Pain assessment tools and scales in children

Pain assessment tools and scales in children ( 18 Questions)

A nurse is assessing a child’s pain using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
The child rates their pain as ‘7’ on the scale.
Based on this rating, how should the nurse interpret the child’s pain intensity?


Correct Answer: A

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.




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