Health Promotion and Maintenance Reviewer for NCLEX-RN 2026 (Complete Guide)

Health Promotion and Maintenance comprises 6-12% of the NCLEX-RN. This category covers wellness, prevention, growth and development across the lifespan, maternity, and pediatric nursing. It emphasizes keeping patients healthy and preventing disease.

This reviewer covers the high-yield Health Promotion topics tested on the 2026 NCLEX-RN.

Growth and Development (High-Yield)

Erikson's Psychosocial Stages

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Key Developmental Milestones

2 months: social smile, lifts head

4 months: rolls over, laughs

6 months: sits with support, transfers objects

9 months: sits alone, pulls to stand, stranger anxiety

12 months: first words, walks with assistance

18 months: walks independently, 10-word vocabulary

2 years: runs, two-word phrases, parallel play

3 years: rides tricycle, speaks in sentences

Immunizations

Childhood Schedule (High-Yield)

Birth: HepB

2 months: DTaP, IPV, Hib, PCV, RV, HepB

4 months: DTaP, IPV, Hib, PCV, RV

6 months: DTaP, IPV, Hib, PCV, RV, HepB, influenza (annual)

12-15 months: MMR, varicella, Hib, PCV, HepA

4-6 years: DTaP, IPV, MMR, varicella

Live vaccines (MMR, varicella, rotavirus): contraindicated in immunocompromised and pregnancy.

Adult Immunizations

• Annual influenza (everyone 6 months+)
• Tdap once, then Td every 10 years
• Shingles (Shingrix) at 50+
• Pneumococcal at 65+ (or earlier with conditions)
• HPV through age 26

Maternity Nursing

Prenatal Care

First trimester: folic acid (prevents neural tube defects), confirm pregnancy, establish care.

Routine visits: weight, BP, urine (protein/glucose), fetal heart tones, fundal height.

Visit frequency: every 4 weeks until 28 weeks, every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, weekly after 36 weeks.

Danger Signs in Pregnancy

• Severe headache, visual changes, epigastric pain (preeclampsia)
• Vaginal bleeding
• Decreased fetal movement
• Leaking fluid
• Regular contractions before 37 weeks (preterm labor)

Preeclampsia

Signs: hypertension, proteinuria, edema (face/hands), headache, visual changes.

Treatment: magnesium sulfate (seizure prevention), monitor for magnesium toxicity (decreased reflexes, respiratory depression - antidote is calcium gluconate), delivery is definitive treatment.

Labor Stages

Stage 1: onset to full dilation (10 cm)

Stage 2: full dilation to birth

Stage 3: birth to placenta delivery

Stage 4: first 1-4 hours postpartum

Postpartum Assessment (BUBBLE-HE)

• Breasts
• Uterus (fundus firm, midline)
• Bladder
• Bowel
• Lochia (rubra → serosa → alba)
• Episiotomy/perineum
• Homan's sign (DVT)
• Emotional status

Postpartum hemorrhage: saturating pad in <1 hour, boggy uterus. First action: fundal massage.

Pediatric Nursing

Safe Sleep (SIDS Prevention)

• Back to sleep
• Firm surface
• No soft objects in crib
• Room-share, not bed-share

Car Seat Safety

• Rear-facing until age 2 (or max height/weight)
• Forward-facing 5-point harness until outgrown
• Booster until seatbelt fits (4'9", 8-12 years)
• Back seat until age 13

Poisoning Prevention

• Secure medications and chemicals
• Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
• Never call medicine "candy"

Health Screenings

Cancer Screening (Adults)

• Cervical: Pap smear starting age 21
• Breast: mammogram starting 40-50
• Colon: colonoscopy starting 45
• Prostate: discuss with provider at 50

Nutrition Across Lifespan

• Infants: breast milk/formula, no honey before 1 year (botulism), introduce solids at 6 months
• Adolescents: increased calcium, iron, calories
• Pregnancy: folic acid, iron, increased calories
• Elderly: decreased calories, maintained protein, calcium/vitamin D

Common Health Promotion Question Examples

Example 1: Developmental Milestone

Question: Which milestone is expected for a 9-month-old?

A. Walking independently

B. Sitting without support and pulling to stand

C. Speaking in sentences

D. Toilet trained

Answer: B - At 9 months, infants sit alone and pull to stand.

Example 2: Immunization Timing

Question: At what age is the first MMR vaccine given?

A. Birth

B. 2 months

C. 12-15 months

D. 4-6 years

Answer: C - MMR is given at 12-15 months (live vaccine, given after maternal antibodies wane).

Practice Health Promotion at LisensyaPrep

LisensyaPrep's NCLEX Quiz Module 6 contains 50 practice questions on Health Promotion and Maintenance.

Start Module 6: Health Promotion Practice

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