Data -

Information -
Knowledge -
Wisdom

(DIKW) Model
Group 3 - BSN 2A
What is the DIkw Model?
The DIKW Model represents the flow
from raw data to actionable wisdom.
It explains how Data, Information,
Knowledge, and Wisdom are
interconnected.
Each level builds on the previous, adding
context and value.
What is the DIkw Model?
Each step up the pyramid answers
questions about the initial data and
adds value to it. The more questions
we answer, the higher we move up the
pyramid. In other words, the more we
enrich our data with meaning and
context, the more knowledge and
insights we get out of it. At the top of
the pyramid, we have turned the
knowledge and insights into a learning
experience that guides our actions.
IMPORTANCE OF DIKW IN
NURSING
Nurses handle large amounts of data daily (e.g., lab
results, vital signs)

The DIKW model helps organize raw data into

meaningful information.

It allows nurses to apply their expertise and knowledge

to interpret the information.
IMPORTANCE OF DIKW IN
NURSING
Helps transform data into actionable insights for
better decision-making.

Enables wise, informed decisions that improve patient

outcomes.

Ensures care is based on context and a comprehensive

understanding of the patient's condition.
Data
What is data?

Data refers to unprocessed, raw

facts.

For example, numbers like a

patient’s temperature (38.5°C) or
oxygen saturation (94%) are data
points. On their own, they lack
context or meaning.
 key characteristics
1. OBJECTIVE

Not influenced by opinions (e.g., measured using devices).

2. MEASURABLE

Quantitative (numbers, readings) or qualitative (observations).

3. UNSTRUCTURED

Cannot be used for decisions without being organized or

interpreted.
 ROLES IN NURSING PRACTICE
During Nursing Assessment

Nurses collect data during patient assessments,

such as vital signs, lab results, or patient-
reported symptoms. This serves as the
foundation for further steps in the DIKW
model.

For Example:

A nurse records a temperature of 38.5°C during

a routine check-up.
INFORMATION
 What is INFORMATION?
This represents data that has been processed, organized and given context,
making it meaningful and useful for a specific purpose.

Serves the bridge

between raw data and
knowledge, providing
the foundation for
understanding and
interpreting data and
enabling the
development of
insights and the
data --> information
1. Data: 140
(This number alone has no meaning.)

2. Processing & Organizing: We recognize this

as heart rate reading (beats per minute).

3. Contextualization: We compare them to the

normal range (60-100 bpm).

4. Information: A heart rate of 140 bpm is high,

which may indicate tachycardia.
 ROLES IN NURSING PRACTICE
Clinical Decision-Making
Research &
Nurses use information to
understand patient conditions Evidence-Based Practice
and make the right decisions.
Information helps nurses use
research and evidence to improve
Patient Safety & care.
Error Prevention
Patient Education & Advocacy
Information is important
to prevent mistakes and Nurses use information to teach patients
keep patients safe. about their health.
KNOWLEDGE
What is KNOWLEDGE?
Knowledge is the understanding gained from
information, through analysis, interpretation,
and synthesis.

Knowledge involves applying information to

make decisions, identify trends, or predict
outcomes. It bridges the gap between "knowing
what" and "knowing how."
 2 TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE
1. Explicit Knowledge

It is a knowledge that is documented, codified, and easily shared with

others.
Examples: Manuals, Guidelines, Textbooks, Patients Record and Data,
Videos

2. Tacit Knowledge

It is a knowledge that is personal, experience-based, and difficult to

articulate or document.
Examples: Nurse recognizing early sepsis signs from past cases.
ROLES IN NURSING PRACTICE

Knowledge plays a vital role in nursing practice,

enabling nurses to provide safe, effective, and
evidence-based care. It empowers them to make
informed decisions, adapt to complex situations,
and advocate for patients
 ROLES IN NURSING PRACTICE
Provide safe, effective, and evidence-based care
A nurse following evidence-based guidelines when administering
medications to avoid errors.

Make informed decision

A nurse identifies early signs of sepsis, such as confusion and low blood pr
and alerts the doctor to start treatment immediately.
 ROLES IN NURSING PRACTICE
Adapt to complex situations
When a patient in the ER suddenly goes into cardiac arrest, the nurse
quickly starts CPR and prepares the crash cart, relying on past
experience.

Advocate for patients

A nurse notices a patient with severe pain but no verbal complaints and
advocates for a change in their pain management plan based on her
knowledge of the condition.
 Personal Skills
Communication Teamwork

Leadership Negotiation
Wisdom
 What is Knowledge?
Wisdom is the highest level of the DIKW hierarchy. It is the ability to use
knowledge and expertise to handle problems in a morally and practically acceptab
method.

What Sets Wisdom Apart?

