Question

You are the nurse caring for a postsurgical patient who is Asian-American and speaks very little English. How should you most accurately assess this patient's pain?

1) Use a chart with English on one side of the page and the patient's native language on the other so he can rate his pain.
2) Ask the patient to write down a number according to the 0-to-10 point pain scale.
3) Use the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
4) Use the services of a translator each time you assess the patient so you can document the patient's pain rating.

Answer 1

The most accurate way to assess the pain of a postsurgical patient who speaks very little English is to use a pain scale that accommodates the patient's language barrier.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most accurate way to assess the pain of a postsurgical patient who speaks very little English is to use a pain scale that accommodates the patient's language barrier. Option 1 to use a chart with English on one side of the page and the patient's native language on the other so he can rate his pain would be the most suitable approach. This method allows the patient to understand and communicate their level of pain effectively.