Iggy Chapter 3 Pain Test Review
A nurse uses the Checklist of Nonverbal Pain Indicators to assess pain in a nonverbal client with advanced dementia. The client scores a zero. What action by the nurse is best? a. Assess physiologic indicators and vital signs. b. Do not give pain medication as no pain is indicated. c. Document the findings and continue to monitor. d. Try a small dose of analgesic medication for pain.
a
A postoperative client is reluctant to participate in physical therapy. What action by the nurse is best? a. Ask the client about pain goals and if they are being met. b. Ask the client why he or she is being uncooperative with therapy. c. Increase the dose of analgesia given prior to therapy sessions. d. Tell the client that physical therapy is required to regain function.
a (you have to ask first - don't just assume - A comprehensive pain management plan includes the clients goals for pain control. Adequate pain control is necessary to allow full participation in therapy. The first thing the nurse should do is to ask about the clients pain goals and if they are being met. If not, an adjustment to treatment can be made.)
A student nurse learns that there are physical consequences to unrelieved pain. Which factors are included in this problem? (Select all that apply.) a. Decreased immune response b. Development of chronic pain c. Increased gastrointestinal (GI) motility d. Possible immobility e. Slower healing
a, b, d, e
A nurse on the postoperative unit administers many opioid analgesics. What actions by the nurse are best to prevent unwanted sedation as a complication of these medications? (Select all that apply.) a. Avoid using other medications that cause sedation. b. Delay giving medication if the client is sleeping. c. Give the lowest dose that produces good control. d. Identify clients at high risk for unwanted sedation. e. Use an oximeter to monitor clients receiving analgesia.
a, c, d e (Sedation is a side effect of opioid analgesics. Some sedation can be expected, but protecting the client against unwanted and dangerous sedation is a critical nursing responsibility. The nurse should identify clients at high risk for unwanted sedation and give the lowest possible dose that produces satisfactory pain control. Avoid using other sedating medications such as antihistamines to treat itching. An oximeter can alert the nurse to a decrease in the clients oxygen saturation, which often follows sedation. A postoperative client frequently needs to be awakened for pain medication in order to avoid waking to out-of-control pain later)
A nursing student is studying pain sources. Which statements accurately describe different types of pain? (Select all that apply.) a. Neuropathic pain sometimes accompanies amputation. b. Nociceptive pain originates from abnormal pain processing. c. Deep somatic pain is pain arising from bone and connective tissues. d. Somatic pain originates from skin and subcutaneous tissues. e. Visceral pain is often diffuse and poorly localized.
a, c, d, e (Neuropathic pain results from abnormal pain processing and is seen in amputations and neuropathies. Somatic pain can arise from superficial sources such as skin, or deep sources such as bone and connective tissues. Visceral pain originates from organs or their linings and is often diffuse and poorly localized. Nociceptive pain is normal pain processing and consists of somatic and visceral pain.)
A faculty member explains the concepts of addiction, tolerance, and dependence to students. Which information is accurate? (Select all that apply.) a. Addiction is a chronic physiologic disease process. b. Physical dependence and addiction are the same thing. c. Pseudoaddiction can result in withdrawal symptoms. d. Tolerance is a normal response to regular opioid use. e. Tolerance is said to occur when opioid effects decrease.
a, d, e
A client is being discharged from the hospital after surgery on hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Lorcet). What discharge instruction is most important for this client? a. Call the doctor if the Lorcet does not relieve your pain. b. Check any over-the-counter medications for acetaminophen. c. Eat more fiber and drink more water to prevent constipation. d. Keep your follow-up appointment with the surgeon as scheduled.
b ( Acetaminophen is often found in common over-the-counter medications and should be limited to 3000 mg/day.)
A nurse on the medical-surgical unit has received a hand-off report. Which client should the nurse see first? a. Client being discharged later on a complicated analgesia regimen b. Client with new-onset abdominal pain, rated as an 8 on a 0-to-10 scale c. Postoperative client who received oral opioid analgesia 45 minutes ago d. Client who has returned from physical therapy and is resting in the recliner
b (Acute pain often serves as a physiologic warning signal that something is wrong. The client with new-onset abdominal pain needs to be seen first. The postoperative client needs 45 minutes to an hour for the oral medication to become effective and should be seen shortly to assess for effectiveness.)
An older adult has diabetic neuropathy and often reports unbearable foot pain. About which medication would the nurse plan to educate the client? a. Desipramine (Norpramin) b. Duloxetine (Cymbalta) c. Morphine sulfate d. Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
b (Antidepressants and anticonvulsants often are used for neuropathic pain relief. Morphine would not be used for this client. However, older adults do not tolerate tricyclic antidepressants very well, which eliminates desipramine and nortriptyline. Duloxetine would be the best choice for this older client.)
