While caring for a 4-year-old, the nurse uses which tool to assess pain?

Choice A reason: Respiratory tract infection is not a correct answer because it is not a complication of examining the child's throat. It is a possible cause of epiglottitis, which is an inflammation of the epiglottis, the flap that covers the entrance to the trachea.

Choice B reason: Sore throat is not a correct answer because it is not a complication of examining the child's throat. It is a symptom of epiglottitis, along with fever, difficulty swallowing, and drooling.

Choice C reason: Complete airway obstruction is the correct answer because it is a life-threatening complication of examining the child's throat. The tongue depressor can trigger a spasm of the epiglottis, which can block the airway and cause respiratory distress or arrest.

Choice D reason: Inspiratory stridor is not a correct answer because it is not a complication of examining the child's throat. It is a sign of upper airway obstruction, which can occur in epiglottitis, but it is not caused by the tongue depressor.

Choice A reason: APT stands for Acute Pain Team, which is a multidisciplinary team that provides pain management for patients. It is not a tool to assess pain.

Choice B reason: Numeric is a pain scale that uses numbers from 0 to 10 to rate the intensity of pain. It is not suitable for a 4-year-old child who may not understand the concept of numbers or have difficulty expressing their pain level.

Choice C reason: FLACC stands for Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability. It is a pain scale that uses behavioral cues to assess pain in infants and young children who are unable to verbalize their pain. It is more appropriate for children under 3 years of age.

Choice D reason: FACES is a pain scale that uses facial expressions to indicate the level of pain. It is suitable for a 4-year-old child who can point to the face that matches their pain. It is a simple and easy way to assess pain in children.