School Nurse Prometric exam questions with answers

1. Question 1Child and Adolescent Growth and Developmentmedium

   A kindergarten teacher says a 5-year-old's speech is mostly unintelligible to staff and other children. Hearing has never been tested. What is the best next step?

   1. AWaiting until Grade 1 to see whether his speech improves
   2. BAsking the teacher to speak more slowly to him each day
   3. CReferral for audiology and speech-language assessment
   4. DReferral to a dentist to check the teeth and tongue tie
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: C. Referral for audiology and speech-language assessment

   Speech that strangers cannot understand at age 5 is a developmental red flag, and untested hearing is a treatable cause, so early audiology and speech-language assessment is indicated. Watchful waiting delays intervention, and changing teacher speech or a dental review does not address the likely causes.

   Reference: AAP Bright Futures Guidelines, 4th ed. (2017)

2. Question 2Chronic Conditions and Allergies at Schoolhard

   A student with type 1 diabetes is found unresponsive with a glucose of 2.0 mmol/L and cannot swallow. What is the most appropriate management?

   1. ASqueezing glucose gel into the mouth, then waiting to see
   2. BPlacing an IV line and giving dextrose in the school clinic
   3. CGiving the next scheduled insulin dose to stabilise glucose
   4. DGlucagon, recovery position and an emergency ambulance call
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. Glucagon, recovery position and an emergency ambulance call

   Severe hypoglycaemia with reduced consciousness needs glucagon (intramuscular or nasal), airway protection in the recovery position and emergency transfer. Oral gel risks aspiration, IV access is not a school nursing first line, and insulin lowers glucose further.

   Reference: ISPAD Clinical Practice Consensus Guidelines: Assessment and Management of Hypoglycemia in Children and Adolescents with Diabetes (2022)

3. Question 3Chronic Conditions and Allergies at Schoolmedium

   Five minutes after the first adrenaline injection, a student with anaphylaxis still has wheeze and a weak pulse. What should the nurse do?

   1. AWaiting 30 minutes to assess how the child has responded
   2. BAn oral antihistamine while continuing to observe the child
   3. CA second dose of adrenaline placed under the tongue
   4. DA second intramuscular adrenaline dose, ambulance called
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. A second intramuscular adrenaline dose, ambulance called

   If symptoms persist after about 5 minutes, a repeat intramuscular dose is recommended while emergency services are summoned. Waiting delays treatment, antihistamines do not replace adrenaline, and sublingual adrenaline is not an established route.

   Reference: World Allergy Organization Anaphylaxis Guidance (2020)

4. Question 4Communicable Disease Prevention and Controlmedium

   A 6-year-old with hand, foot and mouth disease has a few blisters, no fever and is eating well. What is the usual advice?

   1. AExclusion for 14 days from the day of onset of the illness
   2. BExclusion until every blister has completely disappeared from the skin
   3. CExclusion until the blisters have healed and the skin looks normal
   4. DAttendance is allowed if the child is well enough to take part
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: D. Attendance is allowed if the child is well enough to take part

   The infection spreads mainly through the first days of illness, and children who are well enough to participate and have no fever are not routinely excluded. Fixed long exclusions, waiting for blisters to vanish or stool testing are not required.

   Reference: AAP, Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools, 5th ed. (2020)

5. Question 5Mental Health and Child Protectioneasy

   A child begins to tell the nurse about being hurt at home. Which response is most appropriate?

   1. AAsk detailed leading questions to establish the facts quickly
   2. BListen calmly, ask no leading questions, explain sharing
   3. CPromise to keep what the child says confidential
   4. DChange the subject gently so the child is not upset further
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: B. Listen calmly, ask no leading questions, explain sharing

   A calm, open approach with no leading questions protects the child's account, and honesty about sharing information keeps trust. Secrecy cannot be promised, and leading questions or avoiding the topic harm both the child and any later investigation.

   Reference: WHO, Responding to children and adolescents who have been sexually abused: clinical guidelines (2017)

6. Question 6First Aid and Emergency Caremedium

   A student hit the head on the football field and has vomited twice and is increasingly drowsy. What should the nurse do?

   1. AUrgent ambulance transfer, with staff staying present
   2. BReturning him to class once the headache has settled
   3. CGiving ibuprofen and sending him home with a note
   4. DApplying an ice pack and resting him in the clinic for an hour
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: A. Urgent ambulance transfer, with staff staying present

   Repeated vomiting and drowsiness after head injury are danger signs of possible intracranial injury, so emergency transfer is needed. Returning to class or home, or simple rest, risks an unrecognised deterioration.

   Reference: NICE Guideline NG232, Head injury: assessment and early management (2023)

7. Question 7Professional Practice, Ethics and UAE Lawhard

   A student has epilepsy and asthma. How should the school nurse best prepare staff to manage emergencies?

   1. AWrite an individual health plan with the guardian and doctor, train staff and review it when treatment changes
   2. BGive the class teacher verbal instructions at the start of term and ask the teacher to pass them on to the other staff
   3. CRely on a generic poster in the staff room
   4. DWait for an emergency to decide what to do
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: A. Write an individual health plan with the guardian and doctor, train staff and review it when treatment changes

   An individual health plan agreed by the family and treating clinician, with staff training and updates when treatment changes, gives consistent emergency responses. Verbal handover, generic posters and improvisation do not.

   Reference: NASN, School Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 4th ed. (2022)

8. Question 8Professional Practice, Ethics and UAE Laweasy

   Before giving a daily prescribed medication to a student at school, what must the nurse have?

