Pain Management Flashcards
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing mild acute pain after spraining an ankle. Which of the following analgesics should the nurse expect to administer?
A. Ketorolac
B. Ketamine
C. Meperidine
D. Methadone
A. CORRECT: Ketorolac is in the NSAID category and is useful for anti-inflammatory effects in managing minor pain following a sprain.
A nurse at a clinic is talking with a client who has cancer and takes extended-release opioids twice daily. The client reports an increase in localized, achy pain over the last few days. How should the nurse document this increase in pain?
A. Phantom limb pain
B. Mixed pain
C. Breakthrough pain
D. Neuropathic pain
C. CORRECT: Breakthrough pain is an acute exacerbation of pain beyond the level the client typically experiences.
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving morphine via a patient‑controlled analgesia (PCA) infusion device after abdominal surgery. Which of the following client statements indicates that the client understands how to use the device?
A. “I’ll wait to use the device until it’s absolutely necessary.”
B. “I’ll be careful about pushing the button so I don’t get an overdose.”
C. “I should tell the nurse if the pain doesn’t stop after I use this device.”
D. “I will ask my son to push the dose button when I am sleeping.”
C. CORRECT: The nurse should identify that PCA is a method of delivering pain medication through an electronic infusion device that allows the client to self‑administer pain medication on an as‑needed basis. If the client is not achieving adequate pain control, he should let the nurse know so that she can initiate a reevaluation of the client’s pain management plan.
A nurse is discussing pain assessment with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following information should the nurse include?
A. Most clients exaggerate their level of pain.
B. Pain must have an identifiable source to justify the use of opioids.
C. Objective data are essential in assessing pain.
D. Pain is whatever the client says it is.
D. CORRECT: The nurse should identify that pain is a subjective experience, and the client is the best source of information about it.
A nurse is monitoring a client who is receiving opioid analgesia. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as adverse effects of opioid analgesics? (Select all that apply.)
A. Urinary incontinence
B. Diarrhea
C. Bradypnea
D. Orthostatic hypotension
E. Nausea
C. CORRECT: Respiratory depression, which causes respiratory rates to drop to dangerously low levels, is a common adverse effect of opioid analgesia.
D. CORRECT: Dizziness or lightheadedness when changing positions is a common adverse effect of opioid analgesia.
E. CORRECT: Nausea and vomiting are common adverse effects of opioid analgesia.
A nurse at a clinic is collecting data about pain from of a client who reports severe abdominal pain. The nurse asks the client if there has been any accompanying nausea and vomiting. Which of the following pain characteristics is the nurse attempting to determine?
A. Presence of associated manifestations
B. Location of the pain
C. Pain quality
D. Aggravating and relieving factors
A. CORRECT: Attempt to identify manifestations that occur along with the client’s pain (nausea, fatigue, or anxiety).
A nurse is collecting data from a client who is reporting pain despite taking analgesia. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to determine the intensity of the client’s pain?
A. Ask the client what precipitates the pain.
B. Question the client about the location of the pain.
C. Offer the client a pain scale to measure their pain.
D. Use open‑ended questions to identify the client’s pain sensations.
C. CORRECT: Use a pain rating scale to help the client report the intensity of the pain. The nurse should use a numeric, verbal, or visual analog scale appropriate to the client’s individual needs.
A nurse is discussing the care of a group of clients with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following clients should the newly licensed nurse identify as experiencing chronic pain?
A. A client who has a broken femur and reports hip pain.
B. A client who has incisional pain 72 hr following pacemaker insertion.
C. A client who has food poisoning and reports abdominal cramping.
D. A client who has episodic back pain following a fall 2 years ago.
D. CORRECT: A client who reports pain that lasts more than 6 months and continues beyond the time of tissue healing is experiencing chronic pain. Assist with planning interventions to relieve manifestations associated with the pain.
A nurse is monitoring a client for adverse effects following the administration of an opioid. Which of the following effects should the nurse identify as an adverse effect of opioids? (Select all that apply.)
A. Urinary incontinence
B. Diarrhea
C. Bradypnea
D. Orthostatic hypotension
E. Nausea
C. CORRECT: Opioid analgesia can cause respiratory depression, which causes respiratory rates to drop to dangerously low levels. Monitor the client’s respiratory rate, and administer naloxone if indicated.
D. CORRECT: Opioid analgesia can cause orthostatic hypotension. Monitor for dizziness or lightheadedness when changing positions.
E. CORRECT: Opioid analgesia can cause nausea and vomiting. Monitor for and treat these complications as needed.
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving morphine via a patient‑controlled analgesia (PCA) infusion device after abdominal surgery. Which of the following statements indicates that the client knows how to use the device?
A. “I’ll wait to use the device until it’s absolutely necessary.”
B. “I’ll be careful about pushing the button too much so I don’t get an overdose.”
C. “I should tell the nurse if the pain doesn’t stop while I am using this device.”
D. “I will ask my adult child to push the dose button when I am sleeping.”
C. CORRECT: PCA allows the client to self‑administer pain medication on an as‑needed basis. The provider can modify the PCA settings if needed to ensure the client achieves adequate pain relief.
What is Nociceptive pain?
Pain that is felt in a tissue, an organ, or a damaged part of the body
What is Neuropathic pain?
Nerve pain that arises from the somatosensory system
What are the 4 ethical principles of pain management?
Beneficence, Nonmalfeasance, Autonomy, & Justice
What is the principle for hot and cold therapy?
20 minutes on, 20 minutes off
