Question
A nurse assessing an older adult 3 hours postoperative notes guarding, grimacing, and stiff body movement when changing positions. The client denies feeling pain. Which response will help the nurse best manage this client’s pain?
“You seem to be uncomfortable. Pain is common with surgery. I can bring you pain medication.” “You just had surgery. Are you sure you are not having any pain?” “I can come back in an hour to see if you are having any pain then.” “Are you afraid of becoming addicted if I give you any pain medication?
“You seem to be uncomfortable. Pain is common with surgery. I can bring you pain medication.” “You just had surgery. Are you sure you are not having any pain?” “I can come back in an hour to see if you are having any pain then.” “Are you afraid of becoming addicted if I give you any pain medication?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The best response to help the nurse manage this client's pain is:
“You seem to be uncomfortable. Pain is common with surgery. I can bring you pain medication.”
This response acknowledges the client's apparent discomfort while also normalizing the experience of pain after surgery. It opens the door for proper pain management, emphasizing the importance of addressing the client's needs, even if they may not verbally express pain. It validates the nurse’s assessment and provides an opportunity for the client to receive appropriate care.
“You seem to be uncomfortable. Pain is common with surgery. I can bring you pain medication.”
This response acknowledges the client's apparent discomfort while also normalizing the experience of pain after surgery. It opens the door for proper pain management, emphasizing the importance of addressing the client's needs, even if they may not verbally express pain. It validates the nurse’s assessment and provides an opportunity for the client to receive appropriate care.