Deck 10: Pain Assessment: the Fifth Vital Sign

Question 1

Which type of pain is due to an abnormal processing of the pain impulse through the peripheral or central nervous system?
1)Visceral pain
2)Referred pain
3)Cutaneous pain
4)Neuropathic pain

Answer 1

4
Neuropathic pain implies an abnormal processing of the pain message.The other types of pain are named according to their sources.

Question 2

The nurse knows that which statement is true regarding the pain experienced by infants?
1)Pain in infants can only be assessed by physiologic changes,such as increased heart rate.
2)The Wong-Baker scale can be used to assess pain in infants.
3)A procedure that induces pain in adults will also induce pain in the infant.
4)Infants feel pain less than adults do.

Answer 2

3
If a procedure or disease process causes pain in an adult,then it will also cause pain in an infant.Physiologic changes cannot be used exclusively to confirm or deny pain because other factors,such as medications,fluid status,or stress,may cause physiologic changes.The Wong-Baker scale can be used starting at around age 4 years.

Question 3

A patient states that the pain medication is "not working" and rates his postoperative pain at a 10 on a 1 to 10 scale.Which of the following assessment findings indicates an acute pain response to poorly controlled pain?
1)Confusion
2)Hyperventilation
3)Increased blood pressure and pulse
4)Decreased blood pressure and pulse

Answer 3

3
Responses to poorly controlled acute pain include tachycardia,elevated blood pressure,and hypoventilation.See Table 10-1.

Question 4

When assessing the intensity of a patient's pain,which question by the nurse is appropriate?
1)"What makes your pain better or worse?"
2)"How much pain do you have now?"
3)"How does pain limit your activities?"
4)"What does your pain feel like?"

Question 5

The nurse is assessing a patient's pain.The nurse knows that which of the following is considered the most reliable indicator of pain?
1)Vital signs
2)The physical examination
3)Computerized axial tomography scan findings
4)The subjective report

Question 6

When assessing a patient's pain,the nurse knows that an example of visceral pain would be:
1)hip fracture.
2)cholecystitis.
3)second-degree burns.
4)pain after a leg amputation.

Question 7

When assessing the quality of a patient's pain,the nurse should ask which question?
1)"When did the pain start?"
2)"Is the pain a stabbing pain?"
3)"Is it a sharp pain or dull pain?"
4)"What does your pain feel like?"

Question 8

Nociception is the term used to describe how noxious stimuli are typically perceived as pain.During which phase of nociception does the conscious awareness of a painful sensation occur?
1)Perception
2)Modulation
3)Transduction
4)Transmission

Question 9

A patient has had arthritic pain in her hips for several years since a hip fracture.She is able to move around in her room and has not offered any complaints so far this morning.However,when asked,she states that her pain is "bad this morning" and rates it at an 8 on a 1 to 10 scale.What does the nurse suspect?
1)She is addicted to her pain medications and cannot obtain pain relief.
2)She does not want to trouble the nursing staff with her complaints.
3)She is not in pain but rates it high to receive pain medication.
4)She has experienced chronic pain for years and has adapted to it.

Question 10

During assessment of a patient's pain,the nurse keeps in mind that certain nonverbal behaviors are associated with chronic pain.Which of the following behaviors are associated with chronic pain? Select all that apply.
1)Sleeping
2)Moaning
3)Diaphoresis
4)Bracing
5)Restlessness
6)Rubbing

Question 11

When evaluating a patient's pain,the nurse knows that an example of acute pain would be:
1)arthritic pain.
2)fibromyalgia.
3)kidney stones.
4)low back pain.

Question 12

A 60-year-old woman has developed reflexive sympathetic dystrophy after arthroscopic repair of her shoulder.A key feature of this condition is that:
1)the affected extremity will eventually regain its function.
2)the pain is felt at one site but originates from another location.
3)her pain will be associated with nausea,pallor,and diaphoresis.
4)the slightest touch,such as a sleeve brushing against her arm,causes severe,intense pain.