NCLEX-RN Health Promotion and Maintenance Practice Test – Updated 2026

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You’re staring at a fetal heart rate tracing that looks like a jagged mountain range, or perhaps you’re trying to remember if a 4-year-old is supposed to be in the “Initiative vs. Guilt” stage. Health Promotion & Maintenance can feel like two completely different topics—Maternity and Pediatrics—stapled together. But on the NCLEX-RN, this category is all about one unifying theme: keeping the patient safe across the lifespan.

Whether it’s preventing complications in a laboring mother or identifying a developmental delay in a toddler, this domain accounts for 6% to 12% of your exam. While that might seem small compared to Management of Care, these questions are often “passing standard” heavy—meaning you simply cannot afford to miss the straightforward safety concepts.

In this guide, we will break down the lifecycle of health promotion, from antepartum care to geriatric safety, providing you with the high-yield facts, mnemonics, and clinical judgment strategies you need to pass.

💡 NCLEX Insight: This category is a top contender for NGN Case Studies (specifically Bow-tie questions involving labor complications) and SATA (Select All That Apply) questions regarding developmental milestones and discharge teaching.

Understanding Health Promotion & Maintenance: Your NCLEX Blueprint

Health Promotion & Maintenance is about the RN’s responsibility to direct nursing care that prevents disease and maximizes health potential. The NCSBN Test Plan groups this under concepts like “Immunity” and “Risk Reduction.” Unlike Physiological Integrity, which focuses on fixing what is broken, this domain focuses on maintaining what is healthy and recognizing when “normal” becomes “abnormal.”

Where This Topic Fits in the NCLEX

pie showData title Health Promotion & Maintenance NCLEX Weight
"Health Promotion & Maintenance" : 9
"Other NCLEX Domains" : 91

(Note: 9% represents the midpoint of the 6-12% range)

Practically, this means you will likely see 40–60 questions on this topic on a standard-length exam. The questions are rarely “fluff”; they are concentrated on high-stakes moments like birth, vaccination, and developmental crisis points.

What You Need to Know Within Health Promotion & Maintenance

flowchart TD
    MAIN["🎯 Health Promotion & Maintenance<br/><small>(NCLEX-RN Focus)</small>"]

    MAIN --> ST1["📌 Antepartum & Intrapartum<br/><small>High Yield (NGN Case Studies)</small>"]
    MAIN --> ST2["📌 Developmental Stages (Erikson)<br/><small>High Yield (SATA)</small>"]
    MAIN --> ST3["📋 Newborn & Postpartum Care<br/><small>High Yield (Safety)</small>"]
    MAIN --> ST4["📋 Immunizations & Screenings<br/><small>Medium Yield</small>"]
    MAIN --> ST5["📄 Lifestyle & Nutrition<br/><small>Medium Yield</small>"]
    MAIN --> ST6["📄 Reproductive Health<br/><small>Low-Medium Yield</small>"]

    style MAIN fill:#1976D2,color:#fff,stroke:#1565C0
    style ST1 fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#4CAF50
    style ST2 fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#4CAF50
    style ST3 fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#4CAF50
    style ST4 fill:#fff3e0,stroke:#FF9800
    style ST5 fill:#fff3e0,stroke:#FF9800
    style ST6 fill:#f5f5f5,stroke:#9e9e9e

Key Interpretation:
Notice that the top three “High Yield” areas are all acute or critical developmental windows. The NCLEX wants to know if you can handle a normal birth, a sick newborn, and the psychological development of a child. Focus 60% of your study energy here, using the “Medium Yield” topics for review.

📋 NCLEX Strategy: When studying, use the “Safety First” lens. For every fact you learn (e.g., “A 4-month-old rolls over”), ask yourself: “What is the safety risk if they don’t do this?” (e.g., Risk of falls/SIDS if they can’t move).

