NANDA-I 13TH EDITION (2024-2026)
EXAMINATION PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES LATEST 2026
Part I: Foundations & Terminology (Questions 1-15)
1. What is the primary purpose of using standardized nursing diagnostic terminology like NANDA-I?
A. To replace the medical diagnosis in the patient's chart
B. To provide a universally understood language for nursing care and clinical judgment
C. To create billing codes for nursing procedures
D. To prescribe pharmacological interventions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Standardized terminology ensures consistent communication among nurses and other
healthcare professionals globally, defining the unique scope of nursing practice and clinical judgment.
2. According to the 13th Edition, the process of identifying patterns in assessment data to determine a
diagnosis is known as:
A. Formulating a care plan
B. Medical diagnosis
C. Diagnostic reasoning
D. Implementing interventions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Diagnostic reasoning involves the critical analysis and interpretation of assessment data to
cluster cues and identify patient needs, leading to an accurate nursing diagnosis.
3. A nurse writes a diagnostic statement: "Ineffective Airway Clearance related to retained secretions
as evidenced by adventitious breath sounds." Which part of this statement is the "Diagnostic Label"?
A. Related to retained secretions
B. As evidenced by adventitious breath sounds
,C. Ineffective Airway Clearance
D. Adventitious breath sounds
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The diagnostic label (e.g., Ineffective Airway Clearance) is the NANDA-I approved term that
names the clinical judgment. It is the core of the diagnostic statement.
4. The NANDA-I Taxonomy is organized into 13 Domains. Which of the following is one of these
Domains?
A. Pharmacology
B. Activity/Rest
C. Pathophysiology
D. Diagnostics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 13 Domains include Health Promotion, Nutrition, Elimination and
Exchange, Activity/Rest, Perception/Cognition, Self-Perception, Role Relationships, Sexuality,
Coping/Stress Tolerance, Life Principles, Safety/Protection, Comfort, and Growth/Development.
5. The 13th Edition introduces Kamitsuru’s Tripartite Model of Nursing Practice. This model
differentiates between:
A. Medical diagnoses and nursing diagnoses
B. Interdependent interventions and autonomous nursing interventions
C. Acute care and long-term care
D. Objective data and subjective data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Tripartite Model is used to differentiate between interdependent interventions (based
on medical/organizational standards) and autonomous nursing interventions (based on nursing
standards), clarifying the independent role of nursing.
6. According to NANDA-I, a "Risk" nursing diagnosis is defined as:
A. A problem that currently exists
B. A desire to improve health status
C. A vulnerability that is more likely to develop a problem than others
D. A collaborative problem requiring medical intervention
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Risk diagnoses describe vulnerabilities or potential problems that do not currently exist but
have a high probability of developing based on risk factors.
7. The 13th Edition (2024-2026) features how many new nursing diagnoses?
A. 12
, B. 98
C. 56
D. 123
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The updated 13th edition includes 56 new nursing diagnoses and 123 revised diagnoses.
8. A nurse is using Functional Health Patterns as an assessment framework. Which pattern would the
nurse be assessing when asking, "How would you describe your role in your family?"
A. Nutritional-Metabolic Pattern
B. Coping-Stress Tolerance Pattern
C. Role-Relationship Pattern
D. Value-Belief Pattern
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Functional Health Patterns are used in the 13th Edition to guide data collection. The Role-
Relationship Pattern specifically addresses the client's roles, responsibilities, and relationships within the
family and community.
9. A patient is admitted with a spinal cord injury. The nurse identifies "Ineffective Airway Clearance"
and "Impaired Physical Mobility." What is the nurse's first action regarding these diagnoses?
A. Treat both diagnoses simultaneously
B. Prioritize the nursing problems based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs
C. Ask the physician which diagnosis to treat first
D. Document them without prioritizing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse must prioritize diagnoses based on urgency and patient safety. Using Maslow's
hierarchy, physiological needs (airway) are prioritized over safety or mobility needs.
10. Which of the following is a major change in the 13th Edition regarding the axial structure?
A. Removal of the "Related Factors" axis
B. Consistent assignment of axis values to each diagnosis
C. Merging of all axes into a single label
D. Elimination of the "Defining Characteristics" axis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The new edition features Updated Axes with consistent assignment of axis values to each
diagnosis to improve clarity and reduce ambiguity in classification.
