Question

The triage nurse is assessing a 5-year-old client who has come to the emergency department with a caregiver after falling off of a skateboard. Which pain assessment tool will the nurse choose to use?

a) visual analog scale
b) Wong-Baker FACES scale
c) word scale
d) numeric scale

Answer 1

The Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale is the appropriate pain assessment tool for a 5-year-old child, providing a visual and easy-to-understand method for the child to communicate their pain level.

Step-by-step explanation:

In assessing the 5-year-old client who has fallen off a skateboard, the triage nurse will select a pain assessment tool appropriate for the child's age. The traditional numeric scale, which asks patients to rate their pain from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain), is not suitable for young children who may not have the cognitive ability to understand or use the scale effectively.

Instead, the nurse will likely use the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale, which is an evidence-based tool designed for children. The scale shows a series of faces ranging from a happy face at 0, indicating no pain, to a crying face at 10, indicating very much pain. This tool helps children to communicate the intensity of their pain through selecting the face that best represents how they feel.

Studies, such as the one conducted by F. Savino et al., have shown the Wong-Baker Faces Scale to be an effective measure for assessing pain in children undergoing procedures like venipuncture. This visual and easy-to-understand method helps healthcare providers accurately gauge pain levels in young patients, ensuring appropriate management and treatment.