An Emergency Department (ED) Client Is Demanding Pain Medication and Threatening

Multiple Choice

An emergency department (ED) client is demanding pain medication and threatening to harm staff if they do not provide it. The ED physician calmly continues to ask the client about the level and location of pain as the nurse steps away and notifies security. What is the physician attempting to do by asking these questions?

A) Distract the client.
B) De-escalate the situation.
C) Determine the client's real reason for seeking treatment.
D) Assess the client's level of pain.