Free PN NCLEX Practice Questions Practice Question
The nurse is caring for a client who had knee surgery this morning. Postoperative orders include a narcotic every three to four hours as needed for operative site pain and an ice bag. At 7:00 P.M., the client asks for pain medication. He was last medicated at 3:30 P.M. What is the best initial nursing action?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Assessing the location and nature of the pain is essential before administering medication, as it helps determine the severity and type of pain, guiding appropriate treatment. This step ensures that the pain management plan is tailored to the client's current condition.
Administering the analgesic without assessment (Option A) may overlook underlying issues or changes in pain, potentially leading to inadequate pain control. Refilling the ice bag (Option C) provides comfort but does not address the client's immediate need for pain relief. Repositioning the client (Option D) may help, but without understanding the pain's specifics, it could be ineffective.
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