75 Topics Covered
NMCN Exam Topic Index
Every testable concept in the NMCN licensing exam — with key points, exam tips, and practice questions.
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Core nursing theories and models tested in NMCN
Henderson's 14 Needs
Virginia Henderson defined nursing as assisting the individual in activities contributing to health ...
Orem Self-Care Deficit
Orem's theory holds that people should be self-reliant and responsible for their own care. Nursing i...
Roy Adaptation Model
Roy's model views the person as an adaptive system constantly interacting with a changing environmen...
Nightingale Environmental Theory
Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, emphasised manipulating the environment — clean air, wat...
Maslow's Hierarchy
Maslow's hierarchy arranges human needs in five levels from physiological to self-actualisation. Nur...
Peplau Interpersonal Theory
Peplau, the 'mother of psychiatric nursing', described the nurse-patient relationship as a therapeut...
Watson Caring Theory
Watson's theory places caring at the core of nursing, describing transpersonal caring relationships ...
Neuman Systems Model
Neuman's model views the client as a system defended against stressors by lines of defence and resis...
Pharmacology
Drug calculations, classifications, and administration
Drug Calculations
Drug calculation is a core NMCN skill. Nurses must accurately compute doses, tablets, and volumes us...
Controlled Drugs
Controlled drugs (such as opioids) require strict handling: secure storage, double-checking, accurat...
IV Drip Rates
Intravenous therapy requires accurate flow-rate calculation. Nurses compute drops per minute using t...
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are classified by mechanism and spectrum. Nurses must understand major classes, complete...
Analgesics
Analgesics range from non-opioids to opioids. Nurses apply the WHO analgesic ladder, monitor for sid...
Cardiovascular Drugs
Cardiovascular medications include antihypertensives, cardiac glycosides, diuretics, and anticoagula...
Respiratory Drugs
Respiratory medications include bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and mucolytics. Nurses teach corre...
Diabetes Medications
Diabetes is managed with insulin and oral hypoglycaemic agents. Nurses must know insulin types, onse...
Mental Health Meds
Psychotropic drugs include antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilisers, and anxiolytics. Nurse...
Drug Interactions
Drug interactions occur when one drug alters the effect of another. Nurses must recognise common int...
Routes of Administration
Medications are given via various routes — oral, IM, SC, IV, topical, and more. Each route has corre...
Medication Errors
Safe medication administration relies on the rights of medication administration and honest error re...
Medical-Surgical
Adult health nursing procedures and care
Wound Care & Dressing
Effective wound care promotes healing and prevents infection. Nurses assess wounds, select appropria...
Peri-operative Care
Peri-operative nursing spans preparation before surgery and recovery afterwards. Nurses ensure conse...
Fluid & Electrolyte Balance
Fluid and electrolyte balance is vital for homeostasis. Nurses monitor intake/output, recognise imba...
Vital Signs
Vital signs — temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation — reflect physi...
Pain Assessment
Pain is the fifth vital sign. Nurses assess pain systematically, believe the patient's report, and c...
Oxygen Therapy
Oxygen therapy corrects hypoxaemia. Nurses select appropriate delivery devices, monitor saturation, ...
Catheter Care
Indwelling urinary catheters require aseptic insertion and diligent care to prevent catheter-associa...
Nasogastric Tube Care
Nasogastric (NG) tubes are used for feeding or decompression. Nurses must confirm correct placement ...
Blood Transfusion
Blood transfusion requires strict identity and compatibility checks. Nurses monitor closely for tran...
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
Pressure ulcers result from sustained pressure over bony prominences. Nurses prevent them through re...
Fall Prevention
Falls are a major cause of injury in hospitals. Nurses assess fall risk and implement environmental ...
Patient Positioning
Correct positioning promotes comfort, prevents complications, and supports specific procedures. Nurs...
Restraints & Safety
Restraints are a last resort to prevent harm. Nurses must use the least restrictive method, obtain p...
Discharge Planning
Discharge planning begins on admission and ensures a safe transition home. Nurses provide education ...
Nursing Documentation
Accurate documentation is a legal and professional duty. Records must be clear, factual, timely, and...
Maternal & Child
Antenatal, labour, postpartum, and child health
Antenatal Care
Antenatal care monitors the health of mother and fetus throughout pregnancy, screening for complicat...
Stages of Labour
Labour progresses through distinct stages. Nurses and midwives monitor progress, maternal and fetal ...