High-Yield Cheat Sheet: Health Promotion at a Glance

Before we dive deep, let’s map the territory. This domain is vast, so organizing it into pillars is crucial for retention.

mindmap
  root((Health Promotion))
    Maternal-Newborn
      Fetal Monitoring (Decels)
      Labor Stages
      Postpartum Assessments
    Growth & Development
      Erikson's Stages
      Milestones (Infancy to Adolescence)
      Safety Risks by Age
    Preventative Care
      Immunizations (Live vs. Inactivated)
      Cancer Screenings
      Physical Assessments
    Lifestyle
      Nutrition (Pregnancy & Geriatrics)
      Exercise
      Substance Abuse
    Reproductive Health
      Contraception
      STI Prevention
      Menopause

Quick Reference Summary

Pillar 1: Maternal-Newborn Nursing (The “Big” Chunk)
This covers the physiological journey of pregnancy and birth. You must understand the progression of labor, how to read a fetal monitor strip, and the immediate transition of the newborn to life outside the womb. NCLEX loves to test priority interventions for fetal distress.

Pillar 2: Growth & Developmental Stages
Master Erikson’s 8 Stages. You don’t need to know Freud or Piaget in depth, but you must know the psychosocial crisis of each age group (e.g., Trust vs. Mistrust in infancy) to answer therapeutic communication questions.

Pillar 3: Preventative Care & Immunizations
Know the difference between Live Attenuated (MMR, Varicella) and Inactivated (Flu shot) vaccines. Understand timing for screenings like Pap smears (starts at 21), mammograms (starts at 40-50), and colonoscopies (starts at 45).

Pillar 4: Health Screening & Lifestyle Modifications
This focuses on non-pharmacological interventions. Think diet changes for hypertension (DASH) or diabetes (ADA). It also includes teaching about substance abuse cessation and safe sex practices.

Pillar 5: Reproductive & Sexual Health
Family planning is key. Understand how birth control works, which methods are safe for smokers (IUDs/Condoms, not the Pill), and teaching regarding menopause symptoms.

How Health Promotion Connects to Other NCLEX Domains

You cannot study Health Promotion in a silo. The NCLEX tests your ability to integrate concepts. A failure in health promotion (e.g., missing a vaccine) leads to a need for physiological integrity (fighting an infection).

flowchart TD
    subgraph CORE["Health Promotion Core"]
        A["Pregnancy/OB"]
        B["Development"]
        C["Prevention"]
    end

    subgraph RELATED["Connected Domains"]
        D["Pharmacological Parenteral"]
        E["Safety Infection Control"]
        F["Psychosocial Integrity"]
    end

    A -->|"Requires calculation of"| D
    A -->|"Complicates"| E
    B -->|"Builds on"| F
    C -->|"Requires assessment of"| E

    style CORE fill:#e3f2fd,stroke:#1976D2
    style RELATED fill:#f5f5f5,stroke:#757575

Why These Connections Matter

• Pharm Connection: You cannot manage preterm labor (Tocolytics) or induce labor (Pitocin) without understanding Pharmacological & Parenteral Therapies. You must know side effects like Mag Sulfate toxicity.
• Psychosocial Connection: Postpartum depression is a health promotion failure that falls under Psychosocial Integrity. If a mother cannot bond (Erikson: Trust vs. Mistrust), the infant’s development suffers.
• Safety Connection: Newborn eye prophylaxis and cord care are direct applications of Safety and Infection Control within the health promotion window.

💡 Clinical Insight: When you see a question that seems to bridge two topics, prioritize the “Safety” or “Airway” answer first.

What to Prioritize: Critical vs. Supporting Details

With limited study time, you must be ruthless. Use this matrix to focus your efforts on the concepts that will give you the highest ROI (Return on Investment).

quadrantChart
    title NCLEX Priority Matrix
    x-axis "Low Complexity" --> "High Complexity"
    y-axis "Low Yield" --> "High Yield"
    quadrant-1 "Master These (Critical)"
    quadrant-2 "Know Well (Essential)"
    quadrant-3 "Basic Awareness"
    quadrant-4 "Review If Time"
    "Fetal Heart Rate Decels": [0.2, 0.9]
    "Placenta Previa vs Abruptio": [0.3, 0.85]
    "Erikson Stages": [0.4, 0.8]
    "Immunization Schedules": [0.5, 0.6]
    "Stages of Labor": [0.4, 0.5]
    "Contraception Methods": [0.6, 0.4]
    "Theories of Aging": [0.8, 0.2]
    "Caloric Counts": [0.9, 0.1]

🎯 Strategy Tip: If you are short on time, spend 100% of it on the Critical and Essential rows. The NCLEX rarely asks obscure questions about aging theories when there are high-stakes safety questions to be asked.

