Question

A nurse routinely uses therapeutic touch when caring for postoperative clients with incisional pain. Occasionally a client will show reluctance when the intervention is offered. The nurse's best response in such a situation is to:

1. Research for alternative interventions that will be better received by the client
2. Suggest that the client allow the intervention just once before making a final decision
3. Respect the client's wishes and rely on pain medication to help with managing the pain
4. Inform the client that the intervention has been found to be effective during several research projects

Answer 1

In case of a client's reluctance towards therapeutic touch for incisional pain, the nurse should respect the client's wishes and either offer alternative interventions or continue pain management with medications.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse encounters a client showing reluctance towards therapeutic touch as an intervention for postoperative incisional pain, the most professional and client-centered approach is to respect the client's wishes. It is the nurse's responsibility to prioritize the client's preferences and comfort, ensuring their autonomy in treatment decisions is maintained. If therapeutic touch is not accepted by the client, the nurse should research alternative interventions that might be better received. Additionally, it would be appropriate to continue managing the pain through traditional means, such as pain medication, based on the client's choices.