The Nurse Is Providing Care to a Postoperative Patient Who

The nurse is providing care to a postoperative patient who is getting out of bed for the first time since surgery. When conducting the pain assessment, the patient states, "It hurts, but I do not want to take any more drugs. I do not want to end up addicted." Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

A) "Don't worry about getting addicted. I will make sure you don't get addicted."
B) "If you don't take the pain medication on a regular schedule, you won't get addicted."
C) "Addiction typically requires taking the medication for weeks to months, and you should only need these medications for a few days."
D) "You are wise to be concerned; it is probably time to stop taking narcotics if you can manage the pain in other ways."