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Based on your knowledge of pain and the body's response, when assessing a client in pain, you would anticipate the

a) Pulse rate is decreased
b) Blood pressure is normal
c) Respirations are shallow
d) Pupils are dilated

User Janpeter
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Final answer:

In response to a client in pain, we typically anticipate an increase in pulse rate, a rise in blood pressure, rapid and shallow breathing, and pupil dilation, as part of the fight-or-flight response (option c and d).

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing a client in pain, we would not anticipate that the pulse rate is decreased. Rather, the body's response to pain often includes various physiological changes associated with the fight-or-flight response, such as increased heart rate (pulse rate), raised blood pressure, and more rapid, shallow respirations. Specifically, in a client in pain, one might expect:

  • Pulse rate to increase due to the release of stress hormones like epinephrine and norepinephrine that stimulate the heart to beat faster.
  • Blood pressure to rise as a consequence of vasoconstriction and the body's attempt to direct more blood to essential organs.
  • Respirations to become more rapid and shallow as the body tries to increase oxygen intake.
  • Pupils to dilate, which is a part of the sympathetic nervous system's arousal response to stress or pain.

Hence, the answer is option c and d.

User Brian Stinar
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