The patient complaining of pain has been waiting for medication ...

[jman1234]

The patient complaining of pain has been waiting for medication to relieve the pain. What should the nurse understand about this patient?
 
  1. The patient's pain is real.
  2. The patient just wants medication.
  3. The patient wants attention.
  4. The patient is demanding.

Question 2

The nurse is assessing a patient's vital signs. What should the nurse include in this assessment?
 
  1. peripheral pulses
  2. pain level
  3. ability to ambulate
  4. urine output

[amit]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1
If the patient says he or she has pain, the patient is in pain. All pain is real. Nurses should not be judgmental when responding to a patient's report of pain. This is a common bias and is a barrier to effective pain management. Concluding that the patient is demanding or just wants attention reflects a biased interpretation.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 2
Pain is increasingly being referred to as the fifth vital sign, with recommendations to include assess pain assessment in every vital signs assessment. Assessment of peripheral pulses is done to check for presence and strength; it is not routinely done to assess a pulse rate. Ambulation and urine output are not vital signs.