A nurse is caring for a patient who fell on the ice and has connective tissue damage in the wrist and hand. The patient describes the pain as throbbing. Which type of pain does the nurse document in this patient’s medical record?

Choice A reason: Short naps (15-20 minutes) are recommended for narcolepsy to manage excessive daytime sleepiness without disrupting nighttime sleep. This aligns with evidence-based management, improving alertness. No intervention is needed, as this practice supports symptom control, enhancing daily function and reducing sleep attacks in narcolepsy patients.

Choice B reason: Taking antidepressants, like SSRIs or SNRIs, is standard for narcolepsy to manage cataplexy or sleep disturbances. This is appropriate and requires no intervention unless misuse occurs. The nurse would ensure proper dosing, as antidepressants support symptom control, improving quality of life without disrupting narcolepsy management strategies.

Choice C reason: Chewing gum regularly is benign and unrelated to narcolepsy management. It may help with alertness but doesn’t warrant intervention. Unlike environmental factors like room temperature, gum has no significant impact on sleep quality or narcolepsy symptoms, making it an irrelevant focus for nursing education or correction.

Choice D reason: Sleeping in a hot, stuffy room disrupts sleep quality, exacerbating narcolepsy symptoms like fragmented sleep or daytime sleepiness. The nurse intervenes to promote a cool, well-ventilated sleep environment, critical for optimizing rest. Poor sleep hygiene worsens narcolepsy, reducing treatment efficacy and increasing risks of sleep attacks or fatigue.

Choice A reason: Culture and ethnicity influence pain perception but are not easily modifiable. They shape attitudes toward pain expression, not pain itself. Focusing on these risks overlooking modifiable factors like anxiety, which directly amplify pain. Interventions targeting modifiable psychological factors are more effective in reducing pain intensity and improving patient coping strategies.

Choice B reason: Previous pain experiences and cognitive abilities are relatively fixed, shaping pain perception but not easily altered. Modifiable factors like anxiety have a greater immediate impact on pain. Focusing on these risks delaying interventions like relaxation techniques, which directly reduce pain amplification, improving outcomes in acute or chronic pain management.

Choice C reason: Age and gender are non-modifiable factors influencing pain sensitivity but not amenable to change. Anxiety and fear, which exacerbate pain through stress responses, are modifiable and more relevant for intervention. Prioritizing age or gender misdirects focus, delaying strategies like cognitive therapy that effectively mitigate pain in clinical settings.

Choice D reason: Anxiety and fear are modifiable factors that amplify pain via heightened stress responses, increasing muscle tension and pain perception. Interventions like relaxation, mindfulness, or counseling can reduce these, lowering pain intensity. Focusing on these targets psychological contributors, improving pain management and patient comfort, especially in acute or chronic pain scenarios.