A nurse is collecting data from a patient who has gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and reports experiencing heartburn every night.
Which of the following actions should the nurse identify as a contributing factor to the patient’s heartburn?

Choice A rationale

Pain is a subjective experience and can be expressed both verbally and nonverbally. It is important for the nurse to be attentive to both types of expressions to effectively manage the patient’s pain.
Choice B rationale
While it is true that opioids should be used with caution due to the risk of addiction, this statement can be misleading. Opioids are often necessary for managing postoperative pain, and the risk of addiction is low when they are used appropriately and under medical supervision.
Choice C rationale
Considering the patient’s individual expression of pain is crucial in pain management. Pain is a subjective experience and can vary greatly between individuals. Tailoring pain management strategies to the individual patient can improve pain control.
Choice D rationale
Using a pain scale is a common and effective way to monitor the severity of a patient’s pain. It provides a quantifiable measure of pain that can be used to guide treatment decisions.

Choice A rationale
Pain located in the right lower quadrant is typically associated with conditions such as appendicitis, not diverticulitis.
Choice B rationale
Diverticulitis is often associated with cramping, constant pain in the left lower quadrant. This is because the most common site of diverticula, small bulging pouches that can form in the lining of the digestive system, is in the sigmoid and descending colon, which are located in the left lower quadrant of the abdomen.
Choice C rationale
Sudden onset of pain 2 hours ago is not typically indicative of diverticulitis. While diverticulitis pain can be sudden, it usually worsens over several days.
Choice D rationale
Diarrhea for the past 3 days is not specifically indicative of diverticulitis. While changes in bowel habits can occur with diverticulitis, it is not a defining symptom.