Question

Client appears to be physically relaxed. If pt stopped moaning and crying, it doesn't mean he doesn't have pain. The client may express pain relief but may still be experiencing pain.

a) Document the client's comfort level.
b) Administer additional pain medication.
c) Assume the client is pain-free based on appearance.
d) Reassess the client's pain using a pain scale.

Answer 1

To effectively assess a client's pain, reassessing using a pain scale is crucial; appearance alone cannot determine pain levels. Documenting comfort levels and deciding on additional pain medication follow after a thorough pain evaluation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Assessing pain levels in patients is crucial for providing effective pain management. Even though a patient might appear physically relaxed and does not express pain overtly by moaning or crying, it does not necessarily mean they are free of pain. They may have adapted to the pain or may not express it in ways that are recognizable without verbal confirmation. Therefore, it's important to reassess the client's pain using a pain scale to evaluate their comfort level accurately.

Documenting the client's comfort level is essential for continuous care and should be done after reassessing the pain. Simply assuming the client is pain-free based on appearance could lead to inadequate pain management. Administering additional pain medication may be necessary but should be determined after a thorough reassessment. Pain is subjective, and healthcare providers often use tools such as the Wong-Baker Faces pain-rating scale or quantifying methods like measuring skin conductance fluctuations to gauge pain levels.