The client is visiting the outpatient clinic for a routine blood pressure assessment. While speaking with the nurse, the client states, "I'm getting old and everything hurts.". Which statement or question by the nurse is most appropriate?

Question

1. "Tell me more about your pain.".
2. "Normal aging can be quite painful.".
3. "You must have osteoarthritis.".
4. "What medications do you take?"

Answer 1

1
Rationale 1: Reports of pain should never be dismissed as a normal part of aging. The pain reports made by a client need to be investigated. The nurse will need to ask more questions about the client's pain to obtain additional assessment data.
Rationale 2: Normal aging is not always necessarily painful.
Rationale 3: It is inappropriate and beyond the scope of practice of the nurse to make a medical diagnosis.
Rationale 4: Asking about pharmacological therapies is a part of the assessment. However, the best question for the nurse to ask the client at this time is regarding the client's pain.