Question

During intake assessment, an elderly patient tells the nurse, "I hurt here, there, and everywhere—it just comes with getting old." Which of the following would be an appropriate response?

1) Smile and express sympathy, because old age does bring a lot of aches and pains with it.

2) Ask the patient to tell which parts of the body hurt, and ask how long they have hurt and whether the pain is sharp or dull.

3) Ask the patient whether any of the pain bothers her or limits her activities.

4) Ask the patient if she is taking any pain medication or would like some.

Answer 1

An appropriate response by a nurse during an intake assessment when an elderly patient mentions generalized pain is to ask specific questions to understand the nature, severity, and impact of the pain, and to discuss pain management options.

Step-by-step explanation:

During an intake assessment, it is crucial for a nurse to thoroughly evaluate a patient's pain to differentiate between normal signs of aging and possible symptoms of disease. An appropriate response when a patient tells the nurse, "I hurt here, there, and everywhere—it just comes with getting old," would be to gather more detailed information about their pain. The nurse should:

Ask the patient to be more specific about the locations of pain so these can be assessed for potential underlying causes.

Inquire about the duration of the pain and whether it is sharp or dull to help diagnose the nature of the pain.

Assess if the pain affects the patient's ability to carry out daily activities or if it significantly reduces their quality of life.

Discuss pain management options, including whether the patient is currently taking any pain medication or if they are open to considering pain relief measures.

It is important to avoid assumptions that pain is simply a part of growing old, as it can often be managed or treated effectively.

It is important to avoid assumptions that pain is simply a part of growing old, as it can often be managed or treated effectively.