Question

A nurse is monitoring a client who is 2 hr postoperative and has a prescription for opioid analgesics. Which of the following actions provides the nurse with the priority data to determine the client's need for analgesia?

a) Assessing the client's pain level
b) Checking the surgical incision site
c) Monitoring urinary output
d) Evaluating the client's temperature

Answer 1

The priority data to determine a client's need for analgesia postoperatively is assessing the client's pain level. Other factors like the surgical site, urinary output, and temperature are secondary to the direct measurement of pain when considering opioid analgesics.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine a client's need for analgesia after surgery, the priority data comes from assessing the client's pain level. This is because the primary aim of opioid analgesics is to relieve pain, and the client's self-reported pain score is the most direct measure of whether the medication is needed. While other factors such as checking the surgical incision site, monitoring urinary output, and evaluating the client's temperature are also important for postoperative care, they do not directly indicate the need for pain management. The surgeon, nurse, and anesthesia professional will have reviewed the key concerns for the recovery and care of the patient, which includes ensuring comfort and pain control. Therefore, it is essential to have effective communication among medical staff members, including confirming each team member's name and role, the patient's identity, the surgical site, and the procedure. Moreover, the anticipated critical events, such as operative duration and potential complications, need to be discussed by surgical, anesthesia, and nursing staffs.