A patient continues to report postsurgical incision pain at a level of 9 out of 10 after pain medicine is given. The next dose of pain medicine is not due for another hour. What should the critically thinking nurse do first?
a. Explain to the patient that nothing else has been ordered.
b. Explore other options for pain relief.
c. Offer to notify the health care provider after morning rounds are completed.
d. Discuss the surgical procedure and reason for the pain.
B
The critically thinking nurse should explore all options for pain relief first. The nurse should use critical thinking to determine the cause of the pain and determine various options for pain, not just ordered pain medications. The nurse can act independently to determine all options for pain relief and does not have to wait until after the health care provider rounds are completed. Explaining the cause of the pain does not address options for pain relief.
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