The nurse is caring for an older Chinese adult male who is grimacing and appears restless after abdominal surgery. What is the nurse's best action?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In the Chinese culture, elderly Chinese people believe that they must be stoic about pain and there is a stigma about talking about any mental health problems. The nurse should ask the patient about pain and also assess vital signs for physiological signs of pain, since the patient may not admit to any pain. Assuming the patient is depressed or anxious is not the best action when considering individual cultural differences and the risk of pain after major surgery. The registered nurse should never delegate assessment to any unlicensed member of the healthcare team such as a translator. The translator may assist with communication, but the nurse is responsible for the pain assessment.

The Nurse Is Caring for an Older Chinese Adult Male