The school nurse is interviewing a 13-year-old girl who wants to go home from school because of "back pain." Which question should the nurse ask the adolescent first?

A. "Have you taken any medications to relieve the pain?": While helpful, this question does not address the cause or onset of the pain. B. "Does changing your position make the pain worse?": This question is important, but the first priority is understanding the onset and nature of the pain. C. "What were you doing when you first noticed the problem?": This is the best initial question as it helps the nurse understand the onset, activity-related causes, and any potential injury. D. "Do you remember ever having this type of pain in the past?": This is a relevant question but should follow inquiries about the current episode and its triggers.