A patient in labor complains of a pain rating of 7 on a 1-to-10 scale. On assessing the patient further, the nurse finds her vital signs to be within normal limits, the patient is calm and cooperative, and she voided 400 mL 30 minutes ago
What action by the nurse is best?
A.
Delay treating the pain until physical signs are present.
B.
Reassess the woman in 1 hour for changes in vital signs.
C.
Tell her she can have medication when the pain is unbearable.
D.
Treat the woman's pain according to the treatment plan.
ANS: D
Quite simply, pain is what the patient says it is, and the nurse should treat this patient according to the treatment plan. Although there are objective signs that can be assessed with pain (changes in vital signs, emotional changes, and decreased urinary output), their absence does not invalidate the woman's complaints.
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