Chapter 36: Pain Management

Chapter 36: Pain Management

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. The nurse is caring for a patient who is recovering from knee replacement surgery. The patient complains of severe pain in the knee after receiving hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Vicodin) 2 hours previously. What is the nurse’s best action?

ANS:  B

Application of ice packs will help reduce swelling and pain that was not relieved with the patient’s pain medication. The nurse should not administer another dose of Vicodin without an order from the physician. Heat will increase blood flow to the area rather than reduce swelling. Gentle ROM will increase pain if done at this time.

DIF:    Applying        REF:   p. 886 | p. 900                                 TOP:   Implementation

MSC:  NCLEX Client Needs Category: Basic Care and Comfort: Non-Pharmacological Comfort Interventions     NOT:           Concepts: Pain

2. The nurse is checking on the patient after administering pain medication 30 minutes previously. Which assessment finding best indicates to the nurse that the pain medication was effective?

ANS:  B

The best way for the nurse to determine that the pain medication was effective is for the patient to state that she has no pain. The other assessment findings cannot definitively determine whether or not the patient is still in pain.

DIF:    Remembering                                 REF:   p. 894 | p. 903

TOP:   Evaluation

MSC:  NCLEX Client Needs Category: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies: Expected Outcomes   NOT:           Concepts: Pain

3. The nurse is caring for a patient who has severe abdominal pain caused by acute cholecystitis. What type of pain is this patient experiencing?

ANS:  A

Visceral pain arises from the organs of the body and occurs when inflammation and tissue damage occurs, such as with cholecystitis. Somatic pain occurs when there is tissue damage to skin, muscle, joints, and bones. Referred pain occurs when the discomfort is felt at a location other than the origin of the pain. Radiating pain extends to another area of the body.

DIF:    Remembering                                 REF:   p. 890             TOP:   Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX Client Needs Category: Physiological Adaptation: Pathophysiology

NOT:  Concepts: Pain

4. Which is the best pain medication option for a patient to manage severe long-term cancer pain at home?

ANS:  A

Duragesic transdermal patch is the best pain management option for home use with patients who have long-term, severe cancer pain as no injections are required and the fentanyl is slowly released over 72 hours. Epidurals and PCA pumps are intended for hospital use. Frequent IM injections require nursing administration and are not optimal for chronic long-term pain.

DIF:    Applying        REF:   p. 900            TOP:   Implementation

MSC:   NCLEX Client Needs Category: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies: Pharmacological Pain Management            NOT:   Concepts: Pain