A patient is being treated for chronic pain. The nurse realizes that which characteristic is typical of chronic pain?
1. The pain rating may be inconsistent with the underlying pathology.
2. Chronic pain usually has a clear, physiologic cause.
3. Chronic pain typically lasts 2 months or less.
4. The pain reported is usually less severe than acute pain.
1
Rationale 1: The patient might not exhibit signs of pain such as elevations in vital signs, grimacing, writhing, or moaning.
Rationale 2: There may not be an identified physiologic cause for chronic pain.
Rationale 3: Chronic pain is typically persistent beyond 3 to 6 months.
Rationale 4: There is no indication that chronic pain is less severe than acute pain, although in some instances it may be more diffuse.
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