A nurse is caring for a 6-month-old infant who is postoperative following a myringotomy. Which of the following pain scales should the nurse use to determine the infant's pain level?

Choice A: Allowing the child to keep a toy from home with her can help reduce her fear and anxiety by providing comfort, distraction, and familiarity. This strategy can also enhance the child's sense of control and autonomy by letting her choose what toy to bring.

Choice B: Using mummy restraints during painful procedures can increase the child's fear and anxiety by making her feel trapped, helpless, and powerless. This strategy can also damage the child's trust and cooperation with the nurse and cause psychological trauma.

Choice C: Having a parent stay with the child during procedures can help reduce her fear and anxiety by providing support, reassurance, and security. This strategy can also enhance the child's coping skills and resilience by modeling calm and positive behaviors.

Choice D: Planning invasive procedures whenever possible can increase the child's fear and anxiety by exposing her to unnecessary pain and discomfort. This strategy can also impair the child's physical and emotional development by causing stress and inflammation.

Choice E: Performing the procedure as quickly as possible can help reduce her fear and anxiety by minimizing the duration and intensity of pain. This strategy can also enhance the child's satisfaction and compliance by showing respect and empathy.

Choice A: A barking cough is not a finding that indicates that the treatment has been effective, but rather a symptom of acute laryngotracheobronchitis, which is also known as croup. Croup is a condition that causes inflammation and narrowing of the upper airway and produces a characteristic barking or seal-like cough. A barking cough may persist for several days after the onset of croup and does not reflect the severity of the airway obstruction.

Choice B: Decreased stridor is a finding that indicates that the treatment has been effective, as stridor is a sign of airway obstruction caused by acute laryngotracheobronchitis. Stridor is a high-pitched, noisy breathing sound that occurs when the air passes through the narrowed airway. Stridor may be inspiratory, expiratory, or biphasic,
depending on the level of obstruction. Decreased stridor means that the airway is less obstructed and the child can breathe more easily.

Choice C: Improved hydration is not a finding that indicates that the treatment has been effective, but rather a goal of treatment for acute laryngotracheobronchitis. Dehydration can worsen the symptoms and complications of croup by thickening the mucus and increasing the risk of infection. Improved hydration can help thin out the mucus and prevent dehydration. Hydration can be improved by encouraging oral fluids, administering intravenous fluids, or providing humidified air.

Choice D: Decreased temperature is not a finding that indicates that the treatment has been effective, but rather a possible outcome of treatment for acute laryngotracheobronchitis. Fever may or may not be present in croup, depending on the cause and severity of the condition. Fever can be caused by viral or bacterial infection, inflammation, or dehydration. Decreased temperature can indicate that the infection or inflammation is resolving or that the dehydration is corrected.