Essential Knowledge: Health Promotion Deep Dive

1. Maternal-Newborn Nursing

Introduction: This is the “heavy hitter” of the category. It covers the systemic process of pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. The focus is on recognizing deviations from normal and acting to ensure the safety of both the dyad (mother and baby).

Key Concepts:

• Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) Monitoring: You must distinguish between decelerations.
  • Early Decels: Mirror the contraction (start and end with it). Caused by head compression. No action needed.
  • Variable Decels: Abrupt, jagged drops. Caused by cord compression. Action: Reposition mother (Side-lying), Oxygen, Administer fluid.
  • Late Decels: Start after the contraction begins and return after it ends. Caused by uteroplacental insufficiency (baby isn’t getting oxygen). Action: Turn left side, O2, Stop Pitocin, IV fluid bolus.
• Stages of Labor:
  • Stage 1: Dilation (0-10cm). Longest stage.
  • Stage 2: Birth (Delivery of baby).
  • Stage 3: Placenta (Delivery of placenta).
  • Stage 4: Recovery (First 1-2 hours postpartum).
• Apgar Scoring: Done at 1 and 5 minutes. Assess Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration.

Comparison: Placental Abnormalities

💡 Memory Tip: “Previa is a Painless Apple (Red). Abruptio is Abrasive and Dark.”

2. Growth & Developmental Stages

Introduction: Understanding the bio-psychosocial tasks of each age group allows you to provide age-appropriate care and education. Erik Erikson’s theory is the gold standard for NCLEX questions.

Comparison: Erikson’s Stages (Selected High Yield)

Key Concepts:

• Safety Risks: Know that Toddlers are at risk for choking (objects in mouth) and falls. School-age children are at risk for bicycle injuries.
• Anticipatory Guidance: Prepare the family for the next stage. (e.g., “Your toddler will want to dress himself; let him try even if it takes longer.”)

💡 Memory Tip: “Preschoolers take Initiative to ask ‘Why?’ while School Agers work in Industry to build things.”

3. Preventative Care & Immunizations

Introduction: Prevention is better than cure. This pillar focuses on systemic approaches to illness prevention through vaccines and routine screenings.

Key Concepts:

• Immunization Schedule: Know the basics. Hep B is given at birth. DTaP, IPV, Hib, PCV, Rotavirus are given at 2, 4, and 6 months. MMR and Varicella are given at 12 months.
• Live vs. Inactivated:
  • Live (Contraindicated in pregnancy/immunosuppression): MMR, Varicella, Nasal Flu (LAIV).
  • Inactivated (Safe): Flu shot, Tdap, Hep B.
• Contraindications: Anaphylaxis to a previous dose or a vaccine component (e.g., eggs/neomycin) is a contraindication. A mild illness or low-grade fever is NOT a contraindication.

4. Health Screening & Lifestyle Modifications

Introduction: Managing chronic risks through lifestyle is a primary nursing responsibility.

Key Concepts:

• Cancer Screenings:
  • Pap Smear: Start at age 21, every 3 years (or 5 with HPV co-test).
  • Mammogram: Start at age 40-50 (individual choice vs shared decision making), then annually/biennially.
  • Colonoscopy: Start at age 45.
• Hypertension: DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) – high in fruits, veggies, low-fat dairy; low in sodium.
• Diabetes: ADA diet – consistent carbs, monitor blood glucose.

5. Reproductive & Sexual Health

Introduction: Family planning allows clients to control their reproduction.

