Question

An 11-year-old boy is lying quietly in bed watching a DVD. This is his first postoperative day following open reduction of an ankle fracture. One nurse concludes the child does not need his PRN pain medication; another nurse disagrees. Which of the possibilities described is likely to be true? Select all that apply.

Option 1: The child is experiencing minimal pain due to effective pain management.
Option 2: The child may be distracted by the DVD, masking his pain.
Option 3: The child's pain may be adequately controlled with the current pain medication regimen.
Option 4: The child's pain may increase later, requiring the PRN pain medication.

Answer 1

The most likely possibilities are that the child is experiencing minimal pain due to effective pain management, and the child may be distracted by the DVD, masking his pain. It is also possible that the child's pain is adequately controlled with the current pain medication regimen and that the pain may increase later.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most likely possibilities are Option 1: The child is experiencing minimal pain due to effective pain management, and Option 2: The child may be distracted by the DVD, masking his pain. While it is possible that the child's pain is adequately controlled with the current pain medication regimen (Option 3), it is also important to consider that pain can increase later (Option 4).