The nurse knows that which technique is best for assessing pain ...

[yoooooman]

The nurse knows that which technique is best for assessing pain in a child who is 4 years of age?
 
  a. Ask the parents if they think their child is in pain.
  b. Use the FACES scale.
  c. Ask the child to rate the level of pain on a 0 to 10 pain scale.
  d. Check to see what previous nurses have charted.

Question 2

A nurse receives an order from a health care provider to administer Vicodin ES, which contains 750 mg acetaminophen and 7.5 mg hydrocodone, to a patient who is experiencing 8/10 postsurgical pain.
 
  The order is to give 2 tablets every 6 hours by mouth as needed for pain. What is the nurse's best next action?
  a. Give the Vicodin ES to the patient immediately because the patient is experiencing severe pain.
  b. Ask the health care provider to verify the dosage and frequency of the medication.
  c. Ask the health care provider for an order for a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID).
  d. Ask the health care provider for an order to play music for the patient, in addition to providing the pain medication.

[durant1234]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Assessing pain intensity in children requires special techniques. Young children often have difficulty expressing their pain. The FACES scale assesses pain in children who are verbal. Because a 4-year-old is verbal, this is an appropriate scale to use with this child. Parents' statement of pain is not an effective way to assess pain in children because children's statements are the most important. The 0 to 10 pain scale is too difficult for a 4-year-old child to understand. Previous documentation by nurses will tell you what the child's pain has been but will not tell you the child's current pain intensity.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The maximum 24-hour dosage for acetaminophen is 4 grams. If the patient took 2 tablets of Vicodin ES every 6 hours, the patient would take in 6 grams of acetaminophen in 24 hours. This exceeds the safe dosage of acetaminophen, so the best action is to question this order. Giving the medication as ordered would possibly result in the patient taking more acetaminophen than what is considered a safe dose. Acetaminophen overdose can result in liver failure. NSAIDs are used to treat mild to moderate pain. At this moment, the patient is experiencing severe pain. Implementing music therapy is a nursing intervention and is an independent nursing action. Thus, an order to start music therapy is not needed.

[yoooooman]

Excellent

[bdobbins]

TYSM