A nurse is reinforcing teaching about pain control with a client who has acute pain following a subtotal gastric resection. Which of the following client statements indicates an understanding of pain control?

A. "I will call for pain medication before the previous dose wears off." Preemptive pain control is ideal. Waiting too long can cause pain to become harder to manage. B. "I will call for pain medication as my pain becomes intolerable." Waiting for severe pain can delay relief and impair recovery. C. "I will wait for you to evaluate my pain before asking for more." The client should feel empowered to request medication based on their own pain level. D. "I will ask for less medication to avoid addiction." In the acute post-op phase, proper pain control is essential. Addiction is rare with short-term use.