Question

postoperative day 1:
client awake, sitting up in chair with eyes closed tightly, not speaking. spouse, friend, and parent at bedside. visitors conversing and laughing loudly with each other. television on with volume high. client begins to cry and states, \i tried to use the incentive spirometer, but it hurts to take a deep breath or cough.\
the client was last medicated for pain with hydromorphone 0.5 mg iv 6 hours ago. client offered pain medication. client states, \i want to wait until after the dressing change to have my pain medicine.\ clients spouse states, \that pain medicine you nurses are putting in the iv makes my spouse so dizzy and sleepy. im sure its addictive. cant you just give a pain pill?\
complete the following sentences by choosing from the list of options.
the nurse will

determine the clients tolerable pain level using a standard pain scale

. it is a priority for the nurse to assess

select...

. the nurse will ask the

the clients surgical incision

the location, severity, and quality of pain
the familys fears of opioid addiction

note: a selection must be made for each dropdown.

Explanation:

When a client is in pain (crying, stating pain with incentive spirometer use), the priority for the nurse is to assess the location, severity, and quality of pain as it directly relates to the client's current discomfort and guides appropriate pain - management interventions. Assessing the surgical incision (while important for wound - related issues) is not the immediate priority when the client is expressing pain. Addressing the family's fears of opioid addiction is a part of education but comes after assessing the client's pain.

Answer:

the location, severity, and quality of pain