Nursing Care of Children Final ATI Related

Review Nursing Care of Children Final ATI related questions and content

The nurse is caring postoperatively for an 8-year-old child with multiple fractures and other traumatic injuries from a motor vehicle crash. The child is experiencing severe pain. What is an important consideration in managing the child's pain?

  • A. Give only an opioid analgesic at this time.
  • B. Increase the dosage of analgesic until the child is adequately sedated.
  • C. Plan a preventive schedule of pain medication around the clock.
  • D. Give the child a clock and explain when they can have pain medications.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: For severe postoperative pain, a preventive around-the-clock schedule is necessary to prevent decreased plasma levels of medications. Providing only an opioid analgesic at this time may not be sufficient for effective pain management. Increasing the dosage without an order is unsafe and may lead to oversedation. Planning a preventive schedule of pain medication around the clock ensures consistent pain relief and better management. Giving the child a clock and explaining when they can have pain medications may increase the child's focus on waiting for relief rather than addressing the pain promptly, making it a less effective strategy.