What is the first step a nurse should take in pain assessment for a client who complains of pain?

In pain assessment, acknowledging the client’s report of pain is crucial and serves as the foundational step for effective evaluation and management. This approach recognizes pain as a subjective experience that is unique to each individual, which means that the nurse must validate the client's feelings and experiences regarding their pain. Accepting the client's report fosters trust and open communication, essential components of therapeutic nurse-client relationships.

Once the nurse has established this rapport and validated the client's concerns, it can lead to a more thorough and effective assessment process. This initial acceptance facilitates further inquiries into the specifics of the pain, such as its location, intensity, and duration, which are critical for developing an appropriate care plan. In this way, acknowledging the client's pain helps to ensure that subsequent steps in the assessment are both comprehensive and patient-centered, ultimately guiding effective pain management strategies.