Med Surg: Pain Management

A client has a long history of diabetes mellitus and developed diabetic neuropathy more than 25 years ago. The client is without breakthrough pain at this point in time. How would this client's pain be classified?

neuropathic and chronic

A client has been prescribed a fentanyl patch for pain control. The nurse understands that this patch should be replaced every

48-72 hours

Which of the following is the appropriate intervention to avoid physical dependence on drugs in a client?

Discontinue drugs gradually.

According to The Joint Commission's pain assessment and management standards, which of the following are essential components of a comprehensive pain assessment?

location, onset, alleviating factors, and aggravating factors

A nurse is employed at a healthcare facility with a recent influx of many clients from a particular culture. The nurse is presenting information about the effect of one's culture on pain perception to a group of unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). The nurse evaluates that the students need reteaching when one of them states

"A client from this culture always exaggerates his or her pain."

A clinic nurse assesses a client with diabetes who reports taking naproxen (Aleve) and the herb bilberry for osteoarthritis. To assess for an adverse reaction between naproxen and bilberry, the nurse asks the client

"Do you bleed easily?"

A teenage client is undergoing a dressing change to burns on the thigh. The client refuses pain medication and states, "I do not hurt, and I don't need it." He is withdrawn, grimaces, and turns away during the dressing change. He was last medicated 8 hours ago. What is the best statement by the nurse?

"I saw you grimacing during the dressing change. Please explain the reason you refused the pain medication."

A client is receiving morphine through a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) system following surgery. The nurse states to the client

"Only you are to push the button for medication."

The client reports chest pain. The nurse uses which of the following questions to assess the pain further. Select all answers that apply.

* "How long have you experienced this pain?" * "Please point to where you are experiencing pain." * "Rate the pain on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the worst possible pain." * "What aggravates your chest pain?"

Nociception includes four specific processes: transduction, transmission, perception, and modulation. Which action illustrates the nociception process of pain transmission?

A child quickly removing a hand when touching a hot object

Which of the following is a disadvantage of using the transdermal route of opioid administration?

A delay in effect until the dermal layer is saturated

A client with appendicitis has had an appendectomy. After surgery, what type of pain does the nurse anticipate the client will have?

Acute pain

Acute pain can be distinguished from chronic pain by assessing which characteristic?

Acute pain is specific and localized.

A client is being treated in a substance abuse unit of a local hospital. The nurse understands that when this client has compulsive behavior to use a drug for its psychic effect, the client needs to be monitored for which effect?

Addiction

The nurse is obtaining data regarding the medication that the client is taking on a regular basis. The client states he is taking duloxetine, an antidepressant for the treatment of neuropathic pain. What type of therapy does the nurse understand the client is receiving?

Adjuvant drug therapy

How should the administration of analgesics be scheduled to provide a uniform level of pain relief to a client?

Administering the analgesics on a regular basis

A client recovering from hip surgery is receiving morphine through a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) infusion pump with a set basal rate. What action is most important for the nurse to implement?

Assess the client's respiratory status

A client who fell at home is hospitalized for a hip fracture. The client is in Buck's traction, anticipating surgery, and reports pain as "2" on a pain intensity scale of 0 to 10. The client also exhibits moderate anxiety and moves restlessly in the bed. The best nursing intervention to address the client's anxiety is to

Assess the reason for the client's anxiety.

Which action by the nurse indicates understanding of one basic principle of providing effective pain management?

Awakening a new postoperative client to take pain medication

The nurse is assisting the anesthesiologist with the insertion of an epidural catheter and the administration of an epidural opioid for pain control. What adverse effect of epidural opioids should the nurse monitor for?

Bradypnea

Which of the following nursing interventions contributes to achieving a client's pain relief?

Collaborate with the client about his or her goal for a level of pain relief.

When using transdermal Fentanyl, the nurse and patient should be aware of which sign or symptom of Fentanyl overdose?

Confusion

A client receives hydromorphone 2 mg intravenously for report of postoperative pain. Fifteen minutes later, the nurse notes respirations are 6 breaths/minute and the client is nonresponsive. The nurse administers prescribed naloxone. The next time the client reports pain, the best nursing action is:

Consult with the healthcare provider to reduce the dose.

The nurse is assessing a patient complaining of severe pain. What physiologic indicator does the nurse recognize as significant of acute pain?

Diaphoresis

The client is scheduled for surgery. The nurse is reviewing with the client about postoperative pain management. The client states her goal after receiving treatment is "0." The first action of the nurse is to

Educate the client that this goal may not be achievable.

Which substance reduces the transmission of pain?

Endorphins

A client being treated for rheumatoid arthritis has been prescribed a glucocorticosteroid. How should the nurse best ensure this client's safety during treatment?

Ensure the client knows to taper down the dose if it is discontinued by the care provider.

The nurse needs to carefully monitor a client with traumatic injuries. How often should the nurse check and document the client's pain?

Every time the client's vital signs are assessed

The physician has ordered a mu opioid analgesic for a patient with pain. What drug does the nurse anticipate administering?

