The nurse is caring for a hypotensive patient whose peripheral pulses are very weak. Which grade will the nurse use to document this finding?

A. Family members report that pain has subsided. Pain is a subjective experience, and the patient's own report is the most reliable indicator of pain relief, not the observations of family members.
B. Vital signs have returned to baseline. While pain can affect vital signs, such as increasing heart rate or blood pressure, their return to normal does not necessarily indicate adequate pain relief. Some patients may still experience significant pain despite stable vital signs.
C. Body language is incongruent with reports of pain relief. Nonverbal cues can be helpful in assessing pain, but they should not override the patient’s self-reported pain level, which is the most accurate measure.
D. You compare assessed pain with baseline pain. The best way to evaluate the effectiveness of PCA analgesia is to assess the patient’s pain level before and after medication administration, comparing it to baseline pain. This provides an objective measure of pain relief.

A. Brachial artery. The brachial pulse is commonly used in infants but is not the best choice for assessing circulation in an unconscious adult.
B. Carotid artery. The carotid artery is the preferred site for assessing a pulse in an unconscious adult because it is a central pulse with strong circulation, even in low-perfusion states.
C. Radial artery. The radial pulse is a peripheral pulse and may be difficult to palpate if the patient has poor circulation or cardiac arrest. The carotid pulse is more reliable in emergencies.
D. Apical artery. There is no apical artery; the apical pulse is auscultated over the heart with a stethoscope and is not used in emergency pulse checks.