A nurse is caring for a 6-month-old infant who is postoperative following a myringotomy. Which of the following pain scales should the nurse use to determine the infant's pain level?

Choice A: Allowing the child to keep a toy from home with her can help reduce her fear and anxiety by providing comfort, distraction, and familiarity. This strategy can also enhance the child's sense of control and autonomy by letting her choose what toy to bring.

Choice B: Using mummy restraints during painful procedures can increase the child's fear and anxiety by making her feel trapped, helpless, and powerless. This strategy can also damage the child's trust and cooperation with the nurse and cause psychological trauma.

Choice C: Having a parent stay with the child during procedures can help reduce her fear and anxiety by providing support, reassurance, and security. This strategy can also enhance the child's coping skills and resilience by modeling calm and positive behaviors.

Choice D: Planning invasive procedures whenever possible can increase the child's fear and anxiety by exposing her to unnecessary pain and discomfort. This strategy can also impair the child's physical and emotional development by causing stress and inflammation.

Choice E: Performing the procedure as quickly as possible can help reduce her fear and anxiety by minimizing the duration and intensity of pain. This strategy can also enhance the child's satisfaction and compliance by showing respect and empathy.

Choice A: Tachycardia is not a finding that indicates increased intracranial pressure, but rather a sign of shock, dehydration, or pain. Tachycardia is a fast heart rate, which is more than 160 beats per minute in infants. Tachycardia can occur when the body tries to compensate for low blood pressure, fluid loss, or tissue damage.

Choice B: Increased sleeping is a finding that indicates increased intracranial pressure, as it reflects altered level of consciousness, which is one of the earliest and most sensitive signs of increased intracranial pressure. Increased intracranial pressure can compress the brain tissue and affect its function and responsiveness. Increased sleeping can progress to lethargy, stupor, or coma.

Choice C: Brisk pupillary reaction to light is not a finding that indicates increased intracranial pressure, but rather a normal and expected response. A brisk pupillary reaction to light means that the pupils constrict quickly when exposed to bright light and dilate quickly when exposed to dim light. Brisk pupillary reaction to light indicates intact cranial nerve II (optic) and III (oculomotor).

Choice D: Depressed fontanels are not a finding that indicates increased intracranial pressure, but rather a sign of dehydration or malnutrition. Depressed fontanels are sunken or flat areas on the top or back of an infant's head where the skull bones have not yet fused together. Depressed fontanels can occur when there is insufficient fluid or tissue volume in the body.