The nurse notes that a client has the outcome goal "Client will have a decrease in pain level (down to a 3) within 45 minutes of receiving oral analgesic." Which client statement should the nurse use to evaluate this goal?

Question

1. "I'm getting really sleepy from that medication. I think I'll take a nap."
2. "My pain is a 4."
3. "I still have some pain."
4. "Will the pain ever go away?"

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: This option does not address the client's pain level.
Rationale 2: The nurse collects data so that conclusions can be drawn about whether goals have been met. If the goal is clearly stated, precise, and measurable, it will be easy to evaluate. If the goal was a pain level of 3, the client should be able to give a numerical rating to the pain in order for the nurse to evaluate it.
Rationale 3: This option does not clearly define the level of the client's pain, so evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment is not possible.
Rationale 4: This option does not address the client's pain level.