The nurse is caring for a four-year-old child who is intellectually disabled and is scheduled for surgery tomorrow. The nurse wants to plan postoperative care and pain relief

Question

The nurse will determine the best pain assessment tool by observing the child's: Standard Text: Select all that apply. 1. Language skills.
2. Understanding of the concept of more and less or otherwise has the ability to quantify pain.
3. Ability to sit for a ten minute evaluation.
4. Ability to perceive pain.
5. Ability to understand pain.

Answer 1

1,2
Rationale 1: In order to report pain, the child needs adequate verbalization skills to communicate to the nurse.
Rationale 2: The child who understands more or less can be given a three-option pain scale. The child who cannot understand more or less may need a behavioral pain scale.
Rationale 3: The assessment does not require the child to sit still.
Rationale 4: Children perceive pain. The issue is if the nurse can recognize the child's pain.
Rationale 5: Children do not need to understand pain in order to feel pain.
Global Rationale: