The nurse is assessing a client who presents to the emergency department after recently being discharged from the hospital after a right above-the-knee amputation. The client tells the nurse that her right foot hurts. Which type of pain does the nurse suspect that this client is experiencing?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Phantom pain is a type of pain that is perceived in a body part that is no longer present. In this case, the client is reporting pain in her foot which has been amputated, suggesting that she could be experiencing phantom pain. Radiating pain occurs when pain spreads from one area to another, intractable pain is severe pain that is difficult to manage, and cutaneous pain is pain that is felt on the skin. None of these options accurately describe the client's reported symptoms.

The Nurse Is Assessing a Client Who Presents to the Emergency