Comparison: Contraception Methods

💡 Memory Tip: “Copper IUD is for the Cramping/Heavy bleeder or Smoker.” “Pill is for the Planner.”

Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

Even well-prepared students lose points on “gotcha” questions. Here is how to stay ahead of the test writers.

⚠️ Pitfall #1: Prioritizing the Fetus Over the Mother
❌ THE TRAP: Immediately focusing on the fetal heart rate trace when the mother’s vital signs are unstable (e.g., hypotension from epidural).
✅ THE REALITY: Treat the mother first. A hypotensive mother cannot perfuse the placenta. Fix mom’s BP, and the baby’s FHR will usually recover.
💡 QUICK FIX: Ask yourself, “Is the mother dying?” If yes, address her first.

⚠️ Pitfall #2: Cultural Bias in Diet Teaching
❌ THE TRAP: Suggesting “milk and cheese” for calcium to a client who is lactose intolerant or from a culture that does not consume dairy, without offering alternatives.
✅ THE REALITY: NCLEX requires culturally competent care. Suggest leafy greens, fortified soy, or almonds.
💡 QUICK FIX: Look for clues in the stem about ethnicity or preferences before selecting a diet teaching answer.

⚠️ Pitfall #3: “Testing the Test” in Immunizations
❌ THE TRAP: Avoiding giving a vaccine to a child with a low-grade fever or a mild cold.
✅ THE REALITY: Minor acute illness is not a contraindication for vaccination. You should vaccinate.
💡 QUICK FIX: Unless the child has a high fever or severe illness, “Vaccinate today” is usually the right answer.

⚠️ Pitfall #4: Misidentifying the “Client” in Family Planning
❌ THE TRAP: Teaching the male partner about how to take birth control pills or the female partner about condom use.
✅ THE REALITY: Teach the person who will actually use the method. Teach the pill-taker about the pill; teach the condom-wearer about the condom.
💡 QUICK FIX: Match the teaching to the user of the device/med.

⚠️ Pitfall #5: Ignoring “Normal” Newborn Appearance
❌ THE TRAP: Intervening for acrocyanosis (blue hands/feet) or milia/vernix.
✅ THE REALITY: These are normal findings. Central cyanosis (blue trunk/tongue) requires intervention.
💡 QUICK FIX: “Blue hands/feet are sweet; blue chest/tongue is a distress.”

⚠️ Pitfall #6: Forgetting the Rhogam Window
❌ THE TRAP: Giving RhoGAM after delivery to a Rh-negative mother without checking the baby’s blood type first (in some protocols) or missing the 72-hour window.
✅ THE REALITY: RhoGAM is given within 72 hours postpartum if the baby is Rh-positive (or if unknown). It is also given at 28 weeks gestation.
💡 QUICK FIX: Remember “28 and 72” (28 weeks gestation, 72 hours postpartum).

🎯 Remember: Avoid “medical model” thinking. The NCLEX tests “nursing model” thinking—prioritizing safety, education, and advocacy.

How This Topic Is Tested: NCLEX Question Patterns

The NGN (Next Generation NCLEX) changes how you apply this knowledge. You won’t just memorize Apgar; you will apply it to a case.

📋 Pattern #1: Unfolding Case Study (NGN Bow-tie)
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE: A dynamic scenario involving a woman in labor. The nurse observes a change in the fetal monitor strip. The question asks for immediate actions, then potential prescriptions, then parameters to monitor.
EXAMPLE STEM: “The nurse is caring for a client in active labor whose FHR tracing shows late decelerations. Use the following options to select the actions the nurse should take in the correct sequence.”
SIGNAL WORDS: “Sequence,” “Select the order,” “Immediate action,” “Evaluate the effectiveness of.”
YOUR STRATEGY:

1. Identify the abnormality (Late decels = placental insufficiency).
2. Apply the nursing process: Assess -> Intervene.
3. Standard interventions: Stop Pitocin, Turn Left Side, O2 at 10L, IV Fluid bolus.
4. Reassess: Did the decels stop?
   ⚠️ TRAP TO AVOID: Choosing “Notify the doctor” as the first step. The nurse must initiate intrauterine resuscitation before calling the provider.

