A male client receives a scopolamine transdermal patch 2 hours before surgery. Four hours after surgery, the client tells the nurse that he is experiencing pain and asks why the patch is not working. Which action should the nurse take?

A. Explain that the medication is not given to prevent pain: Scopolamine is an anticholinergic used primarily to prevent nausea and vomiting, especially postoperative or motion sickness, and does not have analgesic properties. B. Offer to apply a new transdermal patch to relieve the pain: Reapplying the patch will not relieve pain since scopolamine is not a pain medication. This action may delay proper pain management. C. Check for correct placement of the patch behind the client’s ear: While proper patch placement is important for medication effectiveness, it will not impact pain control because scopolamine does not treat pain. D. Advise the client that the effects of the medication have worn off: Four hours after surgery is still within the effective time for scopolamine, but even if it had worn off, it would not have provided pain relief.