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4.1 Growth and Development (Erikson/Piaget)

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NCLEX-RN Registered Nurse

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1 Introduction

About the NCLEX-RN Exam Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (NCJMM) How to Use This Course

2 Chapter 2: Management of Care

2.1 Legal Rights and Responsibilities 2.2 Advance Directives and Self-Determination 2.3 Informed Consent Protocols 2.4 Client Advocacy and Rights (HIPAA) 2.5 Assignment, Delegation, and Supervision 2.6 Five Rights of Delegation 2.7 Scope of Practice (RN vs LPN vs UAP) 2.8 Ethical Practice Principles

3 Chapter 3: Safety and Infection Prevention and Control

3.1 Standard Precautions and Hand Hygiene 3.2 Transmission-Based Precautions (Contact, Droplet, Airborne) 3.3 PPE Donning and Doffing Sequences 3.4 Fall Prevention and Restraints 3.5 Fire Safety (RACE/PASS) 3.6 Disaster Triage and Emergency Response

4 Chapter 4: Health Promotion and Maintenance

4.1 Growth and Development (Erikson/Piaget) 4.2 Developmental Stages: Infancy through Older Adult 4.3 Maternal and Newborn Care (Antepartum) 4.4 Intrapartum Care and Fetal Monitoring 4.5 Postpartum Care (BUBBLE-HE) 4.6 Health Screening Guidelines 4.7 Immunization Schedules

5 Chapter 5: Psychosocial Integrity

5.1 Therapeutic Communication Techniques 5.2 Non-Therapeutic Communication (What to Avoid) 5.3 Anxiety Disorders and Mental Health Concepts 5.4 Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions 5.5 Depression and Suicide Assessment 5.6 Substance Misuse and Withdrawal 5.7 Grief and End-of-Life Care

6 Chapter 6: Basic Care and Comfort

6.1 Mobility and Hazards of Immobility 6.2 Assistive Devices (Crutches, Canes, Walkers) 6.3 Nutrition and Diet Therapy 6.4 Enteral Nutrition (Tube Feeding) 6.5 Bowel Elimination and Ostomy Care 6.6 Urinary Elimination and Catheter Care

7 Chapter 7: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies

7.1 Medication Administration Rights 7.2 Medication Calculations 7.3 High-Alert Medications: Insulins 7.4 High-Alert Medications: Anticoagulants 7.5 High-Alert Medications: Opioids 7.6 High-Alert Medications: Digoxin and Electrolytes 7.7 IV Therapy and Complications 7.8 Blood Product Administration 7.9 Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)

8 Chapter 8: Reduction of Risk Potential

8.1 Laboratory Values: Hematology (CBC) 8.2 Laboratory Values: Metabolic Panel (BMP) 8.3 Laboratory Values: Coagulation Studies 8.4 Vital Signs and Trend Recognition 8.5 Perioperative Care (Pre-Op and Post-Op) 8.6 Nasogastric Tubes and Therapeutic Procedures

9 Chapter 9: Physiological Adaptation

9.1 Fluid Imbalances (Hypovolemia and Hypervolemia) 9.2 Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs) and Acid-Base Balance 9.3 Medical Emergencies: Stroke (CVA) 9.4 Medical Emergencies: Myocardial Infarction (MONA) 9.5 Diabetic Emergencies (Hypoglycemia and DKA) 9.6 Respiratory Conditions (COPD, Pneumonia) 9.7 Cardiac Conditions (Heart Failure) 9.8 Neurological Conditions (Seizures)

4.1 Growth and Development (Erikson/Piaget)

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

Erik Erikson's 8 stages of psychosocial development span from birth to death, each presenting a crisis that must be resolved for healthy personality development

Jean Piaget's 4 cognitive stages progress from sensorimotor (0-2 years) through formal operational (12+ years), describing how children develop logical thinking

Trust vs. Mistrust (infancy) is the foundation of all future development - consistent, responsive caregiving builds trust

Adolescents in Identity vs. Role Confusion focus on peer acceptance, body image, and establishing independence

  • Understanding developmental stages helps nurses provide age-appropriate education and anticipatory guidance
  • Last updated: January 2026

Growth and Development Theories

Understanding human development is essential for nursing practice. Two foundational theories guide how nurses assess clients and plan age-appropriate care: Erik Erikson's psychosocial development and Jean Piaget's cognitive development.

Why Development Matters for Nurses

Nurses use developmental knowledge to:

Assess appropriateness - Is this child meeting expected milestones?

