A nurse is caring for a client who is recovering from abdominal surgery. The client reports sharp pain rated at 8/10 in the surgical area, worsened by deep breathing. Which intervention is the priority for managing this client’s pain?
Offer a relaxation technique to help the client focus away from the pain.
Assess the pain level and administer the prescribed medication for pain relief.
Encourage the client to practice deep breathing to minimize discomfort.
Assist the client to reposition in bed to reduce tension on the surgical site.
The correct intervention is to assess the client’s pain and administer the prescribed medication for pain management. This both addresses the immediate priority (acute pain) and prevents potential complications, such as poor respiratory effort due to pain aggravation. While guided imagery, positioning, and breathing exercises can be helpful after acute pain is controlled, they do not effectively address severe pain rated 8/10. Administering prescribed pain medication ensures immediate relief, enabling the client to participate more effectively in additional non-pharmacological methods. Non-pharmacological measures become effective adjuncts but should not replace medication for pain rated at this intensity.
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Physiological Integrity
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