There are many different types of pain that someone may feel. However, many people feel pain in the stomach area. If this occurs, the nurse will not definitely know what the problem is. Just because a client describes the symptoms does not mean that the nurse will instantly know what the problem is and how to treat it. Instead, she may need to ask some more questions.
There are all sorts of problems and ailments that could occur and a symptom be stomach issues. Cancer is a severe ailment that could cause stomach pain, but so could a bruise in the inside of the stomach. One may not be so serious. The nurse would need for the patient to describe the pain.
"Can you describe the pain?"Asking an open-ended question such as can you describe the pain? Encourages the client to describe any and all aspects of the pain in his own words. The other options are likely to elicit less information because theyre more specific and would limit the clients response.