📋 Pattern #2: Select All That Apply (SATA) – Antepartum Teaching
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE: A question asking for discharge instructions for a pregnant client or signs of complications to report.
EXAMPLE STEM: “The nurse is teaching a client who is at 10 weeks gestation about warning signs of pregnancy. Which of the following should the nurse instruct the client to report? Select all that apply.”
SIGNAL WORDS: “Which of the following,” “Select all that apply,” “Indicated.”
YOUR STRATEGY:

1. Treat every option as a True/False question.
2. Look for “Red Flags” (vaginal bleeding, severe headache/visual changes, abdominal pain, leakage of fluid).
3. Exclude “Normal” discomforts (morning sickness without dehydration, mild fatigue).
   ⚠️ TRAP TO AVOID: Selecting “nausea” as a warning sign when it is a normal presumptive sign of pregnancy. Context is key (severity/frequency).

📋 Pattern #3: Priority Delegation
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE: A list of clients on a postpartum unit. The nurse must determine who to assess first.
EXAMPLE STEM: “The charge nurse is making assignments for the shift. Which client should be assigned to the LPN/LVN, and which should be assigned to the RN?”
SIGNAL WORDS: “Assign,” “Delegate,” “First,” “Priority.”
YOUR STRATEGY:

1. Stability: Stable clients = LPN/CNA. Unstable/Complex/Teaching = RN.
2. ABCs: Who has airway/breathing/circulation issues?
3. Maslow: Physiological before Psychosocial.
   ⚠️ TRAP TO AVOID: Delegating admission assessment or client teaching about a new diagnosis to an LPN. These are RN responsibilities.

📋 Pattern #4: Extended Multiple Response (Matrix)
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE: A table matching developmental milestones to ages, or contraindications to specific vaccines.
EXAMPLE STEM: “A nurse is preparing a community education session on developmental milestones. For each age group, click to specify if the milestone is ‘Expected’ or ‘Not Expected’.”
SIGNAL WORDS: “For each… click to specify,” “Expected/Not Expected.”
YOUR STRATEGY:

1. Recall Erikson and milestones (e.g., walking by 12 months).
2. Don’t overthink “early” or “late” unless the stem specifies a strict window.
3. Focus on the norm.
   ⚠️ TRAP TO AVOID: Confusing the age for specific speech milestones (e.g., 2-word sentences by 2 years).

🎯 Pattern Recognition Tip: If you see a list of 4-6 clients and have to delegate, look for the one who is unstable or newly admitted. Those are your RN priorities.

Key Terms You Must Know

Knowing the vocabulary is half the battle. If you don’t know what “Quickening” is, you can’t answer the question.

Red Flag Answers: What’s Almost Always Wrong

Use the “Elimination Method.” If you see these red flags, think twice before selecting that answer.

Myth-Busters: Common Misconceptions

Nursing school lore and real-world myths often clash with NCLEX best practices.

❌ Myth #1: “Pregnant women should eat for two (double the calories).”
✅ THE TRUTH: Caloric needs only increase by about 300-500 calories/day in the second and third trimesters. Quality of nutrients (protein, folic acid) is more important than volume.
📝 EXAM IMPACT: Selecting an answer that encourages excessive weight gain or high-sugar/fat diets is incorrect.

❌ Myth #2: “You should always wake a newborn to feed them on a strict schedule.”
✅ THE TRUTH: While hydration is critical, feeding on demand (or cue-based feeding) is the standard of care for breastfeeding success and weight gain, provided the newborn is not hypoglycemic or losing excessive weight.
📝 EXAM IMPACT: Choosing “wake every 2 hours regardless” over “feed when showing hunger cues” (unless specific risk factors exist).

❌ Myth #3: “Pain medication in labor should be avoided completely to ensure the baby’s safety.”
✅ THE TRUTH: While non-pharmacological methods are encouraged first, pain management (epidural, IV analgesics) is a standard part of labor care and does not inherently harm the baby when monitored correctly. Maternal stress/pain can actually compromise fetal oxygenation.
📝 EXAM IMPACT: Failing to support a client’s request for pain relief or providing incorrect teaching about risks.

