The subjective characteristic implies that pain is a. an ...

[kellyjaisingh]

The subjective characteristic implies that pain is
 
  a. an uncomfortable experience present only in the patient with an intact nervous system.
  b. an unpleasant experience accompanied by crying and tachycardia.
  c. activation of the sympathetic nervous system from an injury.
  d. whatever the patient experiencing it says it is, occurring when that patient says it does.

Question 2

A lack of true understanding can often be misread by the nurse as noncompliance. Which of the following statements demonstrate effective questioning methods to assess a patient's understanding?
 
  a. Do you take your heart medication every morning?
  b. Can you tell me what you know about your different heart medications?
  c. Do you take all your medications?
  d. Do you ever miss taking your medication?

[carolinefletcherr]

Answer to Question 1

D
Pain is described as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage. This definition emphasizes the subjective and multidimensional nature of pain. More specifically, the subjective characteristic implies that pain is whatever the person experiencing it says it is and that it exists whenever he or she says it does.

Answer to Question 2

B
Open-ended questions provide the nurse an opportunity to assess actual knowledge gaps rather than assume knowledge by obtaining a yes or no response. These types of questions also assist the patient and family to tell their story of the illness and communicate their perceptions of the experience. Questions that elicit only a yes or no response close off communication and do not provide for an interactive teaching-learning session.