Child Life Exam Pain Management 2

Question 1

Which pain scale is most appropriate for a 3-year-old child who is non-verbal?

Accepted Answer

FLACC scale

Answer

Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

Answer

Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

Answer

McGill Pain Questionnaire

Question 2

A child life specialist is preparing a 7-year-old for a venipuncture. Which cognitive-behavioral strategy is MOST effective for procedural pain management?

Accepted Answer

Guided imagery and distraction

Answer

Pharmacologic sedation

Answer

Passive restraint

Answer

Post-procedure reward only

Question 3

What is the primary goal of providing accurate preparatory information to a child before a painful procedure?

Accepted Answer

To reduce anxiety and increase sense of control

Answer

To obtain informed consent from the child

Answer

To replace pharmacologic pain management

Answer

To shorten procedure duration

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the gate control theory of pain as it applies to child life practice?

Accepted Answer

Non-painful stimuli can modulate pain signals in the spinal cord

Answer

Pain is purely a physiological response with no psychological component

Answer

Children feel less pain than adults due to immature nerve pathways

Answer

Opioid receptors gate pain transmission in the brainstem

Question 5

An adolescent rates their post-surgical pain as 8/10 but appears calm and is watching TV. How should the child life specialist respond?

Accepted Answer

Accept the self-report as the primary indicator and advocate for pain management

Answer

Assume pain is well-controlled based on behavioral appearance

Answer

Suggest the rating is exaggerated and encourage a lower score

Answer

Defer entirely to the nurse's behavioral observation

Question 6

Which non-pharmacologic intervention uses rhythmic breathing and muscle relaxation to decrease pain perception in pediatric patients?

Accepted Answer

Progressive muscle relaxation

Answer

Pharmacologic premedication

Answer

Physical restraint

Answer

Therapeutic play debriefing

Question 7

A parent insists their child does not need pain medication because 'kids bounce back quickly.' What is the best child life response?

Accepted Answer

Provide education that untreated pain can cause physiological harm and impair healing

Answer

Agree with the parent to maintain the therapeutic alliance

Answer

Immediately escalate to the medical team without talking to the parent

Answer

Document the conversation and take no further action