National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) Health Promotion and Maintenance Syllabus

Health Promotion and Maintenance syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Health Promotion and Maintenance in National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Growth, Development, and the Aging Process

   4 topics

   • Developmental stages and expected milestones
     • Erikson's psychosocial stages
     • Piaget's cognitive development
   • Age-appropriate care across the lifespan
     • Infant, child, and adolescent considerations
     • Care of the older adult and frailty
   • Developmental screening and anticipatory guidance
   • Family dynamics and the aging family
2. 2

   Antepartum, Intrapartum, and Postpartum Care

   4 topics

   • Prenatal care and fetal assessment
     • Naegele's rule, GTPAL, and prenatal screening
     • Fetal heart monitoring and biophysical profile
   • Labor, delivery, and stages of labor
     • Stages and mechanisms of labor
     • Pain management and obstetric emergencies
   • Postpartum recovery and complications
     • Fundal assessment, lochia, and involution
     • Postpartum hemorrhage and infection
   • Newborn care and transition
     • APGAR scoring and thermoregulation
     • Newborn screening and feeding support
3. 3

   Health Screening, Prevention, and Self-Care

   4 topics

   • Disease prevention and immunization
     • Recommended immunization schedules
     • Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention
   • Health screening and risk assessment
     • Age- and risk-appropriate cancer screening
     • Vital signs, BMI, and routine screenings
   • Lifestyle choices and high-risk behaviors
     • Nutrition, exercise, and tobacco/alcohol counseling
   • Health and wellness teaching
4. 4

   Physical Assessment and Techniques of Care

   4 topics

   • Comprehensive physical assessment
     • Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
     • System-specific focused assessments
   • Health history and data collection
   • Expected versus unexpected findings
     • Recognizing deviations across body systems
   • Self-care and complementary therapies

Health Promotion and Maintenance flashcards for National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN)

19 of 55 cards from the Health Promotion and Maintenance deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. According to Erikson, what is the central psychosocial conflict of infancy (birth to 18 months)?

   Trust vs. mistrust — consistent, responsive caregiving builds trust.

2. At what age does a child typically double and then triple their birth weight?

   Birth weight doubles by ~6 months and triples by ~12 months.

3. By what age should an infant be able to sit without support?

   About 6 to 8 months.

4. What is the expected age range for a child to begin walking independently?

   Around 12 to 15 months (most by 18 months).

5. Per Piaget, which cognitive stage corresponds to ages 0–2, and what is its hallmark?

   Sensorimotor stage; hallmark is development of object permanence.

6. What gross motor milestone is expected by 4 months of age?

   Rolling from front to back and good head control when upright.

7. According to Erikson, what is the psychosocial task of the toddler (1–3 years)?

   Autonomy vs. shame and doubt.

8. What is the expected number of words in a 2-year-old's vocabulary and sentence ability?

   About 50+ words and use of 2-word phrases.

9. Which Erikson stage applies to the preschooler (3–6 years)?

   Initiative vs. guilt.

10. What is the Erikson developmental task of school-age children (6–12 years)?

    Industry vs. inferiority.

11. What is the central Erikson conflict of adolescence?

    Identity vs. role confusion.

12. In age-appropriate care, what is the best approach to preparing a preschooler for a procedure?

    Use simple concrete terms, allow medical play, and prepare them shortly before (hours, not days) the procedure.

13. When obtaining cooperation, what is a key age-appropriate strategy for toddlers?

    Offer limited realistic choices and allow autonomy while maintaining safety/rituals.

14. What standardized tool is commonly used for developmental screening from birth to 6 years?

    The Denver Developmental Screening Test II (and Ages & Stages Questionnaire).

15. What is 'anticipatory guidance' in pediatric care?

    Proactive teaching to parents about expected developmental changes and safety needs before the next stage occurs.

16. What anticipatory safety guidance is the priority for parents of a 6-month-old?

    Aspiration/choking prevention and never leaving infant unattended (rolling, mouthing objects); childproofing as mobility increases.

17. Define the 'sandwich generation' in family dynamics.

    Middle-aged adults simultaneously caring for their own children and their aging parents.

18. What does Erikson identify as the developmental task of older adulthood?

    Ego integrity vs. despair.

19. How many prenatal visits are typical in an uncomplicated pregnancy schedule?

    Every 4 weeks until 28 weeks, every 2 weeks from 28–36 weeks, then weekly until delivery.

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