Question

The nurse is assessing the degree of pain or discomfort a patient is feeling. The nurse knows that this will be dependent primarily on the:

A. Ability to explain the pain or discomfort
B. Perception of the pain or discomfort
C. Age of the individual
D. Type of painful stimulus

Answer 1

The nurse's assessment of a patient's pain level primarily depends on the patient's perception of the pain, which is a subjective experience influenced by various factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse assessing the degree of pain or discomfort a patient is feeling will find that it primarily depends on the perception of the pain or discomfort. This is because pain is a subjective experience that can only be felt by the patient and involves both psychological and physical components. Factors like age, the ability to explain the pain, and the type of painful stimulus can influence this perception but are secondary to the patient's individual experience of pain. Nociceptive and neuropathic pain are two categories, with varying treatments such as relaxation therapy or analgesic medications.