Deck 7: Care of Patients with Pain

Question 1

To help with pain control,how should the nurse time the distraction activities for a patient?

A) To coincide with mealtimes
B) To bridge the time between administration and onset
C) To occur just before bedtime
D) To awaken the patient in the morning

Answer 1

To bridge the time between administration and onset

Question 2

The nurse is educating the home health patient about indications for acetaminophen.Which information should the nurse include in the teaching plan?

A) Take acetaminophen as frequently as needed.
B) Take acetaminophen before pain becomes severe.
C) Take acetaminophen when pain becomes unbearable.
D) Take acetaminophen sparingly and with caution.

Answer 2

Take acetaminophen before pain becomes severe.

Question 3

The hospitalized postsurgical patient is reluctant to take the opioid pain medication because of drowsiness.Which response is most informative for the nurse to make?

A) "Mental stimulation after the medication will keep you more alert."
B) "Sleep and pain relief promote healing."
C) "Drowsiness is an undesirable side effect."
D) "The medication should be taken only before bedtime."

Answer 3

"Sleep and pain relief promote healing."

Question 4

The nurse is caring for a patient that is receiving intravenous morphine sulfate.The patient breaks out in hives and begins to itch.What should the nurse do first?

A) Obtain the patient's vital signs.
B) Stop the infusion.
C) Report the patient's condition to the charge nurse.
D) Give the prescribed antihistamine.

Question 5

The nurse explains that the pain threshold and pain tolerance are different.Which statement about the pain threshold is true?

A) Pain threshold is the point at which pain is perceived.
B) Pain threshold is the point at which the person responds to pain.
C) Pain threshold is the point at which pharmacologic intervention is required.
D) Pain threshold is the point at which signs such as grimacing or groaning are observed.

Question 6

When giving care to a 30-year-old Hispanic male,which action can most likely be attributed to the patient's cultural beliefs about pain?

A) The patient maintains a stoic affect about pain.
B) The patient prefers a pill to an injection.
C) The patient ignores somatic interventions such as heat and massage.
D) The patient confesses to pain but refuses pain medication.

Question 7

Which student nurse's note in the patient's record features proper documentation of a pain assessment?

A) Pt. complains of local sharp pain (4/5) in lower abdomen upon standing.
B) Pt. complains of stomach pain after eating (3/5).
C) Pt. reports standing makes his stomach hurt.
D) Pt. reports sharp pain in stomach.

Question 8

The nurse is planning to teach a family member about effective massage techniques.Which information is most important to include in the teaching plan?

A) Use heat and a mild menthol cream for comfort.
B) Pound painful areas with the sides of the hands.
C) Gently and firmly massage of areas of inflammation.
D) Use long, firm strokes while avoiding areas of inflammation.

Question 9

The nurse clarifies the basics of the gate theory of pain control.Which information should the nurse include?

A) Pain is perceived as opening a "gate" to pain symptoms.
B) The "gate" can be closed to pain by the use of nonpainful stimuli.
C) The "gate" swings back and forth, first allowing pain, then blocking it.
D) The patient can be trained to close the "gate" to pain.

Question 10

The nurse explains that acupressure and acupuncture are effective pain relief modalities that focus on specific body areas.Which term best describes these therapies?

A) Triangulation
B) Hot spots
C) Meridians
D) Zones

Question 11

While bathing a patient,the nurse notes that a transdermal patch that was meant to be on the patient for 3 days is now gone on the second day.What action should the nurse take?

A) Document the loss and apply a fresh patch to be replaced in 3 days.
B) Report the loss to the charge nurse.
C) Document the loss, replace the patch, and continue with the original schedule for replacement.
D) Remind the patient that oral pain relief will be available until the patch is replaced in 24 hours.

Question 12

The home health nurse educates the 75-year-old patient about the warm compresses he is using on his swollen elbow.Which information is most important to include in the teaching plan?

A) Apply the warm compress directly on the skin.
B) Allow the compress to remain in place for 15 to 20 minutes.
C) Take aspirin 30 minutes prior to applying the compress.
D) Alternate the warm compress with an ice pack every 10 minutes.

Question 13

The patient is experiencing phantom pain following the amputation of her foot.Which type of pain is most associated with phantom pain?

A) Nociceptive
B) Mild
C) Uncontrollable
D) Neuropathic

Question 14

The nurse is caring for a patient who is having constant nociceptor pain.Which intervention best addresses the patient's pain during the perception phase of pain?

