The Nurse Educator Is Preparing an In-Service on Pain Management

The nurse educator is preparing an in-service on pain management for the staff. One of the staff nurses asks, "What is the most important part of a pain assessment?" Which response by the nurse educator is the most appropriate?

A) "Pain is only partially subjective and primarily a physiologic experience, so vital signs are the most important assessment."
B) "A client's response to pain is always based on the underlying cause, so the client's admitting diagnosis is important."
C) "Vital signs are not reliable indicators of acute pain, because only some clients are able to elicit a change in blood pressure or pulse rate."
D) "The response to pain is unique and based on numerous factors, which need to be assessed."