   1. AA written prescriber order and guardian consent
   2. BA telephone call from the parent that same morning
   3. CA note from the class teacher about the child's illness
   4. DThe student's own statement of the usual dose
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: A. A written prescriber order and guardian consent

   Medication at school needs an authorised written order and guardian consent, followed by checking the right child, drug, dose, route and time. Verbal parent requests, teacher notes and the child's recall do not meet the standard.

   Reference: NASN, Medication Administration in the School Setting position statement (2020)

9. Question 9Mental Health and Child Protectionmedium

   A school nurse sees several bruises on a 7-year-old's back and the child says that his father hits him. What is the most appropriate action?

   1. AConfront the father to hear his explanation first
   2. BDocument what the child said and saw, and report the suspicion through the school's child protection route
   3. CWait for more bruises before reporting
   4. DPromise the child to keep it secret
   Show answer and explanation▾

   Answer: B. Document what the child said and saw, and report the suspicion through the school's child protection route

   Under Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 on Child Rights, professionals who suspect abuse must report it, so objective documentation and prompt reporting through the protection pathway are required. Confronting the parent may endanger the child, waiting delays protection, and promising secrecy cannot be kept.

   Reference: UAE Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 on Child Rights (Wadeema's Law)

10. Question 10Mental Health and Child Protectionmedium

    A 15-year-old comes to the clinic with fresh superficial cuts on the forearm and says he cut himself when upset. What is the best response?

    1. ARisk assessment, wound care, guardian contact, referral
    2. BAsk the student to promise to stop doing it
    3. CKeep it confidential from parents and from the school team
    4. DDress the cuts and send the student back to class at once
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: A. Risk assessment, wound care, guardian contact, referral

    Self-harm needs a non-judgemental risk assessment, wound care, family involvement and specialist referral. A promise does not manage risk, secrecy removes protective support, and simple dressing misses the underlying distress.

    Reference: NICE Guideline NG225, Self-harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence (2022)

11. Question 11Nutrition, Hygiene and Physical Activitymedium

    Which approach best reduces accidental exposure of students with food allergy in a school?

    1. ARelying on the child to recognise and avoid risk foods
    2. BBanning home-packed lunches from the school premises
    3. CAllergy plans, trained staff and no sharing of food
    4. DPutting an allergy warning sign up in the canteen
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: C. Allergy plans, trained staff and no sharing of food

    Layered strategies with plans, staff training and controls on food handling are recommended. Dependence on the child is unsafe at young ages, a total food ban is impractical, and a sign alone does not change practice.

    Reference: CDC, Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies in Schools and Early Care and Education Programs (2013)

12. Question 12School Health Programmes and Screeningeasy

    Which school activity is an example of primary prevention?

    1. ARescreening vision after an abnormal chart result
    2. BScreening Grade 7 students for scoliosis each year
    3. CCase-managing a student who has type 1 diabetes daily
    4. DTeaching and supervising hand hygiene before meals
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: D. Teaching and supervising hand hygiene before meals

    Primary prevention stops illness before it occurs, and hand hygiene programmes do this. Screening and rescreening aim to detect disease early, which is secondary prevention, and managing an established condition is tertiary prevention.

    Reference: WHO, Health Promoting Schools: a framework for action (2009)

13. Question 13Nutrition, Hygiene and Physical Activitymedium

    A 14-year-old girl is very thin, restricts her meals, exercises excessively and has stopped menstruating. What is the best step?

    1. ADaily weighing with a target weight set within the school
    2. BA high-calorie diet plan with a review at the start of next term
    3. CReferral for medical and mental health assessment
    4. DAsking teachers to watch her at lunchtime for a month
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: C. Referral for medical and mental health assessment

    Restriction with amenorrhoea suggests an eating disorder, which needs medical review of physical risk and specialist mental health input. Self-managed targets and diet advice are inadequate, and observation without assessment delays care.

    Reference: Hornberger LL, Lane MA, AAP Clinical Report: Identification and Management of Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents, Pediatrics (2021)

14. Question 14Professional Practice, Ethics and UAE Lawmedium

    A student has a life-threatening injury and the guardians cannot be reached. What should the nurse do?

    1. AWaiting for guardian consent before starting treatment
    2. BEmergency care, an ambulance call and documentation
    3. CGiving first aid once the principal has agreed to it
    4. DCalling the guardians repeatedly until someone answers, then acting
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: B. Emergency care, an ambulance call and documentation

    Federal Decree-Law No. 4 of 2016 on Medical Liability requires consent for treatment but recognises emergencies, so life-saving care must not be delayed. Waiting for consent or a principal's permission risks serious harm.

    Reference: UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 4 of 2016 on Medical Liability

15. Question 15Professional Practice, Ethics and UAE Lawmedium

    Which documentation of an injury in the school clinic is correct?

    1. AA summary written a week later from memory
    2. BFactual, timed, signed notes written at the time or soon after
    3. COpinions about the cause of the incident
    4. DNotes entered by another staff member for you
    Show answer and explanation▾

    Answer: B. Factual, timed, signed notes written at the time or soon after

    Contemporaneous, objective entries that are signed and timed are the standard. Late entries lose accuracy, opinions are not clinical facts, and records should be made by the person who gave the care.

    Reference: NASN, School Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 4th ed. (2022)

Last reviewed September 2026. Questions are original and written to the published exam blueprint; they are not taken from any real paper.