ACKLEY AND LADWIGS NURSING DIAGNOSIS
HANDBOOK CERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT
2026 TESTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ NANDA-I Definition. Answer: A clinical judgment concerning a
human response to health conditions or life processes.
◉ Purpose of Nursing Diagnosis. Answer: Identify patient needs,
guide interventions, and evaluate care outcomes.
◉ Components of Nursing Diagnosis. Answer: Problem (P) +
Etiology (E) + Signs/Symptoms (S) = PES format.
◉ PES Format Example. Answer: Impaired Gas Exchange related to
alveolar-capillary changes as evidenced by dyspnea and low O₂ sat.
◉ Actual Diagnosis. Answer: Problem currently present and
validated by data (ex: Acute Pain related to injury).
◉ Risk Diagnosis. Answer: Describes vulnerability for a problem (ex:
Risk for Infection related to invasive line).
, ◉ Health Promotion Diagnosis. Answer: Reflects motivation to
improve well-being (ex: Readiness for Enhanced Nutrition).
◉ Syndrome Diagnosis. Answer: Cluster of predicted diagnoses (ex:
Disuse Syndrome after immobility).
◉ Problem (P). Answer: Label describing the human response
(Impaired Mobility).
◉ Etiology (E). Answer: Related factors or cause (related to muscle
weakness).
◉ Signs/Symptoms (S). Answer: Defining characteristics (as
evidenced by unsteady gait).
◉ Diagnostic Reasoning Process. Answer: 1 Collect data 2 Cluster
cues 3 Identify problem 4 Formulate PES 5 Validate.
◉ Data Collection. Answer: Gather subjective and objective data
(interview, assessment, vitals, labs).
◉ Clustering Cues. Answer: Group related signs and symptoms (e.g.,
cough, crackles → airway issue).
HANDBOOK CERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT
2026 TESTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ NANDA-I Definition. Answer: A clinical judgment concerning a
human response to health conditions or life processes.
◉ Purpose of Nursing Diagnosis. Answer: Identify patient needs,
guide interventions, and evaluate care outcomes.
◉ Components of Nursing Diagnosis. Answer: Problem (P) +
Etiology (E) + Signs/Symptoms (S) = PES format.
◉ PES Format Example. Answer: Impaired Gas Exchange related to
alveolar-capillary changes as evidenced by dyspnea and low O₂ sat.
◉ Actual Diagnosis. Answer: Problem currently present and
validated by data (ex: Acute Pain related to injury).
◉ Risk Diagnosis. Answer: Describes vulnerability for a problem (ex:
Risk for Infection related to invasive line).
, ◉ Health Promotion Diagnosis. Answer: Reflects motivation to
improve well-being (ex: Readiness for Enhanced Nutrition).
◉ Syndrome Diagnosis. Answer: Cluster of predicted diagnoses (ex:
Disuse Syndrome after immobility).
◉ Problem (P). Answer: Label describing the human response
(Impaired Mobility).
◉ Etiology (E). Answer: Related factors or cause (related to muscle
weakness).
◉ Signs/Symptoms (S). Answer: Defining characteristics (as
evidenced by unsteady gait).
◉ Diagnostic Reasoning Process. Answer: 1 Collect data 2 Cluster
cues 3 Identify problem 4 Formulate PES 5 Validate.
◉ Data Collection. Answer: Gather subjective and objective data
(interview, assessment, vitals, labs).
◉ Clustering Cues. Answer: Group related signs and symptoms (e.g.,
cough, crackles → airway issue).
