The nurse is assessing a patient's headache pain. Which questions reflect one or more of the critical characteristics of symptoms that should be assessed? Select all that apply
a. "Where is the headache pain?"
b. "Did you have these headaches as a child?"
c. "On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is the pain?"
d. "How often do the headaches occur?"
e. "What makes the headaches feel better?"
f.
"Do you have any family history of headaches?"
ANS: A, C, D, E
The mnemonic PQRSTU may help the nurse remember to address the critical characteristics that need to be assessed: (1) P: provocative or palliative; (2) Q: quality or quantity; (3) R: region or radiation; (4) S: severity scale; (5) T: timing; and (6) U: understand the patient's perception. Asking, "Where is the pain?" reflects "region." Asking the patient to rate the pain on a 1 to 10 scale reflects "severity." Asking "How often..." reflects "timing." Asking what makes the pain better reflects "provocative." The other options reflect health history and family history.
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