Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 68%
Simulated
The nurse is performing an admission assessment on a stable patient admitted after a motor vehicle accident. The patient reports having bad pain. What will the nurse do first?
Correct answer
D
Rationale
The correct answer is D: Ask the patient to rate the pain on a scale of 1-10. This is the first step in assessing pain intensity, which helps determine the urgency and appropriate interventions needed. By having the patient rate the pain, the nurse can establish a baseline for pain management and monitor effectiveness of interventions.
Choice A is incorrect because determining the type of pain comes after assessing the intensity. Choice B is incorrect as requesting IV opioids without assessing pain intensity first may not be appropriate for a stable patient. Choice C is incorrect as administering acetaminophen should be based on the pain assessment.
Choice A is incorrect because determining the type of pain comes after assessing the intensity. Choice B is incorrect as requesting IV opioids without assessing pain intensity first may not be appropriate for a stable patient. Choice C is incorrect as administering acetaminophen should be based on the pain assessment.