Final answer:
The nurse is assessing the quality of pain, which reveals the nature of the patient's pain and is vital for diagnosis and determining treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nurse asks a patient, "What does the pain feel like?" they are assessing the characteristic of quality of pain the patient is experiencing. Quality describes the nature of the pain, such as whether it is sharp, dull, throbbing, burning, stabbing, or aching, and provides important diagnostic information beyond the mere intensity of the pain. Understanding the quality of pain can help healthcare providers better identify the cause of pain and determine the most effective treatment options, whether they are relaxation therapy, analgesics, or other forms of pain management.