An older adult client grimaces and demonstrates guarding behavior, but denies experiencing pain when asked by the nurse to rate the pain on a numeric scale. Which action should the nurse take next?

Ask the client to describe how they are feeling.

Administer a PRN dose of a prescribed analgesic.

Document that the client denies pain in the nurse's notes.

Confront the client about inconsistent behavior and response.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A.   Asking the client to describe their feelings provides an opportunity to explore their symptoms in more detail, which might help in understanding their pain better. This approach respects the client's experience and opens a dialogue to assess their discomfort more accurately, especially if they are not expressing it verbally or are having difficulty quantifying it.
B.   Administering medication without further assessment might be premature. The client's denial of pain and the presence of grimacing and guarding behavior suggest that there may be underlying discomfort, but it's crucial to assess the situation more thoroughly before administering medication.
C.   While documenting the client’s verbal denial of pain is important, it should not be the only action taken. The client's non-verbal cues such as grimacing and guarding behavior suggest that they might be experiencing pain despite their verbal denial.
D.   Confronting the client could be perceived as accusatory and might make them feel defensive or uncomfortable. It's important to approach the situation with empathy and understanding rather than confrontation.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. While napping can be beneficial for some people, a nap of 15 minutes may not address the root causes of the client’s sleep difficulties, such as stress and chronic headaches. Additionally, napping during the day can sometimes interfere with nighttime sleep.
B. Reducing or eliminating stressful situations is a valuable goal for improving overall well-being and sleep quality. However, this recommendation is often not immediately actionable or practical, as stressors in life can be difficult to eliminate completely. It’s more effective to focus on identifying and managing stress through practical and immediate interventions.
C. Assessing the client's sleep and activity patterns is a critical step in identifying potential causes of sleep disturbances. Understanding the client’s current sleep habits, daily routines, and factors affecting their sleep can help in developing an effective plan of care.
D. While medication might be necessary for some clients, it should not be the first line of intervention without a thorough assessment. PRN (as needed) medications for stress might not address the root causes of sleep issues and could potentially lead to dependence or other side effects.

A. Ask the client to describe the pain experienced. B. Provide the client with a visual analog scale. C. Instruct the client in use of a numeric pain scale. D. Gently palpate the area and observe the response.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Asking the client to describe the pain is the most direct way to gather information about the quality of the pain. This approach allows the client to express characteristics such as whether the pain is sharp, dull, burning, aching, throbbing, or stabbing.
B. A visual analog scale (VAS) is useful for assessing the intensity of pain, not the quality. The VAS typically involves a line with endpoints representing no pain and worst possible pain, where the client marks their pain level.
C. The numeric pain scale is designed to measure the intensity of pain on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 represents the worst pain imaginable. Like the VAS, this scale assesses pain intensity rather than quality.
D. Palpation and observing the client's response can help assess the location and intensity of pain, particularly if there are physical findings associated with the pain. However, this method does not provide information about the pain’s quality, such as its character or nature.

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An older adult client grimaces and demonstrates guarding behavior, but denies experiencing pain when asked by the nurse to rate the pain on a numeric scale. Which action should the nurse take next?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

When assessing a client's pain, the nurse determines the location and intensity of the pain. To gather data about the quality of the pain, which action should the nurse take?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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