Instructions for Journal Entry 1 for IPE 391/NSG 490 for Spring 2017

1. Journal Entry #1 – Introduction to Health Informatics & Evidence-Based
Practice
DUE JANUARY 15 AT 11:59PM
Evidence based practice is the foundation for health care practice today. It requires
making informed decisions based on the combination of patient data, clinician expertise,
best research evidence, and the patient values and preferences. As discussed in class,
health informatics “pursues the effective uses of biomedical data, information, and
knowledge for scientific inquiry, problem solving, and decision making […] to improve
human health.” The purpose of this first journal is to help get to know you, understand
your motivation and knowledge of the health field, and help you gain understanding of
some of these areas through reflection. Some of this reflection and my feedback will
also help you with future professional program applications and career/internship
interviews.
Clinician Expertise
Your first journal entry will help me better understand your current clinical expertise and
interests moving forward. For example,
 Introduction (name, class level)
 What is your major? How does this major prepare you the best for your field?
 What career path(s) are you most interested in? Why? (For example, consider
including explanations about areas of practice, previous experience school or
work experience that informs your interest(s), etc)
People have different ways of learning, so this has implications for how you learn, work,
and engage with others. Dr. Howard Gardner from Harvard Graduate School of
Education identifies 8 different types of intelligence (optional video if you want to learn

2. more). Complete the Multiple Intelligences Assessment to identify your strengths and
weaknesses. Based on your results, address the following items in your journal entry
 What are your areas of strength? How will they help you as a health care
provider?
 What are your areas of weakness? How might this impact your work as a health
care provider?
Values & Preferences
As also a consumer of health care services, it is important to explore your values and
preferences. Complete the Value Sort project
1. Go to http://www.pztools.org/valuesort/event/ZjQ2O191
2. Click on Create a new Value Sort for this Event
3. Under Title, enter your first name and last initial
4. Click and drag the Value Sort Cards into the columns below
5. Hit Save once all values are sorted
Respond to the following:
In the journal, describe which values were easy to sort, difficult to sort, and why. You
should address at least 3 values for easy and at least 3 for difficult.
Research Evidence (Information LiteracySkills)
Information literacy skills are essential to find, appraise, and synthesize the best
research evidence. Health informatics also relies on research evidence to determine
how technology helps improve care, improves health, and reduces cost.
For the journal, complete the following sentences
For academic or class assignments, my questions or information needs come from….
For personal questions, my questions or information needs come from….
For academic assignments, I start my research using…
For personal questions, I start my research using…

3. For academic assignments, I determine which results to look at by these criteria…
For personal questions, I determine which results to look at by these criteria…
For academic assignments, I know that I understand the information I’ve researched
when I can…
For personal questions, I know that I understand the information I’ve researched when I
can…