Question 1

A terminally ill patient with liver cancer is experiencing great discomfort.Which of the following is a realistic goal in caring for this patient?

Accepted Answer

A)   Increasingly administer narcotics to oversedate the patient and thereby decrease the pain.
B)   Continue to change the analgesics until the right narcotic is found that completely alleviates the pain.
C)   Adapt the analgesics as the nursing assessment reveals changes in patient condition and pain.
D)   Withhold analgesics, as they are not being effective in relieving discomfort. C

Question 2

The patient will be having medication administered through a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)system after surgery.To assist the family members with an understanding of how this therapy works,which of the following explanations does the nurse offer to the family?

Accepted Answer

A)   The patient has control over the access to medication when he or she needs it.
B)   The patient can choose the dosage of the drug received.
C)   The patient can request the type of medication received.
D)   The patient controls the route for administering the medication. A

Question 3

What subtype of breakthrough pain would the nurse document when the cause of the pain is not readily identifiable?

Accepted Answer

A)   Idiopathic
B)   End-of-dose
C)   Predictable incident
D)   Unpredictable incident A

Question 4

In caring for the patient who is receiving epidural analgesia,which of the following is an appropriate nursing intervention?

Accepted Answer

A)   Change the tubing every 48 to 72 hours.
B)   Change the dressing every shift.
C)   Secure the catheter to the outside skin.
D)   Use a large occlusive dressing over the site.

Question 5

What is the major adverse effect of acetaminophen?

Accepted Answer

A)   Peptic ulcer
B)   Hypertension
C)   Hepatotoxicity
D)   Increased bleeding time

Question 6

A patient with chronic back pain has an order for a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)unit for pain control.Which of the following instructions should the nurse give the patient?

Accepted Answer

A)   Keep the unit on high.
B)   Use the unit when pain is perceived.
C)   Remove the electrodes at bedtime.
D)   Use the therapy without medication.

Question 7

The nurse on a postoperative care unit is assessing the quality of the patient's pain.To obtain this specific information about the pain experience from the patient,which of the following questions should the nurse ask?

Accepted Answer

A)   "What does your discomfort feel like?"
B)   "What activities make the pain worse?"
C)   "How much does it hurt on a scale of 0 to 10?"
D)   "How much discomfort are you able to tolerate?"

Question 8

A 17-year-old postoperative patient is laughing with friends.Soon after they leave,he tells the nurse he is experiencing pain and asks for something for pain.What does the nurse understand about this situation?

Accepted Answer

A)   Teenagers will try to obtain narcotics by faking pain.
B)   Distraction reduces pain awareness.
C)   Postoperative pain comes on suddenly.
D)   Patients who are able to laugh are not really experiencing pain.

Question 9

In documenting pain by location,pain resulting from stimulation of internal organs would be classified as which of the following terms?

Accepted Answer

A)   Deep
B)   Cutaneous
C)   Radiating
D)   Superficial

Question 10

What is the greatest barrier to a 3-year-old patient's ability to assess her pain?

Accepted Answer

A)   Understanding procedures that cause pain
B)   Increased separation anxiety
C)   Reluctance to talk to strangers
D)   Expressing pain on a scale of 0 to 10

Question 11

The patient tells the nurse about a burning sensation in the epigastric area.How should the nurse describe this type of pain when documenting the findings?

Accepted Answer

A)   Referred
B)   Radiating
C)   Deep or visceral
D)   Superficial or cutaneous

Question 12

Which of the following statements is true about pain in infants?

Accepted Answer

A)   Infants are capable of feeling pain.
B)   Infants lack memory of pain.
C)   Pain cannot be accurately assessed.
D)   Infants are incapable of expressing pain.

Question 13

The nurse consults with the primary physician of a patient who is experiencing continuous,severe pain.In planning for the patient's treatment,the nurse is aware of the principles of pain management.It is appropriate for the nurse to expect treatment to include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   Focusing on intramuscular administration of analgesics
B)   Waiting for pain to become more intense before administering opioids
C)   Administering opioid with nonopioid analgesics for severe pain experiences
D)   Administering large doses of opioids initially to patients who have not taken the medications before

Question 14

Upon entering the patient's room,the nurse discovers that the patient is experiencing acute pain.Which of the following is an expected assessment finding for this patient?

Accepted Answer

A)   Bradycardia
B)   Bradypnea
C)   Diaphoresis
D)   Decreased muscle tension

Question 15

Which of the following is true regarding chronic pain?

Accepted Answer

A)   It cannot be intermittent pain.
B)   Is not experienced in childhood.
C)   It can lead to great personal suffering.
D)   It is usually experienced with all forms of cancer.

Question 16

The nurse must frequently assess a patient experiencing pain.When assessing the intensity of the pain,which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Accepted Answer

A)   Ask the patient about what precipitates the pain.
B)   Ask the patient about the location of the pain.
C)   Offer the patient a pain scale for more objectivity.
D)   Use open-ended questions to find out about the sensation experienced.

Question 17

Which of the following is true in relation to pain in the older adult?

Accepted Answer

A)   Pain is natural when growing old.
B)   Pain sensitivity decreases with age.
C)   Opioids are safe for use with the older adult.
D)   Patients with cognitive impairments do not feel pain.

Question 18

Which of the following is a nonpharmacological approach that the nurse may implement for patients experiencing pain and that focuses on promoting pleasurable and meaningful stimuli?

Accepted Answer

A)   Acupuncture
B)   Distraction
C)   Biofeedback
D)   Ice pack

Question 19

The nurse working with patients in pain needs to recognize and avoid common misconceptions and myths about pain.With respect to the pain experience,which of the following is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)   The patient is the best authority on the pain experience.
B)   Chronic pain is mostly psychological in nature.
C)   Regular use of analgesics leads to drug addiction.
D)   The amount of tissue damage is accurately reflected in the degree of pain perceived.

Question 20

Which of the following does the nurse realize is a frequent response of patients to chronic pain?

Accepted Answer

A)   Depression
B)   Hypertension
C)   Nausea and vomiting
D)   Pallor

Exam 41: Pain Assessment and Management