Post-operative bowel management

The nurse is caring for a client post-op day 1 for a bowel resection. The client is receiving pain medication via a patient-controlled analgesic pump (PCA) but states that her pain is severe and the pain pump is not providing adequate relief. Which is the priority nursing action for this client?
- 1. assess vital signs and pain for location, quality, and intensity
- 2. reposition the client with the head of bed elevated 30 degrees
- 3. offer nonpharmacologic pain relief measures since the medication dose cannot be increased
- 4. press the PCA button to deliver a bolus and ask family members to press the button for the client if she is asleep

NCLEX-RN QBank Subject: Post-operative bowel management