Final answer:
The nurse is performing the evaluation step of the nursing process by asking the client to rate their pain using a scale. This is done to assess the effectiveness of the pain medication given earlier. Evaluation involves looking at client responses and outcomes to determine if nursing interventions have been successful.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the nurse asks a client to rate their current level of pain after administering pain medication, the nurse is performing the evaluation step of the nursing process. The pain assessment tool, such as the Mosby pain rating scale referenced in the question, is used to gauge the effectiveness of the pain management interventions that have been implemented. Evaluation involves reassessing the client to determine the responses to the nursing actions and decide whether the pain management goals have been achieved.
In the context of research, as described in Example 10.11, a statistical test could be used to determine whether pain scores are lower after the administration of medication, which is also a form of evaluation. The alternative hypothesis being that there is a negative difference indicates that the medication is effective in reducing pain levels.