A 10-year-old boy who had an appendectomy had expressed worry that following the procedure he would have lots of pain. Two days after the procedure the child is claiming he is having no pain. Which nursing intervention should the nurse prioritize when assessing this child?
Observe him for physical signs which might indicate pain.
Ask him to show you his pain level using the color pain scale.
Explain to his caregiver that his pain level shows he is getting better quickly.
Tell him to let you know if he begins to feel pain.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason: Observing for physical signs like grimacing or guarding ensures accurate pain assessment, as a 10-year-old may underreport pain. This aligns with pediatric pain assessment protocols, making it the prioritized intervention to verify the child’s claim of no pain post-appendectomy accurately.
Choice B reason: A color pain scale relies on the child’s verbal report, which may be unreliable if he’s minimizing pain. Observing physical signs is more objective, making this secondary and incorrect compared to the nurse’s priority of assessing for hidden pain in the post-surgical child.
Choice C reason: Explaining to the caregiver assumes no pain without objective assessment, risking missed discomfort. Observing physical signs confirms the child’s status, making this premature and incorrect compared to the nurse’s role in thoroughly assessing pain in the 10-year-old post-appendectomy.
Choice D reason: Asking the child to report pain later depends on his willingness, which may be inconsistent. Observing physical signs provides immediate data, making this passive and incorrect compared to the nurse’s priority of actively assessing for pain in the child post-appendectomy procedure.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["C","D","E"]
Explanation
Choice A reason: Discussing care options involves clinical judgment, which is the nurse’s responsibility, not delegable to family. Providing comfort tasks like swabs or pads is appropriate, making this incorrect, as it involves professional decision-making unsuitable for family delegation in the adolescent’s care.
Choice B reason: Keeping medical equipment like a blood pressure cuff involves monitoring, a nursing task, not delegable to family. Comfort tasks like providing swabs or pillows are suitable, making this incorrect, as it requires clinical skills beyond family’s role in the terminally ill adolescent’s care.
Choice C reason: Supplying mouth swabs for lip moistening is a simple comfort task family can perform, promoting involvement and patient comfort. This aligns with pediatric palliative care delegation, making it a correct intervention to delegate to family for the terminally ill adolescent’s care.
Choice D reason: Providing disposable pads for hygiene is a non-clinical task family can manage, supporting dignity and comfort. This aligns with family involvement in palliative care, making it a correct intervention to delegate for the terminally ill adolescent’s care in the hospital setting.
Choice E reason: Supplying pillows for repositioning is a comfort-focused task family can handle, enhancing the adolescent’s well-being. This aligns with pediatric palliative care principles, making it a correct intervention to delegate to family members for the terminally ill adolescent’s hospital care.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Wearing personal clothes, connecting with friends, and interacting with peers with similar illnesses fosters normalcy and emotional well-being in a 12-year-old. This aligns with pediatric psychosocial care for chronic illness, making it the correct action to help the preteen thrive during hospitalization.
Choice B reason: Making all decisions excludes the 12-year-old from care involvement, undermining autonomy and coping. Encouraging personal expression and peer connection supports thriving, making this disempowering and incorrect compared to fostering independence and emotional health in a chronically ill preteen in the hospital.
Choice C reason: Focusing on limitations discourages confidence and resilience, hindering a 12-year-old’s adaptation to chronic illness. Promoting normalcy through clothes and social interaction is more supportive, making this negative and incorrect for helping the preteen thrive during their hospital stay with a chronic condition.
Choice D reason: Strict behavioral rules may provide structure but do not address emotional and social needs like personal expression and peer support. Encouraging normalcy fosters thriving, making this less impactful and incorrect compared to actions promoting psychosocial well-being in a hospitalized 12-year-old with chronic illness.
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