The nurse is assessing a patient's pain. What should the nurse know is the most reliable indicator of pain?

A) Subjective report
B) Physical examination
C) Patient's vital signs
D) Results of a computerized axial tomographic scan

Subjective Report

Information provided based on personal observation, feeling, or opinion, rather than objective measurement.

Physical Examination

An evaluation conducted by a healthcare provider where the patient's body is physically examined to assess their general heath, detect possible diseases, and determine a course of treatment; it's a reiteration of a physical assessment with a focus on the systematic process.

Vital Signs

Measurements of the body's basic functions, such as temperature, pulse, respiration rate, and blood pressure.