👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team🕐 Updated 2026-08-23🏷️ Health Promotion & Maintenance🔖 Free to read, print, and share
Also known as: teen wellness visit · adolescent preventive screening · HEADSSS assessment
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Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Adolescent Health Screening on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
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📒 The 1-minute cheat sheet
📌 Screen
HEEADSSS psychosocial interview
Depression, suicide risk
STI, substance, sexual activity
✅ Do
Interview teen ALONE part of visit
Assure confidentiality (w/ limits)
Scoliosis, BMI, vision, BP
📌 Vaccines
HPV, Tdap, MenACWY
MenB shared decision 16-18
🚩 Report
Suicidal ideation → safety/refer
Abuse disclosed → mandatory report
📚 Adolescent Health Screening — full study notes
The cheat sheet above is your quick recall card. These notes go deeper — what it is, what to do first, what must be reported, and what to teach.
Adolescent screening focuses on risk behaviors, mental health, sexual health, and confidentiality. The HEEADSSS psychosocial interview (Home, Education, Eating, Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, Suicide/depression, Safety) structures the assessment. Confidential, one-on-one interviewing without the parent present is essential for honest answers.
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Key points
Understand these first
Interview the adolescent alone for sensitive topics; assure confidentiality within legal limits.
Suicide is a leading cause of adolescent death, so screen for depression and suicidal ideation directly.
Screen for sexual activity, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections; offer HPV vaccination.
Assess for substance use, tobacco, vaping, and risky driving behaviors.
Screen for disordered eating and body image, and plot BMI and growth.
Recommended adolescent immunizations include Tdap, meningococcal, and HPV series.
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Nursing priorities
What to do, in order
Conduct part of the visit privately, separating the teen from the parent for sensitive history.
Directly and nonjudgmentally screen for depression, suicidal ideation, and self-harm.
Provide confidential counseling on safe sex, contraception, and STI prevention.
Assess for bullying, abuse, dating violence, and seat belt and helmet use.
Verify and update immunizations including HPV, Tdap, and meningococcal vaccines.
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Red flags — report now
Escalate immediately
Disclosed suicidal ideation, a plan, or means requires immediate safety assessment and is reported now.
Confidentiality is broken and reported for danger to self or others, abuse, or sexual exploitation.
Signs of abuse, sudden weight loss, or self-harm require escalation and protection.
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Labs & values
Numbers to know
BMI percentile: <85th percentile is healthy weight for age/sex
Hemoglobin (screen menstruating teens for anemia): female 12-16 g/dL
Lipid screening total cholesterol: desirable <170 mg/dL in adolescents
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Patient teaching
What patients must know
Reinforce that visit information is confidential unless safety is at risk.
Counsel on safe sex, helmet and seat belt use, and avoiding tobacco, vaping, and alcohol.
❓ Adolescent Health Screening: NCLEX FAQs
What are the priority nursing interventions for Adolescent Health Screening?
Conduct part of the visit privately, separating the teen from the parent for sensitive history. Directly and nonjudgmentally screen for depression, suicidal ideation, and self-harm. Provide confidential counseling on safe sex, contraception, and STI prevention. Assess for bullying, abuse, dating violence, and seat belt and helmet use.
What are the warning signs of Adolescent Health Screening a nurse must report?
Disclosed suicidal ideation, a plan, or means requires immediate safety assessment and is reported now. Confidentiality is broken and reported for danger to self or others, abuse, or sexual exploitation. Signs of abuse, sudden weight loss, or self-harm require escalation and protection.
What do I need to know about Adolescent Health Screening for the NCLEX?
Interview the adolescent alone for sensitive topics; assure confidentiality within legal limits. Suicide is a leading cause of adolescent death, so screen for depression and suicidal ideation directly. Screen for sexual activity, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections; offer HPV vaccination. Assess for substance use, tobacco, vaping, and risky driving behaviors.
What patient teaching is important for Adolescent Health Screening?
Reinforce that visit information is confidential unless safety is at risk. Counsel on safe sex, helmet and seat belt use, and avoiding tobacco, vaping, and alcohol.
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Quick Tip
Interview the adolescent alone for sensitive topics; assure confidentiality within legal limits.