Category 3 · 6–12% of the exam
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Normal development across the lifespan — and spotting what's abnormal.
Client need · Health Promotion and Maintenance
Providing and directing nursing care that incorporates knowledge of expected growth and development, prevention, and early detection of health problems.
Learning objectives
- ✓Identify normal vs. abnormal findings in pregnancy, labor, postpartum, and newborns
- ✓Apply developmental milestones and age-appropriate teaching
- ✓Recommend screenings and immunizations across the lifespan
- ✓Perform and sequence physical assessment techniques
3-day lesson plan
Day 1
Learn
Review prenatal, labor, postpartum, and newborn key facts. Make a milestone chart by age.
Day 2
Apply
Practice OB warning-sign and pediatric questions. Teach-back a screening schedule.
Day 3
Check
Take the category quiz. Note weak spots (OB vs. peds) for next week.
Study checklist
Test plan related content
Content areas NCSBN lists for this category.
Aging processAnte / intra / postpartum and newborn careDevelopmental stages and transitionsHealth promotion / disease preventionHealth screeningHigh-risk behaviorsLifestyle choicesSelf-careTechniques of physical assessment
Must know
- ●A persistent severe headache, visual changes, or epigastric/RUQ pain in pregnancy can signal preeclampsia.
- ●Heavy postpartum bleeding requires rapid assessment and intervention.
- ●Newborns lose heat easily; dry them, keep them warm, and support skin-to-skin care when appropriate.
- ●Developmental milestones are ranges, not exact deadlines for every child.