Question

A nurse is assessing the pain level of a 3 yo toddler. Which of the following pain assessment scales should the nurse use?

Option 1: Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Option 2: Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)
Option 3: Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale
Option 4: McGill Pain Questionnaire

Answer 1

For a 3-year-old toddler, the appropriate pain assessment scale is the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale, which is visual and suitable for young children who may not be able to verbalize their pain effectively.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing the pain level of a 3-year-old toddler, the nurse should use Option 3: the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale. This tool is designed specifically for children and uses a series of facial expressions to depict various levels of pain, from no pain to worst pain. Young children like toddlers, who may not have the verbal ability to quantify their pain using numbers or describe it in detail as required by alternative scales like the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), or McGill Pain Questionnaire, can benefit from this visual method. The Wong-Baker FACES Scale is straightforward, allowing children to point to a face that best represents their pain level.