Chapter 11: Analgesic Drugs Flashcards
A patient diagnosed with migraine headache is experiencing what type of pain?
a. Acute pain
b. Persistent pain
c. Vascular pain
d. Phantom pain
c. Vascular pain
- An 18-year-old basketball player fell and twisted his ankle during a game. Which type of
analgesic is he likely to be given?
a. A synthetic opioid, such as meperidine hydrochloride
b. An opium alkaloid, such as morphine sulphate
c. An opioid antagonist, such as naloxone hydrochloride (Suboxone®)
d. A non-opioid analgesic, such as tramadol
d. A non-opioid analgesic, such as tramadol
A patient is in the recovery room following abdominal surgery. He is groggy but reports
severe pain around his incision. What is the most important factor for the nurse to consider
during her patient assessment before administering a dose of morphine sulphate?
a. Temperature
b. Respiration rate
c. Appearance of the incision
d. Time of last bowel movement
b. Respiration rate
A 78-year-old patient is in the recovery room after lengthy hip surgery. While gradually
awakening, the patient requests pain medication. Within 10 minutes after receiving a dose of
morphine sulphate, the patient is very lethargic; respiration is shallow, at a rate of nine
respirations per minute. What necessary action may the nurse need to perform?
a. Close observation for signs of opioid tolerance
b. Immediate intubation and artificial ventilation
c. Administration of naloxone, an opioid reversal agent
d. Administration of an agonist opioid, such as fentanyl (Duragesic Mat)
c. Administration of naloxone, an opioid reversal agent
A patient will be discharged with a 1-week supply of an opioid analgesic for pain
management after his abdominal surgery. What should the nurse teach this patient in regard to
this drug?
a. How to manage diarrhea
b. How to access drug addiction programs
c. How to prevent constipation
d. How to avoid dehydration due to polyuria
c. How to prevent constipation
A patient who has been treated for lung cancer for 3 years has noticed that over the past few
months the opioid analgesic that is being used is not helping as much, and says that taking
more medication is needed for the same pain relief. What is this patient experiencing?
a. Opioid toxicity
b. Addiction
c. Opioid tolerance
d. Abstinence syndrome
c. Opioid tolerance
A 38-year-old male has arrived at the urgent care centre with severe hip pain after falling from
a ladder at work. 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®).
What is the most serious toxic effect of acute acetaminophen overdose?
a. Tachycardia
b. Central nervous system (CNS) depression
c. Hepatic necrosis
d. Nephrotic necrosis
c. Hepatic necrosis
The drug pentazocine (Talwin®) is a narcotic agonist–antagonist. Which statement describes a
characteristic of this type of medication?
a. It has minimal analgesic effects.
b. It works to reverse the effects of opiates.
c. Its adverse effects differ from those of the opiate narcotics.
d. It has a lower addiction potential than opiate narcotics.
d. It has a lower addiction potential than opiate narcotics.
A 57-year-old patient has been on a transdermal narcotic analgesic as part of the management
of pain for end-stage breast cancer. Lately, she has experienced “breakthrough” pain. How
should this pain be addressed?
a. She should be given NSAIDs.
b. Her current therapy should not be changed.
c. The baseline dose of the narcotic may need to be increased in increments.
d. The narcotic route should be changed to the rectal route, to increase absorption.
c. The baseline dose of the narcotic may need to be increased in increments.
For which situation is the herb feverfew commonly used?
a. Muscle aches
b. Headaches
c. Leg cramps
d. Incisional pain after surgery
b. Headaches
A patient is to receive acetylcysteine as part of treatment for an acetaminophen overdose.
Which action by the nurse is appropriate when administering this medication?
a. Giving the medication undiluted for full effect
b. Avoiding the use of a straw when giving the medication
c. Disguising the flavour with a soft drink or flavoured water
d. Preparing to give the medication via a nebulizer
c. Disguising the flavour with a soft drink or flavoured water
A patient is receiving an anticonvulsant but has no history of seizures. What is the most likely
reason the patient is receiving this drug?
a. Pain associated with peripheral neuropathy
b. Inflammation pain
c. Depression associated with chronic pain
d. Prevention of possible seizures
a. Pain associated with peripheral neuropathy
A patient has been diagnosed with shingles and is experiencing postherpetic neuralgia. What
would the nurse expect to administer for pain relief?
a. Transdermal lidocaine (EMLA®)
b. Tramadol hydrochloride (Ultram®)
c. Naloxone hydrochloride
d. Fentanyl (Duragesic MAT®)
a. Transdermal lidocaine (EMLA®)
Nalbuphine (Nubain®) is a partial opioid agonist. What characterizes this type of medication?
(Select all that apply.)
a. Used for mild pain
b. Used for moderate to severe pain
c. Drug of choice for reversing the effects of opioids in cases of overdose
d. Usually used for long-term conditions
e. Usually used for short-term conditions
f. Sometimes used in those who have a history of opioid addiction
b. Used for moderate to severe pain
e. Usually used for short-term conditions
f. Sometimes used in those who have a history of opioid addiction
