Deck 14: Medications for Pain Management and Anesthesia

Question 1

Narcotic agonists are used to control acute pain.Which are common side effects that may develop from taking these drugs? (Select all that apply.)

A) Hyperactivity
B) Constipation
C) Diarrhea
D) Dry mouth
E) Hypertension

Answer 1

Constipation
Dry mouth

Question 2

In the nurse's observation of a 24-hour-postoperative elderly patient,the nurse finds the patient in severe pain.He tells the nurse he does not want to take the pain medication because he fears addiction.Which would be the best intervention for this patient?

A) Give the patient methadone.
B) Talk to the patient about his fears.
C) Just give the medication, and do not tell him.
D) Tell the patient how silly he is being.

Answer 2

Talk to the patient about his fears.

Question 3

Which are side effects of narcotic agonist analgesics? (Select all that apply.)

A) Hyperalertness with euphoria
B) Nausea
C) Dizziness
D) Flushing
E) Sweating

Answer 3

Nausea
Dizziness
Flushing
Sweating

Question 4

A patient with a head injury should not receive a narcotic agonist for which reason?

A) The patient will not be able to talk.
B) The drug makes the patient too hyperactive.
C) Addiction is easy at this point.
D) The drug causes a confusing effect.

Question 5

A patient comes to the emergency department with complaints of back pain.After interviewing this patient,the nurse sees that he is a little cyanotic and has problems following the conversation.What should the nurse conclude about this patient?

A) The patient is sleepy after being up all night.
B) The patient is bored with this whole process.
C) The patient has signs of being overdosed.
D) The patient is on asthma medication.

Question 6

Which are contraindications to taking nonnarcotic analgesics? (Select all that apply.)

A) Hypertension
B) Emotional problems
C) Drug abuse
D) Asthma
E) Mild pain

Question 7

Morphine (Duramorph)is ordered for a patient's severe incisional pain.Which is correct concerning the length of time it should take for this medication to be administered IV?

A) 1 to 2 minutes
B) 8 to 10 minutes
C) 2 to 4 minutes
D) 4 to 5 minutes

Question 8

The physician orders hydromorphone (Dilaudid).The nurse knows that this is the drug of choice because of which reason?

A) It minimizes some of the common side effects.
B) It will not make the patient sleepy.
C) It is not strong as morphine and is less addicting.
D) It can be given transdermally.

Question 9

A patient comes into the emergency department with symptoms of an overdose.The nurse would expect the physician to order which medication?

A) Naloxone (Narcan)
B) Codeine sulfate
C) Fentanyl (Duragesic)
D) Meperidine (Demerol)

Question 10

After naloxone (Narcan)is administered to a patient,the nurse would expect to see which symptom?

A) Complete narcotic sleepiness
B) Rebound narcotic symptoms
C) Difficulty in urination
D) Increased temperature

Question 11

Which is an example of a procedure appropriate for local anesthesia?

A) Tonsillectomy
B) Dental procedure
C) Cesarean section
D) Hip replacement
E) Minor suturing

Question 12

A patient has been on hydrocodone for 6 months and asks if this medication is addictive.Which would be the nurse's best response?

A) "Dependence may develop."
B) "This is not an addictive narcotic."
C) "All medications are addictive."
D) "Taking food with this medication will help."

Question 13

The patient asks for pain medication after abdominal surgery.By which means would the nurse determine the patient's level of pain to know how much medication to administer?

A) Have the patient rate the pain on a scale.
B) Give the medication that is ordered.
C) Start pain medication with the smallest dose possible.
D) Reposition the patient and assess the pain.

Question 14

For which reason would the physician not order a narcotic agonist analgesic when a patient has abdominal pain of undetermined origin?

A) A narcotic is too strong to use in undetermined pain.
B) It will make it difficult to diagnose the cause of the pain.
C) Narcotics are very addicting.
D) Undetermined pain will respond better to nonnarcotic medications.

Question 15

Patients receiving a narcotic agonist analgesic should be watched for which signs or symptoms?

A) Severe hypertension
B) Reduced cough reflex
C) Overeating
D) Restlessness

Question 16

A patient in a motor vehicle accident was brought into the emergency department for his injuries.After x-rays were done,the patient was found to have a fractured pelvis.Which drug would the nurse expect the physician to order for this patient because of his acute pain?

A) Meperidine (Demerol)
B) Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
C) Propoxyphene (Darvon-N)
D) Morphine sulfate

Question 17

The nurse would expect to see which symptom in a patient who is an abuser of narcotics?

A) An outward show of happiness
B) A complete downward spiral in behavior
C) "Hyper" behavior
D) Constipation

Question 18

After a patient has been on a narcotic agonist drug for a week,which would the nurse expect the physician to do next?

A) Take the patient off all pain medications.
B) Continue the patient on the medication for another week.
C) Have the patient use distractions from pain.
D) Give another method for pain relief.

Question 19

The LVN/LPN is assisting the physician with a bedside procedure that requires anesthesia.While assisting,which tasks may be delegated to the LPN/LVN ?

A) Locate the anesthetic for the physician.
B) Explain the procedure to the patient.
C) Administer IM preoperative medication.
D) Inject the local anesthetic into the patient.
E) Prepare IV medication.