Which of the following is most appropriate when the nurse assesses the

Which of the following is most appropriate when the nurse assesses the intensity of the client’s pain?

1. Ask about what precipitates the pain.
2. Question the client about the location of the pain.
3. Offer the client a pain scale to objectify the information.
4. Use open-ended questions to find out about the sensation.

ANSWER

ANS: 3
Descriptive scales are a more objective means of measuring pain intensity. Asking the client what precipitates the pain does not assess intensity, but rather it is an assessment of the pain pattern. Asking the client about the location of pain does not assess the intensity of the client’s pain. To determine the quality of the client’s pain, the nurse may ask open-ended questions to find out about the sensation experienced.