagnosis, therapy, and health education.

Closed System

A system with fixed boundaries and limited interaction with its environment, allowing only internal input.

Open System

A system with permeable boundaries that interacts with the external environment, commonly seen in healthcare settings.

Haptic Device

An output device that provides tactile feedback through vibrations or physical sensations.

Punched Cards

The original concept of programmable machine instructions used by Joseph Jacquard for his loom and later by Herman Hollerith for the U.S. census.

Wireless Range

The frequency spectrum used by wireless devices for communication, spanning from $30\,Hz$ to $300\,GHz$.