In this episode of Beyond the Bedside, we unpack Chapter 23: Conception Through Young Adulthood and turn a massive lifespan chapter into NCLEX-ready, bedside-focused clarity. We start at conception and walk through fetal, preterm, and low–birth-weight risks, then move into neonatal priorities like Apgar scoring, respiratory transition, temperature regulation, and the impact of maternal smoking, alcohol, and drugs on long-term neurodevelopment. From there, we break down infancy, toddler, preschool, school-age, and adolescent stages using Piaget, Erikson, Freud, and Havighurst so you always know what’s normal, what’s a red flag, and how to adjust your assessment, safety planning, and teaching for each age. You’ll hear how issues like colic, failure to thrive, SIDS and SUID, child maltreatment, obesity, ADHD, learning disorders, enuresis, substance use, STIs, and teen pregnancy actually show up in real patients—like Darlene, the pregnant 14-year-old; Nate, the 11-year-old with a concussion; Hillarie, the toddler with suspicious injuries; Luke with colic and an overwhelmed mom; and Christopher, the 18-year-old with cystic fibrosis. We tie in mandatory reporting, Safe to Sleep guidelines, choking response, car seat and water safety, immunization counseling, media and social media risks, and inclusive conversations around sexuality and gender so you can advocate confidently for vulnerable kids and teens. We close by walking through the chapter’s NCLEX-style questions and rationales so you can immediately practice identifying developmental stage, prioritizing safety and teaching, and choosing the nursing action that best protects growth, mental health, and family well-being from birth all the way through young adulthood.
