The nurse has brought a patient the scheduled pain medication. The patient asks the nurse to wait to give pain medication until the time for the dressing change, which is 2 hours away. Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?

A) "This medication will still be providing you relief at the time of your dressing change."
B) "OK, swallow this pain pill, and I will return in a minute to change your dressing."
C) "Would you like medication to be given for dressing changes in addition to your regularly scheduled medication?"
D) "Your medication is scheduled for this time, and I can't adjust the time for you. I'm sorry, but you must take your pill right now."

Additional doses of medication can be given to patients in certain circumstances, as with an extensive dressing change, when the health care provider is notified that more medication is needed. It is the nurse's responsibility to communicate with the provider and with the patient about a pain-control plan that works for both. By asking to hold off on the dose, the patient is indicating that the dressing changes are extremely painful. The regularly scheduled dose might not be as effective for the patient 2 hours later when the dressing change is scheduled. Oral medications take 30 to 60 minutes to take effect. If the nurse began the dressing change right then, the medication would not have been absorbed yet. The patient has the right to refuse to take a medication.