For a client who is crying and seems agitated after major abdominal surgery, which action should a nurse take to establish a nursing diagnosis of pain related to an abdominal incision?
Continue to observe the client.
Ask the client to describe the discomfort.
Encourage the client to progressively relax all muscle groups.
Administer the prescribed analgesic and document the client’s response.
The Correct Answer is B
Ask the client to describe the discomfort. This is the best action to establish a nursing diagnosis of pain related to an abdominal incision because it allows the nurse to assess the location, intensity, quality, and duration of the pain, as well as any factors that aggravate or relieve it.
This information can help the nurse to plan appropriate interventions and evaluate their effectiveness.
Choice A. Continue to observe the client is wrong because it does not address the client’s pain or communicate empathy. The nurse should not ignore or minimize the client’s pain, but rather acknowledge it and offer assistance.
Choice C. Encourage the client to progressively relax all muscle groups is wrong because it is a nonpharmacological intervention that may help to reduce pain, but it does not establish a nursing diagnosis of pain. The nurse should first assess the client’s pain before implementing any interventions.
Choice D. Administer the prescribed analgesic and document the client’s response is wrong because it is a pharmacological intervention that may help to relieve pain, but it does not establish a nursing diagnosis of pain. The nurse should first assess the client’s pain before administering any medications.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
What is your understanding of the situation?”. This is a therapeutic response because it respects the client’s autonomy and invites them to share their concerns and feelings about the surgery.
Choice A is wrong because it is authoritarian and dismissive of the client’s feelings. It does not acknowledge the client’s right to refuse treatment.
Choice C is wrong because it is nontherapeutic and shows agreement with the client’s refusal. It also implies that the nurse and the doctor are on different sides.
Choice D is wrong because it is manipulative and guilt-tripping. It implies that the client does not care about their loved ones or their own life.
Correct Answer is ["D"]
Explanation
Older adults do not have a different pain mechanism and do not feel it as much as younger individuals. This statement is false and indicates the need for further education regarding pain management in older adults.
Some possible explanations for the other choices are:
Choice A is true because older adults often fear becoming addicted to pain medications and may underreport or deny their pain.
Choice B is true because older adults often take numerous drugs that can cause interactions with pain medications and increase the risk of adverse effects.
Choice C is true because confusion and delirium can be a more common reaction to certain pain medications in the elderly, especially opioids and benzodiazepines.
Normal ranges for vital signs in older adults are similar to those in younger adults, except for blood pressure, which may be higher due to arterial stiffness. The normal range for blood pressure in older adults is 120/80 to 140/90 mm Hg.
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