Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 86%
Simulated
A client who underwent a left lower lobectomy has been out of surgery for 48 hours. She is receiving morphine sulfate via a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) system. She tells the nurse that she has some pain in her left thorax that worsens when she coughs. The nurse should:
Correct answer
D
Rationale
A detailed pain assessment using a scale clarifies the pain's severity and guides adjustments to analgesia. Silencing the client or encouraging deep breaths may worsen pain. Checking the PCA is appropriate but secondary to assessment.