During a clinical rotation, the nursing student was caring for a client from China who speaks English. The client was 1 day postoperative after abdominal surgery
The client silently grimaced as he moved, but smiled and was ready to complete anything the student asked him to do. What should the nurse do next?
A) Ask the client if he is experiencing pain and complete a pain assessment
B) Find out when the client last received pain medication
C) Continue with daily activities because his culture refuses pain medications
D) Provide alternative means of pain relief, which are acceptable to his culture
Ans: A
Feedback:
People from various cultures express pain differently. The client is showing nonverbal signs of pain grimacing with movement. The nurse should assess if the client is experiencing pain and complete the pain assessment. Assessment is always the first step in the nursing process. The nurse after completing the assessment should check the medical record to determine the last time the client received pain medication, or if he refused it. Answers C and D are incorrect because the nurse is assuming that the client will act according to stereotypes the nurse may have learned about the client's culture—that the client is stoic and will refuse pain medications, but may accept alternative means for pain relief, such as acupuncture. Often times the nurse never communicated to the client that the physician had ordered pain medication, and it is best to take it on a schedule right after surgery so that the medication will maintain a steady state and will be effective.
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