Question

Tom Richardson Scenario 1

Day 2 admission, Thomas Richardson is complaining of severe pain and is now begging you for some relief; states pain scale 10/10.

What is the first step in patient assessment/intervention?
1) Wash and glove hands
2) Vital assessment
3) Administer pain medications
4) Re-assess patient
5) Document results

Answer 1

The first step in patient assessment/intervention for a patient experiencing severe pain is to perform a vital assessment to ensure safety before administering pain medications, followed by reassessment, and documentation of the results.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Thomas Richardson is experiencing severe pain and rates it as 10/10 on the pain scale, the first step in patient assessment/intervention, according to best clinical practices, should be to perform a vital assessment. This involves checking his vital signs, which include his blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and respiratory rate. The reason behind this initial step is to ascertain if the pain is causing any immediate physiological changes or distress that may require prompt intervention. Although the patient is requesting relief, it is essential to assess vital signs before administering pain medications to ensure that it is safe to do so and to provide baseline data that may guide treatment. After the vital signs are evaluated, appropriate pain relief can be administered, followed by reassessment to check the efficacy of the intervention, and finally, the results and actions taken should be carefully documented in the patient's medical records.