Question 1

A faculty member explains to students the process by which pain is perceived by the client.Which processes does the faculty member include in the discussion? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Induction 
B)  Modulation 
C)  Sensory perception 
D)  Transduction 
E)  Transmission

Question 2

A client who had surgery has extreme postoperative pain that is worsened when trying to participate in physical therapy.What intervention for pain management does the nurse include in the client's care plan?

Accepted Answer

A)  As-needed pain medication after therapy 
B)  Client-controlled analgesia with a basal rate 
C)  Pain medications prior to therapy only 
D)  Round-the-clock analgesia with PRN analgesics

Question 3

A nurse on the postoperative unit administers many opioid analgesics.What actions by the nurse are best to prevent unwanted sedation as a complication of these medications? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Avoid using other medications that cause sedation. 
B)  Delay giving medication if the client is sleeping. 
C)  Give the lowest dose that produces good control. 
D)  Identify clients at high risk for unwanted sedation. 
E)  Use an oximeter to monitor clients receiving analgesia.

Question 4

A registered nurse (RN)and nursing student are caring for a client who is receiving pain medication via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA).What action by the student requires the RN to intervene?

Accepted Answer

A)  Assesses the client's pain level per agency policy 
B)  Monitors the client's respiratory rate and sedation 
C)  Presses the button when the client cannot reach it 
D)  Reinforces client teaching about using the PCA pump

Question 5

An emergency department (ED)manager wishes to start offering clients nonpharmacologic pain control methodologies as an adjunct to medication.Which strategy would be most successful with this client population?

Accepted Answer

A)  Listening to music on a headset 
B)  Participating in biofeedback 
C)  Playing video games 
D)  Using guided imagery

Question 6

A new nurse reports to the precepting nurse that a client requested pain medication,and when the nurse brought it,the client was sound asleep.The nurse states the client cannot possibly sleep with the severe pain the client described.What response by the experienced nurse is best?

Accepted Answer

A)  "Being able to sleep doesn't mean pain doesn't exist." 
B)  "Have you ever experienced any type of pain?" 
C)  "The client should be assessed for drug addiction." 
D)  "You're right; I would put the medication back."

Question 7

An older client who lives alone is being discharged on opioid analgesics.What action by the nurse is most important?

Accepted Answer

A)  Discuss the need for home health care. 
B)  Give the client follow-up information. 
C)  Provide written discharge instructions. 
D)  Request a home safety assessment.

Question 8

A nursing student is studying pain sources.Which statements accurately describe different types of pain? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Neuropathic pain sometimes accompanies amputation. 
B)  Nociceptive pain originates from abnormal pain processing. 
C)  Deep somatic pain is pain arising from bone and connective tissues. 
D)  Somatic pain originates from skin and subcutaneous tissues. 
E)  Visceral pain is often diffuse and poorly localized.

Question 9

A student nurse asks why several clients are getting more than one type of pain medication instead of very high doses of one medication.What response by the registered nurse is best?

Accepted Answer

A)  "A multimodal approach is the preferred method of control." 
B)  "Doctors are much more liberal with pain medications now." 
C)  "Pain is so complex it takes different approaches to control it." 
D)  "Clients are consumers and they demand lots of pain medicine."

Question 10

A client reports a great deal of pain following a fairly minor operation.The surgeon leaves a prescription for the nurse to administer a placebo instead of pain medication.What actions by the nurse are most appropriate? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Consult with the prescriber and voice objections. 
B)  Delegate administration of the placebo to another nurse. 
C)  Give the placebo and reassess the client's pain. 
D)  Notify the nurse manager of the physician's request. 
E)  Tell the client what the prescriber ordered.

Question 11

A nurse on the medical-surgical unit has received a hand-off report.Which client should the nurse see first?

Accepted Answer

A)  Client being discharged later on a complicated analgesia regimen 
B)  Client with new-onset abdominal pain, rated as an 8 on a 0-to-10 scale 
C)  Postoperative client who received oral opioid analgesia 45 minutes ago 
D)  Client who has returned from physical therapy and is resting in the recliner

Question 12

The nurse receives a hand-off report.One client is described as a drug seeker who is obsessed with even tiny changes in physical condition and is "on the light constantly" asking for more pain medication.When assessing this client's pain,what statement or question by the nurse is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A)  "Help me understand how pain is affecting you right now." 
B)  "I wish I could do more; is there anything I can get for you?" 
C)  "You cannot have more pain medication for 3 hours." 
D)  "Why do you think the medication is not helping your pain?"

Question 13

A student nurse learns that there are physical consequences to unrelieved pain.Which factors are included in this problem? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Decreased immune response 
B)  Development of chronic pain 
C)  Increased gastrointestinal (GI) motility 
D)  Possible immobility 
E)  Slower healing

Question 14

A nurse is assessing pain on a confused older client who has difficulty with verbal expression.What pain assessment tool would the nurse choose for this assessment?

Accepted Answer

A)  Numeric rating scale 
B)  Verbal Descriptor Scale 
C)  FACES Pain Scale-Revised 
D)  Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale

Question 15

An older adult has diabetic neuropathy and often reports unbearable foot pain.About which medication would the nurse plan to educate the client?

Accepted Answer

A)  Desipramine (Norpramin) 
B)  Duloxetine (Cymbalta) 
C)  Morphine sulfate 
D)  Nortriptyline (Pamelor)

Exam 3: Assessment and Care of Patients with Pain