Wisdom involves critical thinking, ethical judgment, and
prioritization. It’s about not just knowing what to do but when
and how to do it.
Role in Nursing Practice

Nurses use wisdom to make

decisions that balance clinical
evidence with patient preferences
and values.
 The final step in the DIKW
model is wisdom, which goes
beyond knowledge and involves
the moral and practical use of
knowledge to deal with the
challenges of everyday life. It
involves understanding not just
the "what" but also the "why" of
information, allowing good
decisions and actions that take
consideration of the larger socia
Example:
A nurse notices that a patient’s
condition is deteriorating (fever an
low oxygen levels). Based on clinica
guidelines (knowledge) and
experience, the nurse prioritizes
administering oxygen and contactin
a physician for antibiotics.
DIKw
in
PRactice
 Post-partum bleeding
DATA Collecting Raw Facts
A nurse notices a postpartum patient’s blood pressure drops to 90/60 mmHg and
the patient is bleeding heavily.

INFORMATION Giving Meaning to Data

The nurse recognizes this as postpartum hemorrhage.

KNOWLEDGE Using Experience & Guidelines to Make Decisions

From training, the nurse knows this can lead to shock if untreated.

WISDOM Making the Best Decision for the Patient

The nurse massages the uterus, administers IV fluids, and calls for help
immediately.
 Diabetic Patient
DATA Collecting Raw Facts
A patient’s blood sugar is 250 mg/dL after meals.

INFORMATION Giving Meaning to Data

The nurse notices a pattern—blood sugar spikes after eating.

KNOWLEDGE Using Experience & Guidelines to Make Decisions

High sugar levels after meals can be controlled with diet adjustments.

WISDOM Making the Best Decision for the Patient

The nurse educates the patient on portion control and advises a meal plan.
 Respiratory Distress
DATA Collecting Raw Facts
A COVID patient’s oxygen level drops to 85%.

INFORMATION Giving Meaning to Data

This is lower than normal (95–100%), meaning the patient struggles to

breathe.

KNOWLEDGE Using Experience & Guidelines to Make Decisions

A low oxygen level can lead to respiratory failure.

WISDOM Making the Best Decision for the Patient

The nurse administers oxygen, adjusts the bed position, and calls the
doctor for urgent intervention.
Why DIKW Matters in Nursing
Improves decision-making

Enhances patient safety

Supports Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

Challenges
&
LIMITATIONS
 Challenges in DIKW Model
The DIKW model (Data, Information, Knowledge, Wisdom)
highlights how raw data is transformed into actionable wisdom.
However, implementing this model in healthcare, particularly in
nursing, comes with challenges:

Data Quality
Incomplete or inaccurate data can lead to poor decisions.

Technological skills
Nurses need training to use tools like electronic health
records (EHRs) effectively.
Ethical Concerns
Ensuring patient data privacy.
Avoiding misuse of sensitive information.
Time Constraints
Nurses often work under pressure,limiting their ability to
analyze data thoroughly.

Technological Limitations

Interdisciplinary Communication.

Resistance to Change
conclusions
& future
implication
conclusions...
The DIKW model is a structured
approach that transforms data into
actionable wisdom, helping nurses make
evidence-based, ethical decisions.

The Data-Information-Knowledge-Wisdom
(DIKW) model is a structured framework that
illustrates how raw data is processed into
meaningful wisdom, enabling nurses to make
informed, evidence-based, and ethical decisions.
This model is essential in nursing practice,
research, and education, as it guides clinical
reasoning, enhances patient care, and improves
healthcare outcomes.
Future Implication
AI and Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning
(ML) will revolutionize nursing by providing
predictive analytics, decision support systems, and
automated documentation.

EXAMPLE:
AI-powered tools like sepsis
prediction algorithms analyze a
patient’s vital signs, lab results, and
medical history to detect early signs
of sepsis before symptoms become
critical.
big data analysis
Big Data Analytics
AI and Machine Learning
Helps identify population health trends and improve
preventive care. This helps healthcare
professionals implement preventive strategies,
reduce hospital readmissions, and improve disease
management.

EXAMPLE:
Public health agencies use Big Data
Analytics to monitor COVID-19 infection
rates, predict outbreaks, and allocate
resources efficiently. By tracking
vaccination rates, symptoms, and
demographic data, healthcare providers
can better prepare for future pandemics
and outbreaks.
 integration in education
Big Data Analytics
AITeaching
and Machine Learning
future nurses to embrace informatics tools will
prepare them for modern healthcare challenges. With the
increasing use of electronic health records (EHRs),
telemedicine, and nursing informatics, nursing education
must adapt by incorporating digital literacy and
informatics training into curricula. Future nurses need to
be proficient in using technology for patient care, clinical
documentation, and decision-making.

EXAMPLE:
Many nursing schools are integrating
simulation-based training where
students interact with virtual patients in
digital hospital settings.