A nurse is evaluating a patient's response to pain medication after surgery. The patient reports that his pain level is 8 out of 10 on a numeric rating scale, despite receiving morphine 10 mg intravenously 30 minutes ago. What should the nurse do first?

Choice A:

Compare the data with normal standards and ranges. This is a valid action for the nurse to take, because it helps to identify any abnormal findings or deviations from the expected values. For example, the nurse can compare the client's blood pressure, pulse, and temperature with the normal ranges for adults.

Choice B:

Use open-ended questions to clarify the data. This is also a valid action for the nurse to take, because it allows the client to provide more information and elaborate on their responses. Open-ended questions are those that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no, such as "How do you feel about your condition?.”. or "What are your main concerns?.".

Choice C:

Repeat the assessment using a different method or source. This is another valid action for the nurse to take, because it helps to confirm the accuracy and reliability of the data. For example, the nurse can use a different device to measure the blood pressure, ask another health care professional to verify the findings, or check the client's medical records for previous data.

Choice D:

All of the above. This is the correct answer, because all of the actions listed above are appropriate ways for the nurse to validate the data collected from an assessment of a client who has hypertension. Validation is an important step in the assessment process, because it ensures that the data are complete, accurate, and consistent.

Choice A reason:.

Establishing a baseline for planning care and evaluating outcomes is the main purpose of the assessment phase of the nursing process. The assessment phase involves collecting data about the client's health status and needs, which will help the nurse to identify any problems or potential problems that may need to be addressed. The assessment data will also serve as a reference point for comparing the client's progress and outcomes throughout the nursing process.

Choice B reason:.

Identifying the client's response to health concerns or illness is part of the diagnosis phase of the nursing process. The diagnosis phase involves analyzing the data collected during the assessment phase and identifying the client's problems and strengths. The nurse then formulates a nursing diagnosis, which is a statement of the client's actual or potential health problem that can be addressed by nursing interventions.

Choice C reason:.

Providing goal-directed, client-centered care is part of the planning and implementation phases of the nursing process. The planning phase involves setting goals and outcomes for the client and selecting appropriate interventions to achieve them. The goals and outcomes should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely (SMART), and they should reflect the client's preferences and values. The implementation phase involves carrying out the interventions and documenting the actions and responses. The interventions should be evidence-based, safe, and effective, and they should involve the client as much as possible.

Choice D reason:.

Comparing the client's data with expected standards or reference ranges is part of the evaluation phase of the nursing process. The evaluation phase involves evaluating the effectiveness of the interventions and modifying the plan as needed. The nurse compares the client's actual outcomes with the expected outcomes and determines whether the goals have been met, partially met, or not met. The nurse also identifies any factors that may have influenced the outcomes, such as client compliance, environmental factors, or unexpected events.