APGAR Score
The APGAR score rapidly assesses a newborn's condition at 1 and 5 minutes after birth across five pa...
Postpartum Care
The postpartum period (puerperium) is the six weeks after delivery. Nurses monitor involution, lochi...
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding provides optimal infant nutrition and immunity. Nurses promote early initiation, corre...
Newborn Assessment
Immediate and ongoing newborn assessment detects problems early. Nurses evaluate vital signs, reflex...
Family Planning
Family planning enables individuals to decide the number and spacing of children. Nurses counsel on ...
Pregnancy Complications
Pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia, haemorrhage, and anaemia threaten mother and baby. Nu...
Neonatal Care
Neonatal care focuses on the first 28 days of life, including thermoregulation, feeding, and recogni...
Child Immunization
Nigeria's routine immunization schedule protects children against major vaccine-preventable diseases...
Mental Health
Psychiatric nursing and therapeutic communication
Therapeutic Communication
Therapeutic communication builds trust and supports healing. Nurses use techniques such as active li...
Defence Mechanisms
Defence mechanisms are unconscious strategies the ego uses to manage anxiety. Nurses recognise these...
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety ranges from mild to panic level. Nurses assess anxiety severity and use calming, supportive ...
Depression & Suicide Risk
Depression is a common mood disorder that can carry suicide risk. Nurses assess mood, ensure safety,...
Schizophrenia Nursing
Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder with positive and negative symptoms. Nurses provide safety, re...
Substance Abuse Nursing
Substance use disorders involve harmful use of alcohol or drugs. Nurses manage intoxication, withdra...
Mental Status Examination
The mental status examination systematically assesses a patient's psychological functioning, forming...
Psychiatric Medications
Psychiatric medications require careful monitoring for effectiveness and serious adverse effects. Nu...
Community Health
PHC, epidemiology, and public health nursing
Primary Health Care
Primary health care (PHC) is essential care made accessible to all. Nigeria adopts PHC as the corner...
Health Education
Health education empowers people to improve their health through informed choices. Nurses apply teac...
Epidemiology Basics
Epidemiology studies the distribution and determinants of health and disease in populations, guiding...
Immunization Schedule
Nigeria's immunization schedule and the cold chain ensure children receive potent vaccines on time t...
Malaria Nursing Care
Malaria is a leading cause of illness in Nigeria. Nurses manage cases, promote prevention, and educa...
Tuberculosis Management
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major infectious disease. Nurses support diagnosis, directly observed therapy...
HIV/AIDS Nursing Care
HIV/AIDS requires comprehensive nursing care, prevention of transmission, and support for treatment ...
Infection Control
Precautions, hand hygiene, and sterilization
Standard Precautions
Standard precautions are the basic infection prevention measures applied to all patients to reduce t...
Chain of Infection
The chain of infection describes the six links required for infection to spread. Breaking any link p...
Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of infection prevention. The WHO defines Five Moments and a step-by-...
Sterilization Methods
Sterilization destroys all microorganisms including spores, while disinfection reduces them. Nurses ...
Isolation Procedures
Isolation and transmission-based precautions prevent the spread of specific infections, layered on t...
Professional Issues
Ethics, law, NMCN regulations, and delegation
Nursing Ethics & Law
Nursing practice is governed by ethical principles and the law. Nurses must uphold patient rights, c...
NMCN Regulations
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria regulates nursing practice, sets standards, and enforce...
Delegation Principles
Effective delegation assigns tasks appropriately while retaining accountability. Nurses apply the ri...
Priority Setting
Priority setting determines which patient needs are addressed first. Nurses use frameworks like ABC ...
Documentation & Reporting
Accurate documentation and effective reporting ensure continuity and safety of care. Nurses use stru...
Exam Strategy
How to pass NMCN — tips, strategies, frameworks
How to Pass NMCN
Passing the NMCN exam requires strategic preparation focused on past questions, core theories, and d...
Priority Question Framework
Priority questions ask what the nurse should do FIRST. A clear framework based on ABC, safety, and t...
Drug Calculation Mastery
Drug calculations appear in every NMCN exam. Mastering the core formulas and unit conversions guaran...
Past Question Analysis
Analysing past questions reveals patterns, frequently tested topics, and answer phrasing. This targe...
Exam Day Preparation
Sound exam-day preparation — rest, logistics, and technique — helps you perform at your best and avo...