A client is in the Emergency Department reporting severe pressure in the chest. When the nurse asks the client to rate the pain on a scale, the client states "I don't have pain." What is the best action for the nurse to take?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse would rephrase the assessment and use the word the client has used when describing the discomfort. Since the client can verbalize, there is no reason to use an observational tool. Nurses believe the client when it comes to pain. Withholding needed pain medication is cruel and against the ethical principle of beneficence. The nurse must adapt in order to assess the client's pain fully.

A Client Is in the Emergency Department Reporting Severe Pressure