A nurse is performing a pain assessment, noting 5 on a 10-point scale, for a postoperative patient who is 24 hours post procedure. Which type of order should the nurse anticipate that the health-care provider has written?

A. Standing orders: Standing orders are prewritten orders for specific situations. For a patient post-procedure, standing orders might include pain management protocols that would be activated based on the pain assessment. B. STAT orders: STAT orders are urgent and are typically used in emergency situations. A pain score of 5/10 does not usually warrant a STAT order. C. Automatic stop orders: Automatic stop orders are used to discontinue a medication after a certain period or dosage has been reached. They don’t apply directly to managing current pain levels. D. Verbal orders: Verbal orders are given in person or over the phone when a written order is not possible. These should be minimized to avoid errors and are less likely to be used for routine pain management.