The school-aged child is taken to the school nurse after experiencing

The school-aged child is taken to the school nurse after experiencing a nosebleed during a soft-ball game. The appropriate intervention is for the nurse to:

1. Have the child lean backward
2. Apply pressure to the anterior nose
3. Apply a warm cloth to the area
4. Have the child close his mouth and blow his nose

ANSWER

ANS: 2
The nurse should have the child who is experiencing a nosebleed sit up and lean forward to avoid aspiration of blood, apply pressure to the anterior nose with the thumb and forefinger as the child breathes through the mouth, and apply ice or a cold cloth to the bridge of the nose if pressure fails to stop bleeding. The child should not lean backward as this may cause the child to aspirate blood. A cold cloth will slow bleeding and help blood to coagulate, not a warm cloth. The child should breathe through the mouth. Blowing his nose may only continue bleeding as it may dis-turb any clot formation