The nurse is caring for two clients who both are in pain due to ...

[laurencescou]

The nurse is caring for two clients who both are in pain due to sickle cell anemia.
 
  One of the clients rates the pain as a 7 out of 10 (0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain possible). This client is moving around easily and is eating well, but has asked for pain medicine. Which action by the nurse is the most appropriate?
  1. Wait 30 minutes and see if the client is still requesting the pain medicine.
  2. Administer half the ordered does of pain medication.
  3. Administer the pain medication if it is has been longer than the ordered interval.
  4. Notify the healthcare provider that the client is faking his pain.

Question 2

A client with chronic pain from spinal stenosis has asked the nurse for assistance with pain management.
 
  The client is well dressed and composed, with normal vital signs. The nurse observes that the client grimaces when sitting but rates the pain at only a 2. The nurse suspects which of the following?
  1. Needs to exercise instead of taking pain medication.
  2. Is not in severe pain and does not need treatment.
  3. Is getting better.
  4. Has adapted to the pain and is able to control behaviors.

[robbielu01]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 3

Since pain occurs whenever the experiencing person says it does and is whatever the experiencing person says it is, the nurse should accurately assess and treat the pain with the pain medication if that is what is ordered. Waiting to administer the medication is inappropriate and is an action that appears to negate the client's reports. Administration of only a portion of the ordered medication places the nurse in a position of prescribing medications and is outside the nurse's scope of practice. Notification to the healthcare provider that the patient is faking the pain is inappropriate as there is no evidence of this action.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 4
People with chronic pain develop their individual coping styles to deal with pain, discomfort, or suffering. Also, physiologic responses may be marked in acute pain but because of central nervous system adaptation, physiologic responses are likely to be absent. Therefore, behavioral and physiologic responses are not good indicators of pain. Determining that the client's condition is improving is beyond the scope of practice for the nurse. The client has stated that she is there for assistance with pain management, and the nurse has not completed the assessment. The plan of care to determine interventions cannot be determined at this point.

[laurencescou]

Thank you

[robbielu01]

Happy to help you