The patient complaining of pain has been waiting for medication to relieve the pain. What should the nurse understand about this patient?
1. The patient's pain is real.
2. The patient just wants medication.
3. The patient wants attention.
4. The patient is demanding.
Correct Answer: 1
If the patient says he or she has pain, the patient is in pain. All pain is real. Nurses should not be judgmental when responding to a patient's report of pain. This is a common bias and is a barrier to effective pain management. Concluding that the patient is demanding or just wants attention reflects a biased interpretation.
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