The nurse tells a joke to a 12-year-old to distract him from a painful procedure. What pain management technique is the nurse using?

A. Relaxation: Relaxation techniques involve slowing breathing, loosening muscles, and promoting calmness to reduce pain perception, rather than diverting attention through humor or activities. B. Distraction: Distraction involves redirecting the patient’s focus away from the painful stimulus. Using humor or engaging the patient in conversation or activities shifts attention, which can reduce the perception of pain during procedures. C. Imagery: Imagery requires the patient to visualize pleasant or calming scenarios to manage pain, which is an internal cognitive process rather than an external distraction like telling a joke. D. Thought stopping: Thought stopping involves teaching the patient to consciously interrupt negative or painful thoughts. Telling a joke does not involve actively stopping thoughts but instead diverts attention externally.