A nurse is caring for a client who reports having acute pain rated 6/10 following abdominal surgery. Which additional assessment finding should the nurse expect?

A. A mild elevation in temperature may occur postoperatively due to inflammation or minor stress, but it is not a direct physiological response to acute pain. Pain does not consistently cause fever unless accompanied by infection or other complications. B. A respiratory rate of 16 is within normal adult limits (12–20 breaths per minute). While pain can sometimes increase respiratory rate, this normal finding does not reflect the expected physiologic response to acute pain rated 6/10. C. This blood pressure is within normal limits for an adult. Pain typically triggers a sympathetic nervous system response, which often causes an increase in blood pressure. Therefore, a normal blood pressure may not reflect the expected physiologic response to moderate acute pain. D. Acute pain activates the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in physiological responses such as tachycardia (increased heart rate), elevated blood pressure, and increased respiratory rate. A heart rate of 118 bpm reflects the expected response to moderate acute pain (6/10). This increase helps the body mobilize energy and prepare for a “fight-or-flight” response to stress or discomfort.