NBCSN Nationally Certified School Nurse Practice Exam

What is the immediate treatment for a tension pneumothorax in a school setting?

1. Apply ice and elevate

2. Administer oxygen

3. Perform needle decompression

4. Call for emergency medical services immediately

The correct answer is: Perform needle decompression

Tension pneumothorax is a life-threatening condition where air enters the pleural space and cannot escape, leading to increased pressure that can collapse the lung and compress the heart and major blood vessels. The immediate intervention required is needle decompression. This procedure involves inserting a needle into the pleural space to release the trapped air, thus relieving the pressure and allowing the lung to expand again. In a school setting, where timely response is crucial, performing needle decompression is essential to stabilize the patient until emergency medical services can arrive to provide further treatment. While calling for emergency medical services is also imperative, it does not address the immediate need to relieve the pressure from the chest. Administering oxygen and applying ice would not effectively treat the life-threatening condition on their own, as tension pneumothorax requires rapid decompression to prevent severe complications or death.