Deck 10: Analgesic Drugs

Question 1

A patient is to receive acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) as part of the treatment for an acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose. Which action by the nurse is appropriate when giving this medication?

A) Giving the medication undiluted for full effect
B) Avoiding the use of a straw when giving this medication
C) Disguising the flavor with soda or flavored water
D) Preparing to give this medication via a nebulizer

Answer 1

Disguising the flavor with soda or flavored water

Question 2

A patient arrives at the urgent care center complaining of leg pain after a fall when rock climbing. The radiographs show no broken bones, but he has a large bruise on his thigh. The patient says he drives a truck and does not want to take anything strong because he needs to stay awake. Which statement by the nurse is most appropriate?

A) "It would be best for you not to take anything if you are planning to drive your truck."
B) "We will discuss with your doctor about taking an opioid because that would work best for your pain."
C) "You can take acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, for pain, but no more than 1000 mg per day."
D) "You can take acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, for pain, but no more than 3000 mg/day."

Answer 2

"You can take acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, for pain, but no more than 3000 mg/day."

Question 3

A 57-year-old woman being treated for end-stage breast cancer has been using a transdermal opioid analgesic as part of the management of pain. Lately, she has been experiencing breakthrough pain. The nurse expects this type of pain to be managed by which of these interventions?

A) Administering NSAIDs
B) Administering an immediate-release opioid
C) Changing the opioid route to the rectal route
D) Making no changes to the current therapy

Answer 3

Administering an immediate-release opioid

Question 4

A 78-year-old patient is in the recovery room after having a lengthy surgery on his hip. As he is gradually awakening, he requests pain medication. Within 10 minutes after receiving a dose of morphine sulfate, he is very lethargic and his respirations are shallow, with a rate of 7 breaths/minute. The nurse prepares for which priority action at this time?

A) Assessment of the patient's pain level
B) Immediate intubation and artificial ventilation
C) Administration of naloxone (Narcan)
D) Close observation of signs of opioid tolerance

Question 5

The drug nalbuphine (Nubain) is an agonist-antagonist (partial agonist). The nurse understands that which is a characteristic of partial agonists?

A) They have anti-inflammatory effects.
B) They are given to reverse the effects of opiates.
C) They have a higher potency than agonists.
D) They have a lower dependency potential than agonists.

Question 6

A patient is suffering from tendonitis of the knee. The nurse is reviewing the patient's medication administration record and recognizes that which adjuvant medication is most appropriate for this type of pain?

A) Antidepressant
B) Anticonvulsant
C) Corticosteroid
D) Local anesthesia

Question 7

A patient had abdominal surgery this morning. The patient is groggy but complaining of severe pain around the incision. What is the most important assessment data to consider before the nurse administers a dose of morphine sulfate to the patient?

A) The patient's pulse rate
B) The patient's respiratory rate
C) The appearance of the incision
D) The date of the patient's last bowel movement

Question 8

A 16-year-old field hockey player fell and twisted her ankle during a game. The nurse will expect to administer which type of analgesic?

A) Synthetic opioid, such as meperidine (Demerol)
B) Opium alkaloid, such as morphine sulfate
C) Opioid antagonist, such as naloxone HCL (Narcan)
D) Nonopioid analgesics, such as indomethacin (Indocin)

Question 9

A patient will be discharged with a 1-week supply of an opioid analgesic for pain management after abdominal surgery. The nurse will include which information in the teaching plan?

A) How to prevent dehydration due to diarrhea
B) The importance of taking the drug only when the pain becomes severe
C) How to prevent constipation
D) The importance of taking the drug on an empty stomach

Question 10

The nurse is assessing a patient who has been admitted to the emergency department for a possible opioid overdose. Which assessment finding is characteristic of an opioid drug overdose?

A) Dilated pupils
B) Restlessness
C) Respiration rate of 6 breaths/min
D) Heart rate of 55 beats/min

Question 11

A patient is receiving gabapentin (Neurontin), an anticonvulsant, but has no history of seizures. The nurse expects that the patient is receiving this drug for which condition?

A) Inflammation pain
B) Pain associated with peripheral neuropathy
C) Depression associated with chronic pain
D) Prevention of seizures

Question 12

A 38-year-old man has come into the urgent care center with severe hip pain after falling from a ladder at work. He says he has taken several pain pills over the past few hours but cannot remember how many he has taken. He hands the nurse an empty bottle of acetaminophen (Tylenol). The nurse is aware that the most serious toxic effect of acute acetaminophen overdose is which condition?

A) Tachycardia
B) Central nervous system depression
C) Hepatic necrosis
D) Nephropathy

Question 13

The opioid Vicodin (acetaminophen/hydrocodone) is prescribed for a patient who has had surgery. The nurse informs the patient that which common adverse effects can occur with this medication?

A) Diarrhea
B) Constipation
C) Lightheadedness
D) Nervousness
E) Urinary retention
F) Itching

Question 14

The nurse is reviewing herbal therapies. Which is a common use of the herb feverfew?

A) Muscle aches
B) Menstrual cramps
C) Joint pain
D) Incision pain after surgery

Question 15

A patient is to receive methadone (Dolophine) 2.5 mg intramuscularly (IM) now. The medication is available in a concentration of 10 mg/mL. Identify how many milliliters of methadone will be drawn up for this dose. ______

Question 16

The nurse is assessing a patient for contraindications to drug therapy with acetaminophen (Tylenol). Which patient should not receive acetaminophen?

A) A patient with a fever of 101° F (38.3° C)
B) A patient who is complaining of a mild headache
C) A patient with a history of liver disease
D) A patient with a history of peptic ulcer disease

Question 17

A patient was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last month, and has complained of a dull ache in the abdomen for the past 4 months. This pain has been gradually increasing, and the pain relievers taken at home are no longer effective. What type of pain is the patient experiencing?

A) Acute pain
B) Chronic pain
C) Somatic pain
D) Neuropathic pain

Question 18

A patient has been treated for lung cancer for 3 years. Over the past few months, the patient has noticed that the opioid analgesic is not helping as much as it had previously and more medication is needed for the same pain relief. The nurse is aware that this patient is experiencing which of these?

A) Opioid addiction
B) Opioid tolerance
C) Opioid toxicity
D) Opioid abstinence syndrome