❌ Myth #4: “If a child is not walking by 12 months, they are developmentally delayed.”
✅ THE TRUTH: The normal range for walking is 9-15 months. 12 months is the average, not a hard deadline.
📝 EXAM IMPACT: Inappropriately referring a 12-month-old for early intervention when they are actually within the normal range.

❌ Myth #5: “Breastfeeding protects 100% against pregnancy.”
✅ THE TRUTH: LAM (Lactational Amenorrhea Method) is only effective if the baby is <6 months old, exclusively breastfed (no supplements/pacifiers), and the mother has not had a return of menses. It is not 100% reliable.
📝 EXAM IMPACT: Providing incorrect family planning advice to a postpartum client.

💡 Bottom Line: Always base your exam answers on evidence-based practice (EBP), not on “old school” habits or what you saw in a clinical rotation once.

Apply Your Knowledge: Clinical Scenarios

Let’s put the pieces together with some rapid-fire scenarios.

Scenario #1: The Fetal Monitor Drop
Situation: A laboring client at 8cm dilation has a contraction. The FHR drops after the contraction starts and returns to baseline after the contraction ends. The baseline rate is 140 bpm.
Clinical Judgment Prompt:

• Assessment: Identify the pattern. (Late Decelerations).
• Action: What is the nurse’s immediate intervention? (Turn client to left lateral position, administer oxygen, stop Pitocin if running).
• Key Principle: Late decels = Uteroplacental insufficiency. Get blood to the baby.

Scenario #2: The Toddler’s Play
Situation: You are assessing a 2-year-old in the clinic. The mother asks what kind of toys are appropriate.
Clinical Judgment Prompt:

• Assessment: What is the developmental stage? (Erikson: Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt).
• Action: Which toy recommendation is best? (Push/pull toys, large crayons, sturdy picture books).
• Key Principle: Toddlers are exploring their environment and improving motor skills but still mouth objects. Avoid small parts (choking hazard).

Scenario #3: The Postpartum Bleeder
Situation: A client is 1 hour post-delivery. The nurse notes the fundus is boggy and 2 cm above the umbilicus. Lochia is heavy and red.
Clinical Judgment Prompt:

• Assessment: Identify the complication. (Uterine atony).
• Action: What is the priority nursing intervention? (Massage the fundus until firm, void if bladder full).
• Key Principle: The first line of defense for postpartum hemorrhage is fundal massage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I differentiate between true labor and false labor (Braxton Hicks)?

A: True Labor contractions get regular, stronger, and closer together. Cervix dilates/effaces. Walking does not stop them. False Labor contractions are irregular, stay the same intensity, and often stop with rest or hydration. The “golden rule” is: Change = Labor; No Change = False Labor.

Q: What are the “must-know” developmental milestones for the NCLEX?

A: Focus on the big ones:

• 2 months: Smile, social coo.
• 4 months: Holds head up, rolls front-to-back.
• 6 months: Sits without support, transfers objects.
• 9 months: Pincer grasp, crawls/creeps.
• 12 months: Walks alone, says 1-2 words.

Q: What is the immediate nursing action for late decelerations?

A: Intrauterine Resuscitation. 1. Stop Pitocin if infusing. 2. Turn client to the left lateral side. 3. Apply oxygen at 8-10 L/min via non-rebreather. 4. Increase IV fluid rate (if hypotension is suspected). Call the provider after these are done if they don’t resolve.

Q: Which vaccines are live and contraindicated in pregnancy?

A: The big ones are MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), Varicella (Chickenpox), and Nasal Flu (Influenza LAIV). Inactivated vaccines (Flu shot, Tdap) are safe and encouraged during pregnancy.

Q: What is the difference between placenta previa and abruptio placentae?

A: Previa is the placenta implanting over the cervix. It is painless and involves bright red bleeding. Do NOT perform a vaginal exam. Abruptio is premature separation. It is painful (board-like abdomen) and involves dark red bleeding. Both are emergencies.

