A nurse administered 400 mg of ibuprofen to a client 2 hr ago to treat pain following a biopsy. The client is crying and states. "It really still hurts a lot. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Ask the client to rate their pain on a scale of 0 to 10: Pain assessment is the first step in managing pain effectively. Using a standardized pain scale helps determine the severity, effectiveness of the previous dose, and guides subsequent interventions or medication adjustments. B. Request a prescription for an opioid pain medication for the client: While opioids may be appropriate for breakthrough pain, the nurse must first assess the current pain level and response to prior medication before requesting additional prescriptions. Immediate escalation is premature without assessment. C. Report this client finding to the provider: Reporting is important if pain persists despite interventions, but initial assessment and documentation of pain severity should precede notifying the provider to provide accurate information. D. Administer an additional dose of ibuprofen to the client: Administering another dose without verifying timing, maximum daily dosage, or assessing pain response could risk overdose or toxicity. Pain assessment must guide safe medication administration.