What action should a nurse take if a client reports pain of 6 on a scale from 0 to 10?

When a client reports pain of 6 on a scale from 0 to 10, indicating moderate pain, the most appropriate action is to administer an analgesic. This assessment of pain severity guides the nurse's response, as a pain score of 6 typically suggests the need for intervention to alleviate discomfort effectively.

By providing an analgesic, the nurse directly addresses the client's immediate need for pain relief. This action adheres to pain management protocols, which prioritize alleviating pain based on the client's self-reported experience. Following this intervention, continual monitoring of the client’s pain level and response to the medication is essential to ensure effective pain management and patient comfort.

Assessing vital signs may provide additional context about the client’s overall condition, but it does not address the pain issue directly. Consulting with a physician could be necessary if pain is unrelieved or if there are complicating factors, but immediate action to manage pain takes precedence. Reassessing the pain scale in 30 minutes is valuable but should occur after providing pain relief, not instead of it. Thus, administering an analgesic is the best immediate action for managing a reported pain score of 6.