CSN CSN Emergency Response & First Aid 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: 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 (Correct answer)
- Begin rescue breathing immediately
- Administer epinephrine from the emergency kit
- Place the student in the recovery position
Correct answer: Activate the emergency response system and call 911
Activating the emergency response system and calling 911 is the first step in any cardiac emergency to ensure advanced help is en route.
Question 2: During an anaphylactic reaction, a student's epinephrine auto-injector has been administered. What is the next priority action?
- Observe the student for 15 minutes and discharge to class
- Call 911 and transport to the emergency department (Correct answer)
- Administer a second dose of epinephrine immediately
- Give oral antihistamines as a follow-up treatment
Correct answer: Call 911 and transport to the emergency department
Even after epinephrine administration, the student must be transported to the ED because biphasic reactions can occur hours later.
Question 3: A student arrives at the health office after a seizure. The seizure has stopped and the student is postictal. Which finding requires IMMEDIATE emergency activation?
- The student is confused and sleepy
- The student had a known history of epilepsy
- The seizure lasted longer than 5 minutes (Correct answer)
- The student bit their tongue during the seizure
Correct answer: The seizure lasted longer than 5 minutes
A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes is considered status epilepticus, a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate EMS activation.
Question 4: A student sustains a suspected cervical spine injury after a fall. The school nurse should:
- Help the student to a chair to keep them comfortable
- Immobilize the head and neck and avoid moving the student (Correct answer)
- Apply a cervical collar from the first aid kit
- Have the student walk to the health office for assessment
Correct answer: Immobilize the head and neck and avoid moving the student
Immobilizing the head and neck in the position found and avoiding movement protects against worsening a potential spinal cord injury.
Question 5: Which action is MOST appropriate when a student presents with signs of a diabetic emergency but the nurse cannot determine if it is hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia?
- Withhold all treatment until a blood glucose reading is obtained
- Administer oral glucose if the student is conscious and able to swallow (Correct answer)
- Inject glucagon immediately
- Call the parent and wait for further instructions
Correct answer: Administer oral glucose if the student is conscious and able to swallow
If blood glucose cannot be checked and the student is conscious and able to swallow, giving oral glucose is safe because treating hypoglycemia with sugar is life-saving while mild additional glucose in hyperglycemia is not immediately harmful.
Question 6: A student is suspected of having a severe asthma attack and does not have their rescue inhaler at school. The school nurse should:
- Have the student sit quietly until their parent arrives with the inhaler
- Use a stock albuterol inhaler per standing orders and call 911 if no improvement (Correct answer)
- Administer epinephrine from the emergency kit as a substitute
- Send the student home immediately to use their inhaler
Correct answer: Use a stock albuterol inhaler per standing orders and call 911 if no improvement
Many states allow schools to stock albuterol for emergencies; using it per physician standing orders while monitoring and calling 911 if needed is the appropriate protocol.
CSN CSN Emergency Response & First Aid 1
A student is found unresponsive and not breathing normally.
What is the school nurse's FIRST action?