Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge (Fourth Edition) – Jones & Bartlett Learning

Why This Book Matters

Modern healthcare generates massive volumes of patient data, clinical research, and operational metrics. Without a systematic approach to managing this information, nurses risk making decisions based on incomplete or outdated knowledge. Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge directly addresses this challenge by equipping nursing professionals and students with the frameworks needed to transform raw data into actionable clinical wisdom.

This foundational text bridges the gap between clinical practice and information technology, ensuring that nurses can lead rather than follow in the digital transformation of healthcare.

What Is Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge (Fourth Edition) – Jones & Bartlett Learning? A Complete Overview

Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge is the definitive textbook for understanding how informatics supports nursing practice, education, administration, and research. Written by Dee McGonigle and Kathleen Mastrian, this Fourth Edition (2018) from Jones & Bartlett Learning presents a comprehensive exploration of knowledge management within the nursing profession.

The book systematically covers core informatics concepts including data mining, system development life cycle, electronic health records (EHRs), and the ethical and legal dimensions of health information technology. Each chapter builds on the Foundation of Knowledge model, which positions informatics as the tool that enables nurses to acquire, process, generate, and disseminate knowledge.

Key topics include telehealth, consumer health informatics, and the role of standardized terminologies. The text also integrates current HITECH Act and meaningful use requirements, making it relevant for today’s regulatory environment.

Who Will Benefit Most

This textbook is essential for three primary audiences: undergraduate and graduate nursing students enrolled in informatics courses, practicing nurses seeking to understand EHR implementation and data-driven care, and nurse educators developing informatics curricula.

For students, the book provides the theoretical foundation required for certification exams and advanced practice. For clinicians, it offers practical guidance on leveraging informatics to improve patient outcomes. Nurse informaticists and IT professionals working in healthcare settings will also find the system analysis and project management chapters directly applicable to their daily work.

The content assumes no prior informatics expertise, making it accessible for beginners while offering depth sufficient for experienced professionals.

Skills You Will Gain

• Foundation of Knowledge Model: Master the conceptual framework that links data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice.
• Electronic Health Record Systems: Understand EHR architecture, implementation strategies, and the impact of meaningful use criteria on nursing workflows.
• Data Mining and Analytics: Learn techniques for extracting actionable insights from clinical datasets to support evidence-based decision-making.
• System Development Life Cycle: Gain proficiency in planning, designing, testing, and deploying healthcare information systems.
• Standardized Nursing Terminologies: Explore NANDA, NIC, NOC, and SNOMED CT and their role in interoperable health data exchange.
• Telehealth and Consumer Informatics: Examine the technologies enabling remote patient monitoring, virtual visits, and patient engagement portals.
• Ethical and Legal Issues: Navigate privacy, security, and confidentiality challenges in the age of big data and health information exchange.

Why This Book Stands Out

Unlike competing texts that treat informatics as a purely technical subject, McGonigle and Mastrian ground every concept in the nursing process and clinical reasoning. This Fourth Edition incorporates updated content on EHR systems, health information exchanges, and the latest regulatory frameworks that other textbooks have not yet integrated.

The book’s unique strength lies in its pedagogical design: each chapter includes case studies, critical thinking exercises, and application scenarios that bridge theory and practice. Competitors like Health Informatics: An Interprofessional Approach focus broadly on healthcare IT, but this text remains exclusively tailored to nursing’s scope of practice and knowledge requirements.

Furthermore, the Foundation of Knowledge model provides a consistent theoretical thread throughout the book, giving readers a unified framework rather than a disconnected collection of topics. This coherence is absent in many alternative texts that jump between subjects without a guiding conceptual structure.

Who Wrote This Book

Dee McGonigle, PhD, RN, CNE, FAAN, ANEF, is a professor of nursing and informatics at Chamberlain University. Her extensive research focuses on nursing education and informatics pedagogy, and she has authored numerous publications on knowledge management in healthcare. Kathleen Mastrian, PhD, RN, is professor emerita at Penn State University’s College of Nursing, where she taught nursing informatics for over two decades. Both authors bring decades of academic and clinical experience to this work.

Jones & Bartlett Learning is a respected academic publisher specializing in nursing, health sciences, and informatics textbooks. Their editorial standards ensure that the content meets the rigorous demands of nursing education programs across the United States.

This Fourth Edition has been adopted by leading nursing schools and is cited in informatics competency frameworks, reinforcing its status as a trusted resource in the field.

Final Assessment

For nursing students and professionals who need a thorough, accessible introduction to informatics, this textbook is the clear market leader. The Fourth Edition’s updates on EHR systems, meaningful use, and health information exchange ensure that readers are prepared for contemporary practice environments.

The book’s primary advantage is its nursing-centric approach — it never loses sight of the patient or the clinical context. This makes it more immediately applicable than generic health informatics texts. The inclusion of end-of-chapter exercises and online resources further enhances its value as both a classroom textbook and a self-study guide.

While the paperback edition is priced for the academic market, the digital version offers flexibility for students who prefer mobile access. Given the depth of coverage and the credibility of the authors, this represents a sound investment in professional development.

Download Nursing Informatics and the Foundation of Knowledge (Fourth Edition) – Jones & Bartlett Learning Now

Whether you are a nursing student preparing for an informatics course or a practicing nurse seeking to lead technology initiatives in your organization, this textbook provides the knowledge foundation you need. Add to cart now and gain access to the definitive guide on nursing informatics from Jones & Bartlett Learning’s trusted Fourth Edition.

Secure your copy today and take the next step toward becoming a leader in data-driven nursing practice.