A nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child who underwent surgery. The child is unable to verbalize pain reliably. Which pain assessment tool is most appropriate?

A. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is incorrect because it requires the child to understand and mark a point on a line to represent pain intensity, which is often too complex for a 4-year-old, especially if they cannot verbalize pain reliably. B. FLACC scale is correct. The FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) scale is an observational tool designed for children who cannot self-report pain. It assesses behavioral and physiological indicators of pain including facial expression, leg movement, activity level, crying, and consolability. Scores range from 0 to 10, allowing for objective assessment and monitoring of pain in young children, infants, or nonverbal patients. C. Faces Pain Scale is incorrect because it relies on the child’s ability to understand and point to a facial expression that represents their pain. While appropriate for some preschoolers, a 4-year-old who cannot reliably verbalize or comprehend the scale may not use it accurately. D. Numeric Rating Scale is incorrect because it requires the child to assign a number (0–10) to describe pain, which is generally suitable for children aged 7 and older who can understand abstract numerical concepts.