A client has a great deal of pain when coughing and deep breathing after abdominal surgery despite having pain medication. What action by the nurse is best?
a. Call the provider to request more analgesia.
b. Demonstrate how to splint the incision.
c. Have the client take shallower breaths.
d. Tell the client a little pain is expected.
ANS: B
Splinting an incision provides extra support during coughing and activity and helps decrease pain. If the client is otherwise comfortable, no more analgesia is required. Shallow breathing can lead to atelectasis and pneumonia. The client should know some pain is normal and expected after surgery, but that answer alone does not provide any interventions to help the client.
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