As the nurse begins to assist with ambulation of a 9-year-old who is one day post appendectomy, the child cries out, "It hurts too much. I can't do it." What is the first action by the nurse? A)Administer an analgesic B)Assess the child's level of pain using a numeric rating scale C)Come back later in the day D)Tell the child, "Get up and walk if you want to go home soon."

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ecbb05_cb21_e6fa_b433_95b99ae5baf8_MD0009_00 Postoperative pain control is a priority intervention for a child of any age. However, the nurse needs to first perform an assessment of the child's pain to determine the appropriate pharmacological or non-pharmacological measure to implement. This assessment will also provide a baseline against which the effectiveness of the chosen pain relief method can be evaluated. A numeric pain scale can be used with most children who can count and understand the concept of numbers, generally at around age 5. The scale uses a straight line with divisions marked in units from 0-10; 0 is identified as no pain, 5 as moderate pain, and 10 as worst pain. (Option A) Analgesics (opiates and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs), along with adjuvant analgesics, are appropriate pain control measures in children. However, pain should be assessed before medications are administered. (Option C) Returning later in the day allows the child to rest but does nothing to relieve current pain. (Option D) This non-therapeutic response ignores the child's expressed pain and poses a threat that could be upsetting to the child. Educational objective: When a client is in pain, assessment is the first necessary nursing action. The pain assessment helps to determine the appropriate relief measure and serves as a baseline for evaluating the effectiveness of the chosen pharmacological or non-pharmacological measure.

As the Nurse Begins to Assist with Ambulation of a 9-Year-Old