Question 1

Although a child's temperature will not fluctuate with pain, why would a child experience diaphoresis and elevated temperature?

Accepted Answer

Pain associated with infectious processes can lead to diaphoresis and elevated temperature as the body's immune response to infection often includes fever and sweating as mechanisms to fight off pathogens.

Question 2

As a pediatric nurse providing a pain assessment, what effect will acute pain have on the respirations of a pediatric patient?

Accepted Answer

Acute pain often causes an increase in the respiratory rate due to the body's stress response, which can lead to faster and shallower breathing as the patient may try to minimize pain with movement, including the expansion of the chest with deep breaths.

Question 3

The visual analogue scale shows good sensitivity and validity for most children approximately age 7 years and older. How should the pediatric nurse present this scale to make it easier for children to understand?

Accepted Answer

The "pain thermometer" concept is a visual and relatable way for children to understand and express their pain levels, making it easier for them to use the scale effectively.

Question 4

What action performed by a pediatric nurse during a pain assessment of a teen may be counterproductive, as the teen may feel disrespected or patronized and, in turn, become uncommunicative?

Accepted Answer

Offering a pain assessment tool intended for younger children to a teen can be counterproductive because it may make the teen feel disrespected or patronized. Teens are at a developmental stage where they are seeking independence and respect, and using a tool designed for younger children can undermine these needs, potentially making them less communicative.

Question 5

Because OIRD can be fatal, and because of the unpredictability of its occurrence, what action is recommended of a pediatric nurse who is managing children receiving narcotic pain control in a hospital setting?

Accepted Answer

Continuous monitoring of respiratory rate and oxygen saturation is crucial for early detection of opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD), which can be life-threatening. This allows for timely intervention to prevent fatal outcomes.

Question 6

In cases where nausea is accompanied by vomiting, what should the nurse do to decrease the risk of aspiration?

Accepted Answer

Placing a child in a semi-Fowler's position, which involves elevating the head of the bed 30 to 45 degrees, helps decrease the risk of aspiration by using gravity to prevent vomitus from entering the airway.

Question 7

When treating a patient with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), the pediatric nurse should be aware that which symptom of this condition may be present in children, but not present in adults?

Accepted Answer

Abdominal pain and rashes are more commonly reported in children with ME/CFS than in adults. These symptoms can be key indicators in the pediatric population, helping to differentiate ME/CFS from other conditions.

Question 8

If a child presents with nausea that is vestibular in nature, such as in motion sickness, what medication would be most appropriate for treating this type of nausea?

Accepted Answer

Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is an antihistamine that can be effective in treating nausea, especially when it's related to motion sickness, which is often vestibular in nature.

Question 9

As a pediatric nurse, you are asked to perform a pain assessment on a 6-year-old child who cannot verbally express his or her pain experience. What scale would be most beneficial to perform this assessment?

Accepted Answer

The FLACC Behavioral Pain Assessment Scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing pain in children who cannot verbally express their pain experience.

Question 10

You are treating a pediatric patient with a pain scale score of 4. Which medication would be most appropriate for treating a pediatric patient with this pain intensity?

Accepted Answer

The answer of You are treating a pediatric patient with...

Quiz 11: Symptom Management Across Childhood