A nurse is evaluating a young adult patient who has presented to the emergency department with the chief complaint of abdominal pain. If the nurse is using the PQRST method of pain assessment, which of the following questions should be asked for the “S” portion of the assessment?

The “S” portion of the PQRST method of pain assessment should include questions related to the patient’s severity of pain (via a pain scale) and associated symptoms occurring with the pain. Questions about how the pain began and what relieves the pain would be in the “P” or precipitating factors. Those relating to the nature of the pain (sharp, stabbing, etc.) would be in the “Q” section or quality of the pain. While questions about the patient’s medical history and previous/similar symptoms are helpful, they are not part of the PQRST method.