A client’s child is about to undergo a painful procedure.
The nurse decides to use the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale to assess the child’s pain level.
Which of the following statements would be appropriate for the nurse to say to the child during this assessment?

The child is experiencing moderate pain.

Choice A rationale:

A rating of '7' on the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) typically indicates moderate pain.

The NRS is commonly used to assess pain in individuals who can communicate their pain level numerically.

The scale usually ranges from 0 to 10, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating the worst possible pain.

In this context, a score of 7 suggests that the child is experiencing moderate pain, as they have rated their pain above the midpoint of the scale.

Choice B rationale:

A rating of '7' on the NRS does not indicate severe pain.

Severe pain would usually be associated with a higher score, often closer to the upper limit of the scale (e.g., 9 or 10)

Therefore, choice B is not the correct interpretation in this case.

Choice C rationale:

A rating of '7' on the NRS is higher than what is typically considered mild pain.

Mild pain would typically be represented by a lower score, such as 1 to 3 on the NRS.

Therefore, choice C is not the correct interpretation.

Choice D rationale:

A rating of '7' on the NRS clearly indicates that the child is experiencing pain.

Choice D, which states that the child is not experiencing any pain, is not the correct interpretation based on the provided pain rating.

Choice A rationale:
The FLACC Scale is appropriate for assessing pain in non-verbal children, particularly those with limited communication abilities or cognitive impairments.
Choice B rationale:
The Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale is suitable for children who can use a simple visual scale to indicate their pain level.
It's especially helpful for children who can express themselves through drawings or symbols.
Choice C rationale:
The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) is a reliable tool for assessing pain in children who can understand and use numbers.
It allows children to rate their pain on a numerical scale.
Choice D rationale:
The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is another tool for older children who can comprehend and use a visual representation to indicate their pain level.
It involves marking a point on a line to represent pain severity.
The Pediatric Pain Questionnaire (PPQ) is not a commonly used pain assessment tool for children, and its effectiveness may be limited.
Therefore, it's not one of the recommended options for pain assessment in children.