A nurse in a pediatric unit is planning care for a group of clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse plan to use the Crying, Requires oxygen, Increased vital signs, Expression, Sleeplessness (CRIES) pain scale?

Choice A reason: Inspection should be performed first to observe for any visible abnormalities, distention, or movements that could indicate underlying conditions.

Choice B reason: Percussion is used after auscultation to assess the presence of fluid, gas, and to estimate the size of the organs within the abdomen.

Choice C reason: Palpation is typically performed last because it can alter the natural state of the abdomen, potentially causing discomfort and affecting the bowel sounds that are assessed during auscultation.

Choice D reason: Auscultation should be performed before palpation and percussion to avoid altering bowel sounds. It allows the nurse to listen to the natural state of bowel motility and vascular sounds without interference.

Choice A reason: The FACES pain scale is commonly used for children who are able to select a face that best describes their pain. However, this scale is not suitable for a 6-month-old infant post-myringotomy, as infants of this age cannot verbally communicate or reliably choose a face to represent their pain level.

Choice B reason: The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is typically used for older children and adults who can understand and indicate their level of pain by marking a point on a line. This scale is not appropriate for infants due to their developmental stage and inability to communicate or understand the concept of the scale.

Choice C reason: The Oucher pain scale includes both a photographic scale with pictures of children's faces showing different levels of pain and a numerical scale. While it is designed for children aged 3 to 12 years, it is not suitable for infants, as they cannot verbally express their pain or point to a photograph to indicate their pain level.

Choice D reason: The FLACC scale, which stands for Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability, is an appropriate choice for assessing pain in infants and young children who are non-verbal. It involves observing specific behaviors and assigning a score from 0 to 2 for each category, resulting in a total score between 0 and 10. This observational tool allows healthcare providers to assess pain levels based on the infant's behavior and physiological responses.