When Asked About the Severity of Pain, the 93-Year-Old Patient

Multiple Choice

When asked about the severity of pain, the 93-year-old patient does not answer right away. What is the best response by the nurse?

A) Ask rapid questions: "Is it better? Is it worse than yesterday? Is it worse than this morning?"
B) Repeat the question in a louder voice.
C) Say, "You must be feeling better because you're not complaining."
D) Keep eye contact and wait for the answer.