  • Educate effectively - Match teaching methods to cognitive abilities
  • Anticipate concerns - Guide parents on upcoming developmental challenges
  • Identify delays - Recognize when referrals are needed
  • Erik Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development

Erik Erikson described eight stages of development, each centered on a psychosocial crisis. Successfully resolving each crisis leads to a virtue; failure creates difficulties in later stages.

  • Stage Age Crisis Virtue Key Focus
  • 1 0-1 year Trust vs. Mistrust Hope Consistent caregiving
  • 2 1-3 years Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt Will Self-control, independence
  • 3 3-6 years Initiative vs. Guilt Purpose Exploration, imagination
  • 4 6-12 years Industry vs. Inferiority Competence Achievement, skill-building
  • 5 12-18 years Identity vs. Role Confusion Fidelity Self-identity, peer group
  • 6 18-35 years Intimacy vs. Isolation Love Close relationships
  • 7 35-65 years Generativity vs. Stagnation Care Contributing to society
  • 8 65+ years Integrity vs. Despair Wisdom Life review, acceptance
  • Nursing Implications by Stage
  • Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy)
  • Respond promptly to infant cries
  • Maintain consistent routines
  • Encourage parental bonding
  • Explain to parents that "spoiling" an infant is not possible
  • Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Toddler)
  • Offer simple choices ("Red cup or blue cup?")
  • Allow safe exploration
  • Expect negativism ("No!") as developmentally normal
  • Use positive reinforcement for toilet training
  • Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool)
  • Encourage imaginative play
  • Answer "why" questions patiently
  • Provide safe boundaries for exploration
  • Recognize magical thinking is normal
  • Industry vs. Inferiority (School-Age)
  • Praise effort and accomplishments
  • Support academic and social development
  • Encourage participation in groups/teams
  • Help children develop real skills
  • Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence)
  • Respect privacy and growing independence
  • Provide health education without judgment
  • Recognize peer influence is paramount
  • Support identity exploration
  • Jean Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development

Jean Piaget described how children develop logical thinking through four stages. Each stage represents a qualitatively different way of understanding the world.

  • Stage Age Key Characteristics Limitations
  • Sensorimotor 0-2 years Learns through senses and actions; develops object permanence No symbolic thought yet

Preoperational 2-7 years Symbolic thinking (language, pretend play); egocentric Cannot think logically; centration

  • Concrete Operational 7-11 years Logical thinking about concrete objects; conservation Cannot think abstractly
  • Formal Operational 12+ years Abstract and hypothetical thinking Not all adults achieve fully
  • Key Concepts Explained
  • Object Permanence (Sensorimotor)
  • Understanding that objects exist even when not visible
  • Develops around 8-12 months
  • Before this: "out of sight, out of mind"
  • Nursing tip: Separation anxiety peaks after object permanence develops
  • Egocentrism (Preoperational)
  • Inability to see others' perspectives
  • Child believes everyone thinks like they do
  • Not selfishness - a cognitive limitation
  • Nursing tip: Preschoolers may believe illness is punishment
  • Animism (Preoperational)
  • Belief that inanimate objects are alive
  • "The tree is sad" or "My teddy feels cold"
  • Use this therapeutically: dolls for procedure teaching
  • Conservation (Concrete Operational)
  • Understanding that quantity remains constant despite appearance changes
  • Classic test: Equal water in different-shaped glasses
  • Achieved around age 7
  • On the Exam

Expect questions asking you to:

  • Match behaviors to appropriate developmental stages
  • Identify age-appropriate nursing interventions
  • Recognize developmental red flags
  • Apply theory to clinical scenarios
  • Comparing Erikson and Piaget
  • Age Erikson (Psychosocial) Piaget (Cognitive)
  • Infant Trust vs. Mistrust Sensorimotor
  • Toddler Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt Preoperational (early)
  • Preschool Initiative vs. Guilt Preoperational
  • School-Age Industry vs. Inferiority Concrete Operational
  • Adolescent Identity vs. Role Confusion Formal Operational
  • Clinical Application

When caring for a 4-year-old (preschool):

  • Erikson : Support initiative - encourage questions, allow choices
  • Piaget : Preoperational - use concrete language, expect magical thinking
  • Exam Tips
  • Erikson focuses on SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL development (crises, relationships)
  • Piaget focuses on COGNITIVE development (thinking, reasoning)
  • Memorize age ranges and key characteristics for each stage
  • Trust vs. Mistrust is tested frequently - emphasize consistent caregiving
  • Object permanence (8-12 months) relates to separation anxiety timing