Final answer:
The nurse's action to administer pain medication at a pain level of 7 out of 10 demonstrates strong prioritization skills by focusing on the patient's immediate need for pain management.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse's decision to administer pain medication to a patient whose pain level is 7 out of 10 on the pain assessment tool after 4 hours demonstrates prioritization skills. This action shows that the nurse is prioritizing the patient's need for pain relief, given that the pain level is high and the medication can be given between 4 to 6 hours as needed. By addressing the pain at a level 7, rather than waiting for a specific time frame to pass, the nurse is actively responding to the patient's condition and providing timely care.
In this context, time management skills or meeting patient goals might also be relevant but are not the primary actions being demonstrated. The nurse is clearly making a judgment based on the patient's current condition, which is a more direct example of prioritization. Moreover, while the response is indeed a change in the patient's condition, the ability to assess and prioritize that change is the key function being illustrated.