The health care provider orders a trough level of an antibiotic administered every twenty four hours.
When should the nurse plan for a trough level to be drawn?

This would help the client to feel valued, respected and involved in their own care, which can enhance their self-esteem.

Choice A is wrong because adding a nursing diagnosis of lowered self-esteem to the care plan does not address the underlying causes of the problem or provide any interventions to improve it.

It may also label the client and make them feel worse.

Choice B is wrong because giving praise for every decision the client makes is not realistic or sincere.

It may also undermine the client’s confidence and autonomy by implying that they need constant approval from others.

Choice D is wrong because modeling competent care for the client does not necessarily help them to maintain their self-esteem.

It may even make them feel inadequate or dependent on the nurse.

“Tell me what your pain feels like.” This question allows the nurse to assess the quality of pain, which is one of the characteristics of pain that can help determine its cause and treatment. Quality of pain refers to how the client describes the pain, such as sharp, dull, burning, throbbing, etc.

Choice A is wrong because it assesses the intensity of pain, not the quality. Intensity of pain is how much the pain hurts on a scale of 0 to 10 or using other methods.

Choice C is wrong because it assesses the precipitating factors of pain, not the quality. Precipitating factors are events or activities that trigger or worsen the pain.

Choice D is wrong because it assumes a specific quality of pain without asking the client. The nurse should not suggest words to describe the pain, but rather let the client use their own words.