Question

During a pain assessment, a nurse asks questions about the quality of an adult patient's pain. Which of the following statements by the patient refers to pain quality?

a. "The pain is a sharp, stabbing sensation."
b. "The pain is located in my lower back."
c. "The pain started yesterday afternoon."
d. "The pain is a 7 out of 10 on the pain scale."

Answer 1

The statement 'The pain is a sharp, stabbing sensation.' refers to the pain quality, helping professionals in pain assessment and management.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse asks questions about the quality of an adult patient's pain, they are looking to understand the specific characteristics that describe the sensation of the pain the patient is feeling. Among the provided statements, "The pain is a sharp, stabbing sensation." refers to the quality of the patient's pain. This description helps healthcare professionals to diagnose and manage pain effectively. In contrast, the other statements are describing the location, duration, and intensity of the pain, rather than its quality. It's essential to accurately convey these different aspects of pain for appropriate treatment.