Question

Ask the client to rate their pain (According to evidence-based practice, the nurse should first ask the client to rate their pain level to provide a verbal report of pain, which is the priority indicator of the need for pain medication)

a) to minimize patient autonomy
b) for optimal pain management
c) as a routine nursing question
d) to assess cognitive function

Answer 1

According to evidence-based practice, the nurse should first ask the client to rate their pain level as a routine nursing question to determine the need for pain medication. The Wong-Baker Faces pain-rating scale is one method commonly used to quantify pain. Asking the client to rate their pain is important for optimal pain management and allows healthcare providers to tailor the treatment plan.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to evidence-based practice, the nurse should first ask the client to rate their pain level as a routine nursing question. This is because the client's verbal report of pain is the priority indicator of the need for pain medication. By asking the client to rate their pain, the nurse can assess the severity of the pain and determine the appropriate pain management interventions.

The Wong-Baker Faces pain-rating scale is one method commonly used to quantify pain. It asks patients to rate their pain on a scale of 0-10, with 0 representing no pain and 10 representing the worst possible pain. This scale provides a standardized way to assess pain and helps healthcare providers monitor changes in pain levels over time.

Asking the client to rate their pain is important for optimal pain management because it allows healthcare providers to tailor the pain treatment plan to meet the individual needs of each patient. Pain is subjective, and what may be tolerable for one person may be unbearable for another. By assessing pain levels, healthcare providers can determine the appropriate medications and interventions to provide effective pain relief.