A nurse is caring for a patient with chronic pain. Which statement by the nurse indicates an understanding of pain management?

A) "This patient says the pain is a 5 but is not acting like it. I am not going to give any pain medication."
B) "I need to reassess the patient's pain 1 hour after administering oral pain medication."
C) "It wasn't time for the patient's medication, so when it was requested, I gave a placebo."
D) "The patient is sleeping, so I pushed the PCA button."

Be sure to evaluate after an appropriate period of time. For instance, oral medications usually peak in about 1 hour, whereas IVP medications peak in 15 to 30 minutes. Ask a patient if a medication alleviates the pain when it is peaking. Because oral medications usually peak in about an hour, you need to reassess the patient's pain within an hour of administration. Nurses must believe any patient report of pain, even if nonverbal communication is not consistent with pain ratings. The patient is the only person who should push the PCA button. Pushing the PCA when a patient is sleeping is dangerous and may lead to narcotic overdose or respiratory depression. Giving the patient a placebo and telling the patient it is medication is unethical.