Author Question: The nurse is assessing pain level with vital signs for an adolescent client. The client is reporting ... (Read 76 times)

lracut11 · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

The nurse is assessing pain level with vital signs for an adolescent client. The client is reporting pain but when the nurse asks for a description of the pain the client says, It just hurts. Why can't I have something?

Which action by the nurse is the most appropriate?
1. Leave the room and come back later.
2. Provide questions that require yes or no answers related to pain.
3. Ask the client what they would like to have for pain.
4. Continue with the vital signs assessment.

Question 2

The parents of a young toddler who requires a venipuncture for laboratory studies ask the nurse what they can do to help with pain during the procedure. Which response by the nurse is the most appropriate?

1. Have the parents leave the area during the procedure.
2. Tell the parents to touch and reassure the toddler during the procedure.
3. Wait until the toddler is asleep to do the procedure.
4. Administer an analgesic 30 minutes before the procedure.

triiciiaa · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 2
People who are not feeling well or who are in pain may have difficulty with open-ended questions, such as Describe .... The nurse may be better able to obtain an accurate description of their pain by having them respond to descriptive words. Leaving the room will not provide effective pain management. Asking the client what she would like for pain is not appropriate without a complete assessment. If the client is in pain, moving on to the vital signs will not yield additional information.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 2
The nurse understands that the presence of supportive people may affect the toddler's perception of the severity of the pain, and provide reassurance and security. Having the parents leave the area may cause the toddler to react very strongly to the painful stimulus, as will being awakened from a sound sleep by painful stimuli. Administering an analgesic is inappropriate as the toddler is not yet experiencing the pain, and after the relatively quick procedure is over, the toddler should no longer feel any pain.