How should you respond to increasing pain reported by a client?

How should you respond to increasing pain reported by a client?

• A. Increase the dose without authorization.
• B. Assess pain using an appropriate scale, document, review current meds and strategies, and inform supervisor if needed.
• C. Ignore patient reports.
• D. Only document but do nothing.

Answer: (B)

When pain increases, the priority is a structured, safe response that includes assessment, documentation, communication, and appropriate intervention. Start by measuring the pain with an appropriate scale to quantify intensity and capture location, quality, and timing. Document the findings clearly and compare them with prior assessments to track change. Review current analgesic medications and nonpharmacologic strategies to decide if adjustments are needed or if breakthrough pain is occurring. If the pain remains high or escalates, inform the supervisor or physician so the care plan or orders can be updated. This approach ensures safe, coordinated care, proper authorization for any dose changes, and a clear record of what was tried and what happened next. Ignoring the patient’s report, escalating doses without authorization, or only documenting without taking action would leave the pain unmanaged and could compromise safety. Reassess after any intervention and consider additional strategies as appropriate.