A hospitalized client has a history of depression for which sertraline (Zoloft) is prescribed. The client also has a morphine allergy and a history of alcoholism. After surgery, several opioid analgesics are prescribed. Which one would the nurse choose? a. Hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Lorcet) b. Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) c. Meperidine (Demerol) d. Tramadol (Ultram)
b (Hydromorphone is a good alternative to morphine for moderate to severe pain. The nurse should not choose Lorcet because it contains acetaminophen (Tylenol) and the client has a history of alcoholism. Tramadol should not be used due to the potential for interactions with the clients sertraline. Meperidine is rarely used and is often restricted.)
A nurse is caring for a client on an epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. What action by the nurse is most important to ensure client safety? a. Assess and record vital signs every 2 hours. b. Have another nurse double-check the pump settings. c. Instruct the client to report any unrelieved pain. d. Monitor for numbness and tingling in the legs.
b (PCA-delivered analgesia creates a potential risk for the client. Pump settings should always be double-checked. )
A client with a broken arm has had ice placed on it for 20 minutes. A short time after the ice was removed, the client reports that the effect has worn off and requests pain medication, which cannot be given yet. What actions by the nurse are most appropriate? (Select all that apply.) a. Ask for a physical therapy consult. b. Educate the client on cold therapy. c. Offer to provide a heating pad. d. Repeat the ice application. e. Teach the client relaxation techniques.
b, c, d, e (Nonpharmacologic pain management can be very effective. These modalities include ice, heat, pressure, massage, vibration, and transcutaneous electrical stimulation. Since the client is unable to have more pain medication at this time, the nurse should focus on nonpharmacologic modalities.)
A student nurse asks why several clients are getting more than one type of pain medication instead of very high doses of one medication. What response by the registered nurse is best? a. A multimodal approach is the preferred method of control. b. Doctors are much more liberal with pain medications now. c. Pain is so complex it takes different approaches to control it. d. Clients are consumers and they demand lots of pain medicine.
c (Pain is a complex phenomenon and often responds best to a regimen that uses different types of analgesia. This is called a multimodal approach. Using this terminology, however, may not be clear to the student if the terminology is not understood.)
A postoperative client has an epidural infusion of morphine and bupivacaine (Marcaine). What actions does the nurse delegate to the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)? (Select all that apply.) a. Ask the client to point out any areas of numbness or tingling. b. Determine how many people are needed to ambulate the client. c. Perform a bladder scan if the client is unable to void after 4 hours. d. Remind the client to use the incentive spirometer every hour. e. Take and record the clients vital signs per agency protocol.
c, d, e (The UAP can assess and record vital signs, perform a bladder scan and report the results to the nurse, and remind the client to use the spirometer. The nurse is legally responsible for assessments and should ask the client about areas of numbness or tingling, and assess if the client is able to bear weight and walk.)
A hospitalized client uses a transdermal fentanyl (Duragesic) patch for chronic pain. What action by the nurse is most important for client safety? a. Assess and record the clients pain every 4 hours. b. Ensure the client is eating a high-fiber diet. c. Monitor the clients bowel function every shift. d. Remove the old patch when applying the new one.
d
The nurse is assessing a clients pain and has elicited information on the location, quality, intensity, effect on functioning, aggravating and relieving factors, and onset and duration. What question by the nurse would be best to ask the client for completing a comprehensive pain assessment? a. Are you worried about addiction to pain pills? b. Do you attach any spiritual meaning to pain? c. How high would you say your pain tolerance is? d. What pain rating would be acceptable to you?
d
An older client who lives alone is being discharged on opioid analgesics. What action by the nurse is most important? a. Discuss the need for home health care. b. Give the client follow-up information. c. Provide written discharge instructions. d. Request a home safety assessment.
d (All these activities are appropriate when discharging a client whose needs will continue after discharge. A home safety assessment would be most important to ensure the safety of this older client.)
A nurse is preparing to give a client ketorolac (Toradol) intravenously for pain. Which assessment findings would lead the nurse to consult with the provider? a. Bilateral lung crackles b. Hypoactive bowel sounds c. Self-reported pain of 3/10 d. Urine output of 20 mL/2 hr
d (Drugs in this category can affect renal function. Clients should be adequately hydrated and demonstrate good renal function prior to administering ketorolac. A urine output of 20 mL/2 hr is well below normal, and the nurse should consult with the provider about the choice of drug.)
A client who had surgery has extreme postoperative pain that is worsened when trying to participate in physical therapy. What intervention for pain management does the nurse include in the clients care plan? a. As-needed pain medication after therapy b. Client-controlled analgesia with a basal rate c. Pain medications prior to therapy only d. Round-the-clock analgesia with PRN analgesics
d (Severe pain related to surgery or tissue trauma is best managed with round-the-clock dosing. Breakthrough pain associated with specific procedures is managed with additional medication. An as-needed regimen will not control postoperative pain.)