A 29-year-old woman tells the nurse that she has "excruciating pain" in her back. Which response by the nurse would be appropriate?

A) "How does your family react to your pain?"
B) "The pain must be terrible. You probably pinched a nerve."
C) "I've had back pain myself, and it can be excruciating."
D) "How would you say the pain affects your ability to do your daily activities?"

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Vance Adriane · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : D, Explanation :  The symptom of pain is difficult to quantify because of individual interpretation. It is important to find out the meaning of the pain to the person by asking how it affects daily activities. The nurse needs to find out the patient's perception or meaning of the pain, rather than how the family reacts to it. The nurse should avoid the use of adjectives when discussing the person's pain, should not give his or her opinion of the cause, or focus on their own experience with pain. Instead, the nurse should ask the patient how the pain affects his or her daily activities.

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