Fentanyl

The nurse is administering a narcotic analgesic for the control of a newly postoperative client's pain. What medication will the nurse administer to this client?

Fentanyl (Duragesic)

About which issue should the nurse inform clients who use pain medications on a regular basis?

Inform the primary health care provider about the use of salicylates before any procedure, and avoid over-the-counter analgesics consistently without consulting a physician.

A patient comes into the clinic frequently with complaints of pain. What would the nurse recognize as chronic benign pain in a patient?

Low back pain

A client, who had an above the knee amputation of the left leg related to peripheral vascular disease from uncontrolled diabetes, complains of pain in the left lower extremity. What type of pain is the client experiencing?

Neuropathic pain

A high school football player hurts his foot while playing a game. The client complains of intense pain with muscle spasms and swelling of the toe. Which pain assessment tool will the nurse most likely use to assess the client's pain level?

Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

Opioid analgesics are effective pain management tools for many clients. A significant portion of a nurse's practice is older adults who suffer from chronic pain. What impact does a client's age have on initial dosing?

Older clients should receive a reduced dose.

The nurse is assessing an older adult patient just admitted to the hospital. Why is it important that the nurse carefully assess pain in the older adult patient?

Older people experience reduced sensory perception.

Which phase of pain transmission occurs when the brain experiences pain at a conscious level?

Perception

Which is a true statement regarding placebos?

Placebos should never be used to test a client's truthfulness about pain.

Which condition, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is the only use for the lidocaine 5% patch?

Postherpetic neuralgia

A client is being taught to self-administer a narcotic analgesic by means of an intravenous pump system. Which of the following would help prevent accidental overdosage?

Programming the dosage and time interval into the device

A client sustained severe burns over both lower extremities 1 week ago. The client informs the nurse that he had to wait for 30 minutes last night to receive pain medication, which caused the pain not to be relieved after administration. What suggestions could the nurse make to the physician to provide adequate relief of pain?

Provide the client with a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump.

An elderly client has a fractured hip and is in Buck's traction. The client is disoriented and cannot express herself. At 0730 the client was calm. Now, at 0930, the client is restless and agitated. The nurse reviews the medication administration record. The last dose of opioid was at 0330. The nurse assesses the client's agitation may be from

Recurring pain

Which of the following is the most important potential nursing diagnosis for the client receiving opiate therapy?

Risk for impaired gas exchange

The nurse, as a member of the patient's health care team, obtains pain assessment information to identify goals for pain management. Select the most important factor that the nurse would use for goal setting:

Severity of the pain as judged by the patient

A client is scheduled for abdominal surgery and states that he is afraid of postoperative pain. The best nursing action is to inform the client

That medication will be prescribed for pain relief

A client reports abdominal pain as "8" on a pain intensity scale of 0-10 thirty minutes after receiving an opioid intravenously. Her past medical history includes partial-thickness burns to approximately 60% of her body several years ago. The nurse assesses

That the client's past experiences with pain may influence her perception of current pain

A preschool-age child is admitted for complaints of abdominal pain and vomiting. What is the best method for the nurse to collect data about the pain level of the child?

The Wong-Baker FACES scale

Which of the following is a reliable source for quantifying pain?

The client's description of the pain

The nurse needs to carefully monitor a client with traumatic injuries. Which action by the nurse demonstrates understanding of the most essential component of the client's pain assessment?

The nurse administers pain medication based on the client's reported pain level.

The nurse informs the patient that a preventive approach for pain relief will be used, involving nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. What will this mean for the patient?

The pain medication will be administered before the pain is experienced.

When completing a teaching plan for a patient receiving patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), which component would be importance to stress?

The pump will deliver a preset amount of medication.

Which type of pain arises from an internal organ, such as the kidneys?

Visceral

The nurse is caring for a client with kidney stones who is complaining of severe pain. What type of pain does the nurse understand this client is experiencing?

Visceral Pain

Regarding tolerance and addiction, the nurse understands that

although clients may need increasing levels of opioids, they are not addicted.

A client is prescribed methadone 10 mg three times a day for neuralgia following chemotherapy treatment. The client reports that he is experiencing constipation and asks the nurse for information about preventing constipation. The nurse recommends

increasing the amount of bran and fresh fruits and vegetables

A client reports having joint pain that has gotten worse over the last year despite gradually increasing doses of an OTC pain reliever. Which type of pain will the nurse document as the chief complaint?

chronic pain

A client is admitted with generalized abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and hypotension. The client has not passed stool in over 1 week and has been in pain for the past 4 days. Which type of pain would you expect the client to be experiencing?

viesceral

When drafting a nursing care plan for a patient in pain, it is important for the nurse to determine if the pain is acute or chronic. Choose an example of chronic pain.

Intervertebral disk herniation

An older adult is being treated with opioids for pain relief. Which of the following should the nurse strongly recommend to this client?

Follow a bowel regimen.

Which phase of pain transmission occurs when the one is made aware of pain?

Perception

A nurse documents the presence of chronic pain on an electronic health record. Choose a description that could be used. The pain can be:

Prolonged in duration.