A patient with terminal cancer describes a pain rating of 7 on a 0 to 10 scale. The nurse notes that the patient's vital signs are unchanged and recalls that vital signs may be elevated with pain. What is the best explanation for this?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Patients with chronic pain may have adaptation and habituation to the pain that results in stable vital signs despite high levels of pain.

A Patient with Terminal Cancer Describes a Pain Rating of 7