Final answer:
The nurse administering pain medicine before Mr. Thompson ambulates represents the Implementation step of the nursing process.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the nurse delivers an injection of pain medicine 30 minutes before Mr. Thompson needs to ambulate in the hall, this action represents the Implementation step of the nursing process. The nursing process includes five steps: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. In this scenario, the nurse has assessed Mr. Thompson’s condition, helped to make a plan which likely includes pain management, and is now implementing that plan by administering pain medication prior to activity that could increase his pain.