A nurse is caring for a group of children on a pediatric unit. The nurse is using a variety of pain assessment tools and scales to assess the children's pain. (Select all that apply).
The nurse should use which of the following pain assessment tools or scales?

We're going to do everything we can to help you feel better.”..

Choice A rationale:

Offering pain medication immediately is not appropriate without proper assessment and a healthcare provider's order.

It's essential to assess the child's pain properly before administering any medication.

Choice B rationale:

Dismissing the child's pain and telling them it's not that bad is not appropriate.

Pain is subjective, and the child's perception of pain is real.

It's essential to acknowledge their pain and provide appropriate care.

Choice C rationale:

Assuming the child is just scared and telling them not to cry is not the right approach.

Pain should be assessed and addressed appropriately, and the child's feelings should be validated.

Choice D rationale:

This is the correct choice.

The nurse acknowledges the child's pain, expresses empathy, and assures them that everything will be done to alleviate their pain.

This approach is comforting and therapeutic.

Choice A rationale:

The FLACC Scale (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) is typically used for infants and young children who cannot effectively communicate their pain through verbal means.

This tool is not suitable for children aged 5 years and older as they can often express their pain verbally and can use more appropriate pain assessment tools.

Choice B rationale:

The Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale is a suitable tool for children aged 5 years and older.

It uses a series of faces depicting various levels of pain, making it easier for children to express their pain intensity.

This tool is particularly useful for children who can understand and communicate their feelings but may have difficulty with numerical scales.

Choice C rationale:

The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) is a suitable tool for children aged 5 years and older.

It asks the child to rate their pain on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 representing no pain and 10 representing the worst pain imaginable.

Children in this age group can often understand and use numerical scales effectively.

Choice D rationale:

The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is not typically recommended for children aged 5 years and older.

It requires the ability to mark a point on a line to indicate pain intensity, which can be challenging for young children.

Other tools like the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale or the Numeric Rating Scale are more appropriate for this age group.

Choice E rationale:

None of the above" is not the correct choice, as options B, C, and D are suitable for children aged 5 years and older.