Pain Management Flashcards
7 cards from real Child Life Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Pain Management flashcards as text
Which pain scale is most appropriate for a 3-year-old child who is non-verbal?
Answer: FLACC scale
The FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) scale is a behavioral observational tool validated for non-verbal and preverbal children.
A child life specialist is preparing a 7-year-old for a venipuncture. Which cognitive-behavioral strategy is MOST effective for procedural pain management?
Answer: Guided imagery and distraction
Guided imagery and distraction are evidence-based non-pharmacologic cognitive-behavioral strategies that reduce procedural pain and anxiety in school-age children.
What is the primary goal of providing accurate preparatory information to a child before a painful procedure?
Answer: To reduce anxiety and increase sense of control
Accurate preparation reduces uncertainty-related anxiety and gives children a sense of control, which lowers perceived pain intensity.
Which of the following best describes the gate control theory of pain as it applies to child life practice?
Answer: Non-painful stimuli can modulate pain signals in the spinal cord
Gate control theory explains that non-painful sensory input (touch, vibration, distraction) can 'close the gate' on pain signals traveling to the brain, informing many CLS interventions.
An adolescent rates their post-surgical pain as 8/10 but appears calm and is watching TV. How should the child life specialist respond?
Answer: Accept the self-report as the primary indicator and advocate for pain management
Self-report is the gold standard for pain assessment; an adolescent's numeric rating must be accepted and advocated for regardless of outward appearance.
Which non-pharmacologic intervention uses rhythmic breathing and muscle relaxation to decrease pain perception in pediatric patients?
Answer: Progressive muscle relaxation
Progressive muscle relaxation involves tensing and releasing muscle groups in coordination with breathing, activating the parasympathetic response to reduce pain.
A parent insists their child does not need pain medication because 'kids bounce back quickly.' What is the best child life response?
Answer: Provide education that untreated pain can cause physiological harm and impair healing
Untreated pediatric pain causes physiological stress responses, impairs immune function, and can lead to chronic pain sensitization; educating parents is a key CLS role.