Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a motivational theory organized as a five-level pyramid, used in nursing to prioritize patient care. From bottom to top: physiological needs, safety and security, love and belonging, self-esteem, and self-actualization. Lower-level needs must be met before addressing higher-level needs.
Exam Tip
Maslow's priority order: Physiological > Safety > Love/Belonging > Esteem > Self-Actualization. ALWAYS address physiological needs first (oxygen, food, water, pain). Use with ABCs (Airway > Breathing > Circulation) for acute situations. Teaching and self-care goals are highest level (addressed last).
What Is Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological theory proposed by Abraham Maslow in 1943. In nursing, it serves as a critical framework for prioritizing patient care. The principle is that basic physiological and safety needs must be addressed before higher-level psychosocial needs.
The Five Levels of Maslow's Hierarchy
| Level | Need | Nursing Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Base) | Physiological | Oxygen, food, water, elimination, sleep, pain management, temperature regulation |
| 2 | Safety and Security | Fall prevention, infection control, medication safety, stable environment, shelter |
| 3 | Love and Belonging | Family visitation, therapeutic communication, support groups, social interaction |
| 4 | Self-Esteem | Encouraging independence, respecting patient decisions, positive reinforcement |
| 5 (Top) | Self-Actualization | Patient education for self-care, health promotion, personal growth goals |
Using Maslow's for NCLEX-PN Prioritization
When a question asks which patient to see FIRST or which action to take FIRST, apply Maslow's:
| Scenario | Priority Patient |
|---|---|
| Patient A: anxious about surgery vs. Patient B: O2 sat 85% | Patient B (physiological need: oxygenation) |
| Patient C: requests a chaplain vs. Patient D: blood glucose 42 | Patient D (physiological need: nutrition/glucose) |
| Patient E: fall risk, bed rails down vs. Patient F: lonely, requesting visitor | Patient E (safety need) |
Maslow's vs. ABCs in Prioritization
| Framework | Use When |
|---|---|
| ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) | Acute/emergency physiological situations |
| Maslow's Hierarchy | General prioritization across all need levels |
| Combined approach | Use ABCs first for immediate physiological needs, then Maslow's for broader prioritization |
Common NCLEX-PN Application
- Physiological needs ALWAYS come first (oxygen, airway, hydration, nutrition, pain)
- Safety needs come second (fall prevention, infection control, restraints)
- Psychosocial needs are addressed after physiological and safety needs are met
- Teaching (self-actualization) comes last in priority
Exam Alert
Maslow's Hierarchy is one of the most important prioritization frameworks on the NCLEX-PN. When choosing which patient to see first or which intervention is priority, always address physiological needs before safety, and safety before psychosocial needs. Combine with ABCs for clinical questions.
Study This Term In
Related Terms
Nursing Process
The nursing process is a systematic, five-step problem-solving framework used by nurses to provide patient-centered care: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADPIE). It is the foundation of all nursing practice and the organizing framework for the NCLEX.
Care Plan (Nursing)
A nursing care plan is a written document that outlines a patient's identified health problems, measurable goals, and specific nursing interventions. It is developed by the RN based on nursing assessment data and guides the entire nursing team in providing consistent, individualized care.
Clinical Judgment
Clinical judgment is the process by which nurses observe, interpret, respond to, and reflect on patient data to make informed decisions about patient care. The NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (NCJMM) is the framework used on the NCLEX to evaluate this competency.
Delegation (Nursing)
Delegation in nursing is the process of transferring responsibility for performing a specific nursing task to another qualified individual (such as a CNA or UAP) while retaining accountability for the outcome. The five rights of delegation guide safe delegation decisions.
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