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?\

Explanation:

When assessing a client's pain, using a standard pain scale helps quantify the tolerable pain level. Assessing the location, severity, and quality of pain is a priority as it gives a comprehensive understanding of the pain experience. Asking the client to describe conditions that make the pain better or worse helps in identifying factors that can be managed to alleviate pain.

Answer:

The nurse will determine the client's tolerable pain level using a standard pain scale. It is a priority for the nurse to assess the location, severity, and quality of pain. The nurse will ask the client to describe conditions that make the pain better or worse.