Which QSEN competency involves using information and technology to manage knowledge, mitigate errors, and support decision-making?

• A. Patient-centered care
• B. Safety
• C. Teamwork and collaboration
• D. Informatics

Answer: (D)

Informatics focuses on using information and technology to manage knowledge, mitigate errors, and support decision-making. It involves electronic health records, clinical decision support, data analytics, and other information systems that help nurses access current evidence, track patient data, and catch potential mistakes before they harm patients. For example, alerts about allergies or drug interactions and dashboards that monitor safety metrics illustrate how informatics improves decisions and reduces errors. The other competencies center on patient preferences and needs (patient-centered care), preventing harm and reducing risk (safety), and effective communication and coordination (teamwork and collaboration), rather than the systematic use of information systems to manage knowledge and support decisions.