CSN Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CSN facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Examining for visual impairments is the nurse. Which pupil would require a recommendation for an eye doctor? → A student with 20/90 in the right eye and 20/80 in the left eye.
2. What is the primary goal of health education in schools? → To educate students about healthy habits and disease prevention.
3. A student is brought to the health office with a 2-inch laceration on the forearm that is bleeding heavily. Which intervention is the FIRST priority? → Apply direct pressure with a clean cloth or gauze
4. A student with type 1 diabetes has a blood glucose of 58 mg/dL and is alert. What is the school nurse's FIRST action? → Give 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate
5. A student's eyes are splashed with a cleaning chemical in a science lab. What is the priority intervention? → Irrigate immediately with lukewarm water or saline for at least 15–20 minutes
6. Why is confidentiality important in professional practice for school nurses? → It helps maintain trust and ensures compliance with laws.
7. When a school RN delegates a task to unlicensed assistive personnel, the RN: → Keeps accountability for the delegation decision and supervision
8. Which document defines the legal scope of practice for a registered school nurse in a given state? → The state Nurse Practice Act
9. A student with asthma arrives at the school nurse's office with mild wheezing and an oxygen saturation of 95%. What is the most appropriate first action? → Administer the student's prescribed short-acting bronchodilator (rescue inhaler)
10. A student reports that a classmate has been making threats of violence on social media. The school nurse's appropriate action is: → Report the threat to school administration and document the report immediately
11. Why should school nurses participate in policy development? → To ensure that health policies meet the needs of students and comply with laws.
12. A school nurse performing a scoliosis screening asks the student to bend forward at the waist with arms hanging. What is this test called? → Adams forward bend test
13. How should a nurse prioritize tasks related to infection control? → Based on the acuity and urgency of patient needs
14. Which framework from the CDC and ASCD places the student at the center and aligns health and education through ten components? → Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC)
15. Health records kept by a school nurse employed by a public school district are generally governed by which federal law? → FERPA
16. Which medical information must be provided to each state before a student can enroll in school? → Immunization record for the student.
17. Which nursing diagnosis is the PRIORITY for a student with a history of anaphylaxis to bee stings who has outdoor recess? → Risk for allergy reaction
18. A school nurse suspects a student may be experiencing abuse at home based on unexplained bruising and behavioral changes. The nurse's legal obligation is to: → Immediately report the suspicion to child protective services as a mandated reporter
19. A student is found unresponsive and not breathing normally. What is the school nurse's FIRST action? → Activate the emergency response system and call 911
20. How can a school nurse support professional ethics during an emergency? → By following established protocols and providing appropriate care.
21. How should a nurse respond to a change in patient condition during medication administration? → Immediately assess, intervene if within scope, and notify the provider using SBAR
22. What assessment technique is fundamental to patient care standards? → Systematic head-to-toe assessment combined with patient interview
23. Why should school nurses document student health assessments? → To maintain accurate health records for legal and care coordination purposes.
24. What is the primary purpose of school health policies? → To ensure a safe and healthy environment for students.
25. How should a nurse respond to a change in patient condition during clinical procedures? → Immediately assess, intervene if within scope, and notify the provider using SBAR
26. What is the nurse's primary responsibility in medication administration? → Advocating for patient safety and well-being
27. A document that outlines specific steps school staff should take during a student's health crisis, such as a seizure, is called the: → Emergency Care Plan (ECP)
28. The NASN Code of Ethics principle that most directly supports a school nurse's duty to speak up for a student's access to care is: → Advocacy
29. How should a nurse respond to a change in patient condition during care planning? → Immediately assess, intervene if within scope, and notify the provider using SBAR
30. Which federal law requires local education agencies that participate in the National School Lunch Program to establish a local school wellness policy? → Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004