The nurse is caring for a hospitalized four-year-old boy. His parents tell the nurse that they will be back to visit at six in the evening. When he asks the nurse when his parents are coming, the nurse's best response would be which of the following?

A. The child's current vital signs are consistent with vital signs over the past 4 hours.

Vital signs alone may not be sufficient to assess pain in a child. Children may experience pain without significant changes in vital signs. Behavioral cues and self-reporting are important indicators of pain in pediatric patients.

B. The child becomes quiet when held and cuddled.

While seeking comfort through cuddling may be a sign of distress or discomfort, it is not specific enough to determine the need for pain medication. Additional assessment is required to understand the underlying cause of the child's change in behavior.

C. The child has a temperature of 38.5°C.

Fever alone does not necessarily indicate the need for pain medication. It may suggest an infection or illness, but the specific assessment of pain requires consideration of the child's behavior, verbal expressions, and any other cues related to pain.

D. The child is lying stiffly in bed, not moving, and refusing to get up.

In this scenario, the child's behavior of lying stiffly in bed, not moving, and refusing to get up is indicative of potential pain. Children may express pain in various ways, and behavioral cues such as changes in activity, refusal to move, or guarding certain body parts can suggest discomfort. It is important for the nurse to assess and address the child's pain promptly.

A. Peak expiratory flow meter:

- A peak expiratory flow meter is a device used to measure how fast a person can exhale. It is commonly used to monitor and manage asthma by assessing the degree of airway obstruction. Regular use can help determine how well asthma is controlled and whether changes in the management plan are needed.

B. Inhaled steroids:

- Inhaled steroids are a type of long-term control medication used to manage asthma by reducing inflammation in the airways. While these are essential for controlling symptoms, they do not directly assess how well the asthma is currently controlled.

C. Metered dose inhaler with spacer:

- A metered dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer is a device used to deliver medication directly to the lungs. While it is a crucial part of asthma management, it does not directly measure how well the asthma is controlled.

D. Pulse oximetry:

- Pulse oximetry measures the oxygen saturation in the blood and is useful in assessing respiratory status. However, it is not specific to asthma control and may not provide a comprehensive picture of asthma management.