A nurse is assessing a child who is in sickle cell crisis.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Choice A rationale

Postpartum depression is more likely in individuals with a history of depression due to predisposing factors such as neurochemical imbalances and psychosocial stressors. Pregnancy and childbirth exacerbate these vulnerabilities through hormonal fluctuations, sleep deprivation, and new parenting stress. Early identification of at-risk populations is critical to prevent severe outcomes and promote maternal mental health.

Choice B rationale

Psychotic behavior is not a common feature of postpartum depression. It is more characteristic of postpartum psychosis, a rare and severe condition that requires immediate intervention. Postpartum depression primarily manifests as feelings of sadness, anxiety, and difficulty bonding with the infant, rather than psychotic symptoms like delusions or hallucinations.

Choice C rationale

Harming the infant is not the most common manifestation of postpartum depression. While intrusive thoughts may occur, the condition primarily presents with emotional symptoms such as hopelessness, guilt, and fatigue. Focused therapy can address these feelings and help prevent rare but severe outcomes involving harm.

Choice D rationale

Postpartum depression typically develops within 1–4 weeks after delivery, with symptoms often emerging gradually. The claim that it begins within 48 hours is inaccurate and more representative of the "baby blues," a transient and less severe condition. Accurate diagnosis involves monitoring symptom progression over time. .

Choice A rationale

The Oucher scale uses photographic images or numerical scales and is appropriate for older children who can visually correlate their pain level with the provided scale. It is not ideal for younger children or those unable to understand numerical or photographic representations.

Choice B rationale

The Visual Analog Scale requires a more mature understanding of concepts such as gradients and is suitable for older children and adults. It is not an appropriate tool for a 5-year-old as their cognitive development may limit the accurate use of this scale.

Choice C rationale

The FLACC scale assesses pain based on behavioral observations and is ideal for non-verbal or very young children. However, a 5-year-old can generally articulate their pain or utilize pictorial representations, making other scales more suitable.

Choice D rationale

The FACES scale, featuring cartoonish faces representing varying pain levels, is a validated tool for children as young as 3 years old. Its simplicity and visual clarity make it an effective and age-appropriate method for a 5-year-old to communicate their pain level.