A nurse is educating the parents of an 8-year-old child on using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain assessment.
The child marks a point close to "worst pain imaginable" on the scale.
What does this indicate about the child's pain intensity?

Choice A rationale:

I will observe your facial expression.”..

This statement is not appropriate for assessing pain in a non-verbal child using the FLACC Scale because it does not address the five behavioral indicators the scale measures.

The FLACC Scale assesses facial expression, leg movement, activity level, cry, and consolability.

Choice B rationale:

I will watch how you move your legs.”..

This statement is also not appropriate for using the FLACC Scale as it only focuses on one of the five behavioral indicators.

While leg movement is assessed, it's crucial to evaluate all indicators for a comprehensive pain assessment.

Choice C rationale:

I will note your activity level.”..

This statement is partially correct, as the FLACC Scale does assess activity level.

However, it does not cover all the indicators, and it's essential to mention the other components for a complete assessment.

Choice D rationale:

I will listen to your cry and observe your consolability.”..

This statement is the most appropriate choice.

The FLACC Scale rates five behavioral indicators, and this statement acknowledges two of them: cry and consolability.

A comprehensive assessment should include all five indicators for an accurate pain evaluation in non-verbal children.

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.