A) Administer nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for moderate pain.
B) Ask the physician if an opioid could be ordered to treat the patient's pain when severe.
C) Engage the patient in conversation regarding his family, hobbies, and plans following discharge from the facility.
D) Determine if the patient typically takes a neurotransmitter uptake blocker medication for pain control.

Question 15

In order to provide the optimum nursing care,it is important for the nurse to know that the standard of pain and pain control is best determined by which person?

A) Physician
B) Nurse
C) Patient's family
D) Patient

Question 16

The patient on frequent doses of meperidine (Demerol)complains of constipation.Which initial intervention is best?

A) Offer fruit such as prunes or apricots.
B) Request an order for an enema.
C) Report the condition to the charge nurse.
D) Increase oral fluid intake.

Question 17

The patient who had abdominal surgery this morning refuses the opioid pain medication for fear of addiction.How should the nurse respond?

A) "Opioids are addictive, whereas nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are not."
B) "Addiction is mainly a matter of attitude."
C) "Fewer than 3% of people become addicted to drugs used for pain relief."
D) "Although addiction does occur, it is quickly reversed."

Question 18

A patient reports pain relief after having received a placebo.Which conclusion is most accurate for the nurse to determine?

A) The patient was not actually experiencing pain.
B) The patient was relieved of the anxiety that there is no ready source of pain remedy.
C) The patient was demonstrating "attention-seeking" behavior.
D) The patient was being manipulative.

Question 19

The nurse is caring for a 45-year-old male Arab patient who is in pain.Which action can most likely be attributed to the patient's cultural belief about pain?

A) The patient never requests pain medication.
B) The patient asks for pain relief to control pain.
C) The patient becomes irritable and demanding when in pain.
D) The patient hides pain from his family.

Question 20

Because of the threat of lowering the seizure threshold,the home health nurse would suggest that the 85-year-old patient limit the use of which pain medication?

A) Ibuprofen (Motrin)
B) Naproxen (Aleve)
C) Tramadol (Ultram)
D) Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Question 21

The nurse is caring for a patient who is 1-day postoperative following a colon resection.The patient has degenerative joint disease and uses a pain medication patch to control this chronic pain.Which consideration is most important when planning care for this patient?

A) Understand that the pain medication patch will control the postoperative pain.
B) Realize that this patient will most likely require more pain medication than most patients undergoing a colon resection.
C) Recognize that the patient will be afraid to ask for additional pain medication for fear of being viewed as addicted to pain medicine.
D) Expect the patient to forget about the pain caused from the degenerative joint disease.

Question 22

Although the patient with a kidney stone denies pain,the nurse assesses cues that indicate that pain is perceived.Which assessments indicate that pain may be present?

A) Increased pulse rate
B) Decreased respiratory rate
C) Diaphoresis
D) Muscle tension
E) Nausea

Question 23

Arrange the sequence of nociceptive pain in the order in which the process occurs.

Step 1

A)Transmission
B)Modulation
C)Transduction
D)Perception

Question 24

The nurse is planning care plans for multiple patients.Which patient does the nurse anticipate will experience the highest level of pain?

A) 28-year-old experiencing pain related to a metatarsal fracture
B) 45-year-old experiencing pain following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy
C) 67-year-old experiencing chronic back pain
D) 79-year-old experiencing pain related to osteoarthritis

Question 25

Arrange the sequence of nociceptive pain in the order in which the process occurs.

Step 3

A)Transmission
B)Modulation
C)Transduction
D)Perception

Question 26

Pain receptors in the skin,connective tissue,bone,joints,and muscles are classified as __________.

Question 27

Arrange the sequence of nociceptive pain in the order in which the process occurs.

Step 2

A)Transmission
B)Modulation
C)Transduction
D)Perception

Question 28

The nurse is using the gate theory as a guide to pain management.Which intervention(s)should the nurse plan to offer?

A) Massage
B) Social activities
C) Music
D) Interactive distraction
E) A quiet environment

Question 29

The nurse is caring for the patient with neuropathic pain.Which agents will most effectively control this patient's pain?

A) Analgesics
B) Opioids
C) Antidepressants
D) Anti-inflammatory agents
E) Anticonvulsants

Question 30

What is/are the functions of endorphins?

A) Inhibition of unpleasant stimuli
B) Diminished anxiety
C) Relief of pain
D) Feeling of euphoria
E) Increased blood pressure

Question 31

Arrange the sequence of nociceptive pain in the order in which the process occurs.

Step 4

A)Transmission
B)Modulation
C)Transduction
D)Perception