Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

The correct answer is to attempt removal using positive pressure. This technique, also known as the 'Parent's Kiss' or 'Mother's Kiss,' is a safe and effective first-line approach for removing nasal foreign bodies in cooperative children. The parent or caregiver blows into the child's mouth while occluding the unaffected nostril, creating positive pressure to expel the object. This method is non-invasive, doesn't require specialized equipment, and can often be successful without causing additional trauma or distress to the child.

Instrumental removal should be considered only if the positive pressure technique fails, as it carries a higher risk of injury and may be more distressing for the child. Nasal decongestant spray is not typically recommended as a first-line treatment for foreign body removal. Immediate CT scanning is unnecessary and overly invasive for an easily visible foreign body, especially before attempting non-invasive removal techniques.