A nurse is caring for a client who has expressive aphasia following a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Which of the following parameters should the nurse use first in order to assess the client’s pain level?

Choice A Reason: This is incorrect. Pulse and blood pressure findings are not reliable indicators of pain, as they can be influenced by many other factors, such as anxiety, medication, or underlying conditions. They are also not sensitive enough to detect changes in pain intensity or relief.

Choice B Reason: This is incorrect. Scheduled treatments and client illness are not relevant parameters for assessing pain, as they do not reflect the current pain experience of the client. They may provide some clues about the possible causes or sources of pain, but they do not measure the pain itself.

Choice C Reason: This is correct. A self-report pain rating scale is the most valid and reliable parameter for assessing pain, as it reflects the subjective perception of the client. The nurse should use a simple and appropriate scale, such as a numeric or visual analog scale, and ask the client to point to the number or picture that best represents their pain level.

Choice D Reason: This is incorrect. Behavioral indicators and affect are useful parameters for assessing pain, especially when the client has difficulty communicating verbally, but they are not the first choice. They are more subjective and variable than self-report, and they may be influenced by cultural or personal factors. They should be used in conjunction with self-report, not instead of it.

Choice A: Check the tubing connections for leaks is not an action that the nurse should take. Leaks in the tubing connections can cause continuous or intermitent bubbling in the water seal chamber, not in the suction control chamber. The water seal chamber is the part of the closed chest drainage system that prevents air from entering the pleural space and allows air to escape from the chest tube. The nurse should check the tubing connections for leaks if there is bubbling in the water seal chamber and tighten them if necessary.

Choice B: Check the suction control outlet on the wall is not an action that the nurse should take. The suction control outlet on the wall is the source of negative pressure that helps drain fluid and air from the pleural space and maintain a patent chest tube. The suction control chamber is the part of the closed chest drainage system that regulates the amount of negative pressure applied to the chest tube. The nurse should check the suction control outlet on the wall if there is no bubbling in the suction control chamber and adjust it as prescribed.

Choice C: Continue to monitor the client's respiratory status is an action that the nurse should take. Slow, steady bubbling in the suction control chamber is an expected finding that indicates that the suction is working properly and that there are no leaks in the system. The nurse should continue to monitor the client's respiratory status and assess for signs of respiratory distress, such as dyspnea, tachypnea, cyanosis, or decreased oxygen saturation.

Choice D: Clamping the chest tube is not an action that the nurse should take. Clamping the chest tube can cause a tension pneumothorax, which is a life-threatening condition characterized by a buildup of air in the pleural space that compresses the lung and shifts the mediastinum. The nurse should only clamp the chest tube temporarily and briefly for specific purposes, such as changing or troubleshooting the drainage system, or as prescribed by the provider.