A patient is admitted with acute pericarditis and reports severe chest pain. The nurse identifies the nursing diagnosis fo Acute pain related to the inflammatory process. Which nursing action is most appropriate to relieve the patient's pain?

A. Administer opioid analgesics every 4 hours: Opioids can reduce pain but do not address the positional component of pericardial pain, which often worsens with lying supine or deep inspiration. Opioids may be considered if NSAIDs or positioning strategies are insufficient, but they are not the first-line intervention for pain specifically caused by pericardial inflammation. B. Increase fluid intake to reduce inflammation: While maintaining hydration is generally important, increasing fluid intake does not directly reduce pericardial inflammation or relieve the acute chest pain associated with pericarditis. This action has minimal impact on the patient’s immediate discomfort. C. Place the patient in Fowler's position, leaning forward: Leaning forward and sitting upright relieves pericardial pain by decreasing pressure on the inflamed pericardial sac and reducing friction between pericardial layers. This position is a non-pharmacologic, evidence-based intervention specifically effective in alleviating pericarditis-related chest pain. D. Encourage the patient to take deep, slow breaths: Deep breathing may exacerbate pericarditis pain because chest expansion increases friction of the inflamed pericardial layers. While breathing exercises are generally useful in other conditions, they are not recommended as a primary strategy for acute pericarditis pain relief.