11. A nurse suspects they have made an error in diagnostic reasoning because they grouped "cough"
with "anxiety" to form a diagnosis that did not fit. This is an example of a:
A. Data collection error
EXAMINATION PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
PLUS RATIONALES LATEST 2026
Part I: Foundations & Terminology (Questions 1-15)
1. What is the primary purpose of using standardized nursing diagnostic terminology like NANDA-I?
A. To replace the medical diagnosis in the patient's chart
B. To provide a universally understood language for nursing care and clinical judgment
C. To create billing codes for nursing procedures
D. To prescribe pharmacological interventions
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Standardized terminology ensures consistent communication among nurses and other
healthcare professionals globally, defining the unique scope of nursing practice and clinical judgment.
2. According to the 13th Edition, the process of identifying patterns in assessment data to determine a
diagnosis is known as:
A. Formulating a care plan
B. Medical diagnosis
C. Diagnostic reasoning
D. Implementing interventions
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Diagnostic reasoning involves the critical analysis and interpretation of assessment data to
cluster cues and identify patient needs, leading to an accurate nursing diagnosis.
3. A nurse writes a diagnostic statement: "Ineffective Airway Clearance related to retained secretions
as evidenced by adventitious breath sounds." Which part of this statement is the "Diagnostic Label"?
A. Related to retained secretions
B. As evidenced by adventitious breath sounds
,C. Ineffective Airway Clearance
D. Adventitious breath sounds
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The diagnostic label (e.g., Ineffective Airway Clearance) is the NANDA-I approved term that
names the clinical judgment. It is the core of the diagnostic statement.
4. The NANDA-I Taxonomy is organized into 13 Domains. Which of the following is one of these
Domains?
A. Pharmacology
B. Activity/Rest
C. Pathophysiology
D. Diagnostics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 13 Domains include Health Promotion, Nutrition, Elimination and
Exchange, Activity/Rest, Perception/Cognition, Self-Perception, Role Relationships, Sexuality,
Coping/Stress Tolerance, Life Principles, Safety/Protection, Comfort, and Growth/Development.
5. The 13th Edition introduces Kamitsuru’s Tripartite Model of Nursing Practice. This model
differentiates between:
A. Medical diagnoses and nursing diagnoses
B. Interdependent interventions and autonomous nursing interventions
C. Acute care and long-term care
D. Objective data and subjective data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Tripartite Model is used to differentiate between interdependent interventions (based
on medical/organizational standards) and autonomous nursing interventions (based on nursing
standards), clarifying the independent role of nursing.
6. According to NANDA-I, a "Risk" nursing diagnosis is defined as:
A. A problem that currently exists
B. A desire to improve health status
C. A vulnerability that is more likely to develop a problem than others
D. A collaborative problem requiring medical intervention
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Risk diagnoses describe vulnerabilities or potential problems that do not currently exist but
have a high probability of developing based on risk factors.
7. The 13th Edition (2024-2026) features how many new nursing diagnoses?
A. 12
, B. 98
C. 56
D. 123
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The updated 13th edition includes 56 new nursing diagnoses and 123 revised diagnoses.
8. A nurse is using Functional Health Patterns as an assessment framework. Which pattern would the
nurse be assessing when asking, "How would you describe your role in your family?"
A. Nutritional-Metabolic Pattern
B. Coping-Stress Tolerance Pattern
C. Role-Relationship Pattern
D. Value-Belief Pattern
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Functional Health Patterns are used in the 13th Edition to guide data collection. The Role-
Relationship Pattern specifically addresses the client's roles, responsibilities, and relationships within the
family and community.
9. A patient is admitted with a spinal cord injury. The nurse identifies "Ineffective Airway Clearance"
and "Impaired Physical Mobility." What is the nurse's first action regarding these diagnoses?
A. Treat both diagnoses simultaneously
B. Prioritize the nursing problems based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs
C. Ask the physician which diagnosis to treat first
D. Document them without prioritizing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse must prioritize diagnoses based on urgency and patient safety. Using Maslow's
hierarchy, physiological needs (airway) are prioritized over safety or mobility needs.
10. Which of the following is a major change in the 13th Edition regarding the axial structure?
A. Removal of the "Related Factors" axis
B. Consistent assignment of axis values to each diagnosis
C. Merging of all axes into a single label
D. Elimination of the "Defining Characteristics" axis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The new edition features Updated Axes with consistent assignment of axis values to each
diagnosis to improve clarity and reduce ambiguity in classification.
11. A nurse suspects they have made an error in diagnostic reasoning because they grouped "cough"
with "anxiety" to form a diagnosis that did not fit. This is an example of a:
A. Data collection error
