Developing NCLEX - Style Items to Measure Clinical Judgment Skills
The Kentucky League for Nursing Education invites you to participate in our Nurse Educator Conference.
CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION
Mastering Clinical Judgment Skills for Nursing Practice Readi-ness is a focused, evidence-based professional development session designed for nurse educators and practicing nurses committed to advancing practice readiness and assessment excellence.
This conference will begin with a concise review of the cogni-tive processes underlying nurse thinking, with particular em-phasis on clinical reasoning and clinical judgment. Participants will explore how these processes influence patient outcomes and decision-making across clinical settings. Essential, practical strategies for strengthening and mastering clinical judgment skills will be presented, with clear connections to real-world nursing practice and educational application.
Building on this foundation, the session will transition to De-veloping NCLEX®-Style Items to Measure Clinical Judgment Skills, addressing the evolving demands of assessment in nurs-ing education. Participants will learn to differentiate between traditional test items that primarily assess nursing knowledge and those specifically designed to evaluate clinical judgment. Key considerations for writing high-quality, NCLEX®-style items aligned with clinical judgment competencies will be discussed, including structure, clarity, and alignment with decision-making frameworks.
By the conclusion of this conference, participants will be equipped with a deeper understanding of clinical judgment development and practical tools to both foster and accurately measure this essential nursing competency, supporting im-proved learner outcomes and practice readiness.
CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES
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Donna D. Ignatavicius’ Objectives:
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1. Briefly review the process and outcome of nurse think-ing: clinical reasoning and clinical judgment.
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2. Describe essential strategies needed to master clinical judgment skills.
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3. Differentiate NCLEX—style items that measure nursing knowledge and those that measure clinical judgment skills.
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4. Identify key points to consider when developing test items that measure clinical judgment skills.
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WHO SHOULD ATTEND? This conference is designed for all nurses with an interest in AI used in nursing education.
CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
SPEAKERS MAY 21, 2026
Donna D. Ignatavicius, MS, RN, ANEF, known as "Iggy," is a prominent nursing educator, author, and consultant (DI Associates, Inc.) recognized for expertise in medical-surgical and gerontological nursing, leading curriculum transformation and Next-Generation NCLEX (NGN) preparation. A Fellow of the Academy of Nursing Education (ANEF), she holds Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) credentials and authored leading textbooks like Medical-Surgical Nursing, focusing on clinical judgment, interprofessional care, and active learning for nursing students and faculty.
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Kelly Jenkins, MSN, RN, NE-BC. Executive Director of the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN), appointed in May 2021, leading efforts to protect the public by overseeing safe nursing practice in the state, focusing on licensure, education, and addressing workforce challenges like the nursing shortage, coming from a background in mother/child nursing and holding leadership roles within nursing organizations like KONL.
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Mark Klimek, RN, MSN, boasts an impressive 40-year tenure as a nursing professor, firmly establishing his expertise as both a seasoned nurse and an exceptional communicator. For over 30 years, he has been dedicat-ed to conducting nursing board reviews. Through his renowned Klimek Reviews, he has played a pivotal role in assisting tens of thousands of nurses in their preparation for and successful passage of the NCLEX® exam.
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SPEAKERS MAY 22, 2026
Quyen Phan, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAAN is an Associate Clinical Professor at Emory University's Nursing school. With nursing background in both Canada and the United States., Dr. Phan’s areas of expertise include public health, primary care, academic-practice partnership, and nursing education. Dr. Phan had a compelling personal journey as a Vietnamese refugee who overcame significant challeng-es to become a respected nurse practitioner and educator.
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Lu Ann Reed, DP, RN, LNHA, CRRN, BC-GERO, WCC, DWC, CNE is an Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati College of Nursing. With over a decade of experience in nursing education, Lu Ann Reed is a Certified Nurse Educator and a trailblazer in integrating artificial intelli-gence into academic practice. As one of UC’s early adopters of AI in nursing education, she brings a for-ward-thinking perspective on how technology can enhance teaching and learning. Passionate about innovation, Lu Ann shares how AI has transformed her approach to education—making it more efficient, engaging, and impactful.
SCHEDULE
Conference Schedule
Thursday, May 21, 2026
8:30—9:00 AM ………………………………..………..Registration/Breakfast/Vendors
9:00—9:15 AM …………………...….…… Welcome KLNE President, Neena Jones
9:15—10:45 AM ……………...………..Donna “Iggy” Ignatavicius, MS, RN, ANEF
“Mastering Clinical Judgment Skills for Nursing Practice Readiness”
10:45—10:55 AM……………..…….…………….…………………..…………Break/Vendors
10:55—12:25 PM…………..………..…Donna “Iggy” Ignatavicius, MS, RN, ANEF
“Developing NCLEX®-Style Items to Measure Clinical Judgment Skills”
12:25—1:30 PM……..……………………....…..…Lunch/Business Meeting/Vendors
1:30—2:30 PM ………………………………...…………Kelly Jenkins, MSN, RN, NE-BC
2:30—2:40 PM …….…………………………………………………………..…Break/Vendors
2:40—3:40 PM ………………………..……..…………….…..…..Mark Klimek, RN, MSN
3:40—3:50 PM…………………………………………………………………….Break/Vendors
3:50—4:50 PM……………………...….……..…..…………...…..Mark Klimek, RN, MSN
4:50—5:00 PM………………..……………………………..……………………………...Vendors
Friday, May 22, 2026
8:00—8:30 AM……………………….………………..……..……….…….Breakfast/Vendors
8:30—10:00 AM…………..…….……….Quyen Phan, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAAN
10:00—10:30 AM………………………..………………………………Poster Presentations
10:30—11:30 PM…………….……………………………...……..…Podium Presentations
11:30—12:30 PM…………………………………….…………...………..…..Lunch/Vendors
12:30—1:30 PM …..……………………….Lu Ann Reed, DNP, RN, BC-Gero, LNHA, WCC, DWC, CRRN, CNE
1:30—1:40 PM……………………………………………..…………………………………… Break
1:40—2:40 PM……………………………………………..…………..Podium Presentations
2:40—3:00 PM………………………….…………….............Evaluations/Silent Auction
REGISTRATION FEES
Last day to register is May 11, 2026
Registration Fee
Includes contact hours certificate, continental breakfast, lunch, and refreshment breaks.
 $275—members of KLN who register before 4/1/26
 $300—members of KLN who register after 4/1/26
 $315—non-members who register before 4/1/26
(includes KLN Membership)
 $340—non-members who register after 4/1/26
(includes KLN Membership)
 $200—Retired KLN Members
 $75—Prelicensure Students
 Presentation materials will be available on the website.
Presentation materials will be available on the KLN website.
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Refund Policy
Refunds will be issued for cancellations prior to October 1, 2025, subject to a $25 administrative fee. Substitutions for paid registrants will be accepted at the door.
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KLNE reserves the right to cancel or alter the program if unanticipated circumstances necessitate change.
Continuing Education Contact Hours
LOCATION
Continuing Education Contact Hours
13.2 Contact Hours
Attendance Requirement
You must stay for the entire program and complete the evaluation to be awarded KBN Contact Hours. All Continuing Education Contact Hours will be awarded by Madisonville Community & Technical College
KBN Approval: Madisonville Community and Technical College, the Division of Nursing, has been approved as a provider of continuing education by the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN). Provider #3-0039-12-25-001. Expiration Date: December 31, 2026. Kentucky Board of Nursing approval of an individual nursing education program does not constitute endorsement of program content.