An emergency department (ED) client is demanding pain medication and threatening to harm staff if they do not provide it. The ED physician calmly continues to ask the client about the level and location of pain as the nurse steps away and notifies security. What is the physician attempting to do by asking these questions?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

1. The physician's tactics may distract the client, but this is not the reason for this action.
2. The physician's tactics is an attempt to de-escalate the situation until security arrives.
3. Determining the real reason the client is seeking treatment is not the current priority.
4. Assessing the level of pain is not the current priority.

An Emergency Department (ED) Client Is Demanding Pain Medication and Threatening