The nurse is assessing a client's pain and has elicited ...

[lilldybug07]

The nurse is assessing a client's pain and has elicited information on the location, quality, intensity, effect on functioning, aggravating and relieving factors, and onset and duration. What question by the nurse would be best to ask the client for compl
 
  a. Are you worried about addiction to pain pills?
  b. Do you attach any spiritual meaning to pain?
  c. How high would you say your pain tolerance is?
  d. What pain rating would be acceptable to you?

Question 2

A nurse is assessing pain on a confused older client who has difficulty with verbal expression. What pain assessment tool would the nurse choose for this assessment?
 
  a. Numeric rating scale
  b. Verbal Descriptor Scale
  c. FACES Pain Scale-Revised
  d. Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale

[olivia_paige29]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
A comprehensive pain assessment includes the items listed in the question plus the client's opinion on a functional goal, such as what pain rating would be acceptable to him or her. Asking about addiction is not warranted in an initial pain assessment. Asking about spiritual meanings for pain may give the nurse important information, but getting the basics first is more important. Asking about pain tolerance may give the client the idea that pain tolerance is being judged.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
All are valid pain rating scales; however, some research has shown that the FACES Pain Scale-Revised is preferred by both cognitively intact and cognitively impaired adults.