Q: How do I calculate the Apgar score?

A: Assign a score of 0, 1, or 2 to five signs: Appearance (color), Pulse (heart rate), Grimace (reflex irritability), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiration (breathing effort). Done at 1 and 5 minutes.

Q: Can a pregnant woman receive a Rubella vaccination?

A: No. Rubella (MMR) is a live vaccine and is teratogenic. However, it should be given postpartum (before discharge) if the mother is Rubella non-immune, even if she is breastfeeding.

Recommended Study Approach for Health Promotion

This approach is tailored to RN-level thinking (Application/Analysis). Don’t just memorize; understand the why.

Phase 1: Build Foundation (3 hours)

Focus Areas:

• Normal A&P of Pregnancy.
• Normal Growth & Development (Erikson & Milestones).

Activities:

• Create a flowchart of the stages of labor.
• Flashcards for Erikson’s stages (Age on front, Crisis on back).
• Review normal vital signs for pregnant women and newborns.

Phase 2: Deepen Understanding (4 hours)

Focus Areas:

• High-Yield Complications (Previa, Abruptio, Preeclampsia, Diabetes).
• Immunization schedules.

Activities:

• Compare and Contrast: Use tables to differentiate Previa vs. Abruptio and Live vs. Inactivated vaccines.
• Concept Map: Draw out “Preeclampsia”—connecting the cause, symptoms, nursing actions, and medications (Mag Sulfate).

Phase 3: Apply & Test (3 hours)

Focus Areas:

• NGN Case Studies (Bow-tie).
• SATA questions on Teaching.

Activities:

• Practice Questions: Complete at least 30-40 specific practice questions on this domain.
• “Who Comes First?” Game: List 4 patients (e.g., G1P0 at 10cm, G2P1 requesting meds, Postpartum with temp 101F, Antepartum with BP 160/110) and rank them.
• Review Rationales: Read why the right answer is right.

Phase 4: Review & Reinforce (2 hours)

Focus Areas:

• Mnemonics.
• Pitfalls & Red Flags.

Activities:

• Teach-Back: Explain “Fetal Heart Rate Decelerations” to an imaginary student using the EL-V mnemonic.
• Pitfall Scan: Review the “Pitfalls” section of this guide.

✅ You’re Ready When You Can:

• [ ] Distinguish between Early, Late, and Variable decelerations and state the intervention for each.
• [ ] List all 8 of Erikson’s stages in order.
• [ ] Identify which vaccines are live vs. inactivated.
• [ ] Prioritize postpartum complications (Hemorrhage > Infection > DVT).
• [ ] Select the correct developmental toy/activity for any age group.
• [ ] Differentiate Placenta Previa from Abruptio Placenta based on pain and bleeding.

🎯 NCLEX Tip: When you are unsure, look for the “Safety” answer. In Health Promotion, this usually involves “Assess,” “Educate,” or “Prevent.”

Clinical Judgment & NGN Connection

The NGN wants you to act like a nurse, not just know facts. In Health Promotion, this means recognizing when a patient is moving from “Low Risk” to “High Risk.”

Wrapping Up: Your Health Promotion Action Plan

Health Promotion & Maintenance is the cornerstone of nursing. It is about helping patients live their healthiest lives, from the moment of conception to the golden years. You have the tools to recognize danger signs in labor, support a growing child’s development, and prevent disease through vaccination.

Review the EL-V mnemonic one more time. Visualize the difference between Placenta Previa and Abruptio Placenta. Trust in your ability to prioritize safety.

You are not just memorizing facts; you are preparing to protect the most vulnerable patients. You’ve got this.

🌟 Final Thought: Health Promotion is about Potential. Your job on the NCLEX is to identify the threats to that potential and intervene before harm occurs.

Want to test your knowledge? Check out our Pharmacological Parenteral Therapies Guide to see how Pitocin and Mag Sulfate fit into the bigger picture, or take our NGN Practice Quiz to put these skills to the test.