When a person cuts a finger, nerve impulses travel to the spinal cord along afferent peripheral nerve fibers. What is this process?

A. The nurse should review the patient's vital signs as soon as they are done. Even though vital signs can be delegated, the nurse retains accountability for assessing the data, interpreting abnormalities, and determining if further action is needed.
B. The nurse assistant should not be responsible for obtaining vital signs. Nurse assistants can take vital signs if they are properly trained and it is within their scope of practice. However, the nurse remains responsible for interpreting and acting on the results.
C. The nurse is not responsible if the nurse assistant fails to obtain the vital signs. The nurse remains accountable for delegated tasks and must ensure they are completed correctly.
D. The nurse assistant should determine if the patient's vital signs are abnormal. Nurse assistants can report abnormal findings, but they are not responsible for interpreting results or making clinical decisions—this is the nurse’s responsibility.

A. Regular use of narcotic analgesics leads to drug addiction. While opioids can cause dependence with prolonged use, addiction is characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behavior. When used appropriately for pain management, addiction risk is low.
B. Amount of pain is reflective of actual tissue damage. Pain perception varies widely among individuals. Some may experience severe pain with minimal tissue damage, while others may have little pain despite significant injury.
C. Patients are the best judges of their pain. Pain is subjective, and only the patient can accurately describe its intensity and quality. Nurses should trust the patient's self-report rather than rely solely on appearance or behavior.
D. Chronic pain is psychological in nature. Chronic pain often has a physiological basis, such as nerve damage or inflammation, though psychological factors can influence pain perception. It is not purely psychological.