An LPN is making a home health visit to a 68-year-old man with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and a chronic left heel pressure ulcer requiring contact precautions for a wound culture growing MRSA. The client rates his pain as 6/10 on the numeric rating scale, describing it as burning and constant in the heel, and grimaces when the dressing is removed. He tells the nurse he is Buddhist and prefers to use breathing and meditation techniques rather than "too many pills" whenever possible. His last oral pain medication was administered 4 hours ago per the prescribed schedule. What should the nurse do first?
- Proceed with the dressing change without reassessing his pain level afterward.
- Contact the provider to request an additional dose of pain medication now.
- Guide the client through a slow-breathing and guided imagery exercise before redressing the wound.
- Tell the client meditation is not effective and continue with the standard dressing change.