Reference no: EM133866840

Question

Scenario

You are caring for Emily, a 10-year-old who is status post-appendectomy from yesterday, and otherwise is in good health with no remarkable history. The surgery went well and without complications. The child is sleeping, and her vital signs are within normal limits. Her mother is at the bedside and seems distraught, she is crying. You ask her if everything is alright and she states that she is very worried about the pain her child must be in, "look at that terrible wound" she says, pointing at the dressing. She goes on, "all you've given her is Tylenol, how would you like to be cut open with nothing but Tylenol? She needs something stronger; don't you have morphine?" she asks. You explain to her that Emily received general anesthesia during the operation and is currently receiving IV ketorolac and oral acetaminophen/hydrocodone. You reassure mom that before Emily went to sleep, about an hour ago, you asked her to report her pain using the Wong-Baker FACES pain scale. The child reported a 2/10 "hurts little bit". You also point out that there is no evidence that Emily is currently in pain as her vital signs are normal and she is not.