A patient returns to the surgical floor after transurethral resection of the prostate and reports pain. What action should the nurse take first?

• A. Administer analgesic immediately
• B. Check the patient's medical record for postoperative orders
• C. Notify the physician
• D. Reassure the patient and document pain level

Answer: (B)

The key idea is to follow the prescribed plan before acting. When a patient reports pain after TURP, the nurse should first review the postoperative orders to confirm what analgesics are prescribed, the correct dose and route, and any restrictions related to the surgery (such as bleeding risk or catheter irrigation considerations). This ensures safety and adherence to the established protocol before administering medication or taking further steps. Once the orders are known, you can administer the analgesic per plan or, if pain remains uncontrolled or no analgesic is ordered, contact the physician. Reassuring the patient and documenting pain is important but doesn’t substitute for following the prescribed analgesia plan.