FLACC and Pain in pediatric inpatients
According to Merriam-Webster, pain is defined as “the physical feeling caused by disease, injury, or something that hurts the body” (“Pain”, 2015). Pain in pediatric (nonverbal??) inpatients is often difficult to assess and manage since the patients are not always cooperative and able to communicate. Pain management in pediatric patients is important because it aids in the healing process and reduces the length of inpatient stays. A review of literature revealed that there are several pain scales used in assessing pediatric pain. One of the most common pain scales used is the Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale. The National Institute of Health (NIH) states the FLACC scale was …show more content…
The Wong Faces Scale is discussed as a valid pain assessment tool in children and adults that are interactive and able to understand the faces and what the faces are stating (http://www.wongbakerfaces.org; Vael & Whitted, 2014). This study however, assessed the knowledge that nurses have when using the FLACC scale to decide appropriate pain management interventions in nonverbal patients, rather than verbal patients (Vael & Whitted, 2014). According to Vael and Whitted (2014), when nursing staff were educated on the appropriate use of the FLACC pain scale, greater success was achieved regarding pain management in nonverbal pediatric …show more content…
According to Ghai, Makkar and Wig (2008) pain assessment and measurement is complex and challenging. Several pain assessment tools are discussed by the authors and include FLACC, modified FLACC and Noncommunicating Children’s Pain Checklist Postoperative Version (NCCPC_PV) (Ghai, Makkar, & Wig, 2008). Ghai, Makkar and Wig (2008) compare the different pain assessment tools and look for validity and reliability within each. The FLACC and modified FLACC assessment tool has good validity and good reliability, however it has issues using the leg behavioral indicator in nonverbal patients with motor impairment (Ghai, Makkar, & Wig,
According to Merriam-Webster, pain is defined as “the physical feeling caused by disease, injury, or something that hurts the body” (“Pain”, 2015). Pain in pediatric (nonverbal??) inpatients is often difficult to assess and manage since the patients are not always cooperative and able to communicate. Pain management in pediatric patients is important because it aids in the healing process and reduces the length of inpatient stays. A review of literature revealed that there are several pain scales used in assessing pediatric pain. One of the most common pain scales used is the Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale. The National Institute of Health (NIH) states the FLACC scale was …show more content…
The Wong Faces Scale is discussed as a valid pain assessment tool in children and adults that are interactive and able to understand the faces and what the faces are stating (http://www.wongbakerfaces.org; Vael & Whitted, 2014). This study however, assessed the knowledge that nurses have when using the FLACC scale to decide appropriate pain management interventions in nonverbal patients, rather than verbal patients (Vael & Whitted, 2014). According to Vael and Whitted (2014), when nursing staff were educated on the appropriate use of the FLACC pain scale, greater success was achieved regarding pain management in nonverbal pediatric …show more content…
According to Ghai, Makkar and Wig (2008) pain assessment and measurement is complex and challenging. Several pain assessment tools are discussed by the authors and include FLACC, modified FLACC and Noncommunicating Children’s Pain Checklist Postoperative Version (NCCPC_PV) (Ghai, Makkar, & Wig, 2008). Ghai, Makkar and Wig (2008) compare the different pain assessment tools and look for validity and reliability within each. The FLACC and modified FLACC assessment tool has good validity and good reliability, however it has issues using the leg behavioral indicator in nonverbal patients with motor impairment (Ghai, Makkar, & Wig,