The nurse on the medical/surgical unit cares for an elderly client two days after hip replacement surgery. The nurse asks the client if she is in pain. The client responds, “I am just fine.” Which of the following responses by the nurse is MOST appropriate?

A “Look at this faces pain scale. Please show me which you are closest to right now.”

explanation

Elderly clients may express pain differently. Pain to them is not considered the same as “discomfort.”