A client experiencing pain after surgery says “Something must be wrong

A client experiencing pain after surgery says “Something must be wrong” because the pain is so severe. What is the best response for the nurse to make to the client?

1. “The amount of tissue disrupted from the surgery is not related to the degree of pain you feel.”
2. “That could be so.”
3. “Taking pain medication for many years has made the medication ineffective now.”
4. “Are you sure the pain is as bad as you are saying it is?”

ANSWER

Correct Answer: 1
Rationale 1: Pain is a subjective experience, and the intensity and duration of pain vary considerably among individuals. The amount of tissue damaged or disrupted is not related to the amount of pain experienced.
Rationale 2: This is not true.
Rationale 3: This statement assumes the client was taking pain medication for years, and would be incorrect and inappropriate for the nurse to make.
Rationale 4: This response is questioning the client’s experience of pain, and would be incorrect and inappropriate for the nurse to make.