ATI Advanced Pharmacology Final Exam I Related

Review ATI Advanced Pharmacology Final Exam I related questions and content

A nurse is caring for a six-year-old child who had surgery that morning. The child is awake and lying very still in bed. What should the nurse do?

  • A. Use an “ouch” scale for pain assessment.
  • B. Encourage the child to request pain medication when needed.
  • C. Plan to administer pain medication if the child begins to cry.
  • D. Ask the child to rate their pain on a scale of 1 to 10.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Use an "ouch" scale for pain assessment. This approach is appropriate for a six-year-old child as it uses a simple and understandable method to assess pain levels. The child may not verbalize pain or cry, so using a visual scale like an "ouch" scale can help the nurse accurately assess the child's pain level. Encouraging the child to request pain medication (B) assumes the child will always feel comfortable expressing their needs, which may not be the case. Planning to administer pain medication if the child cries (C) may lead to unnecessary medication administration if the child is not in pain. Asking the child to rate their pain on a scale of 1 to 10 (D) may be too complex for a young child to understand and communicate effectively.