Pain Presentation Quiz

The nurse has just finished educating a patient with chronic pain about drug tolerance. What statement shows that the teaching was successful?

• I will stop taking my pain medication when I notice that I cannot go without it on a daily basis.

• I will contact my prescriber if the dose I am taking starts to not have as much effect on my pain.

• If my usual dose of medication doesn’t work, I will take double the next time.

• I can take as much medication as I need to satisfy my pain.

Answer explanation

The patient is describing pain tolerance, something that happens to

many patients that have to regularly take pain medications. When patients begin to build up tolerance to their medication, their regular dosage may not satisfy their pain. In this case they should notify their prescriber to see if their prescription can be changed to help them manage their pain better. The patient should not take more medication than prescribed and should not quit their medication abruptly without consulting their physician.

When caring for an infant, which pain scale would be most effective?

• 0-10 numeric pain scale

• CPOT pain scale

• FLACC pain scale

• Faces pain scale

Answer explanation

When dealing with infants, and patients too young to adequately

communicate their pain, using the assessment of the face, legs, activity, crying, and consolability. The numerical pain scale is only appropriate for patients who are alert, oriented, and can communicate their pain. The faces pain scale is appropriate for children who are are old enough to understand levels of emotion, and the CPOT scale is for critical care patients who are most often in comas, or lowered levels of consciousness.

A 65 year old patient has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. The patient should be educated on which type of pain that they will be at most risk of having?

• Breakthrough pain

• Phantom pain

• Acute pain

• Chronic pain

Answer explanation

A patient with a condition like osteoarthritis will have chronic joint

pain. They may experience bouts of acute pain but the degenerative aspect will lead to chronic pain experienced over time. Breakthrough pain may be experienced by patients with chronic pain but is not the manifestation of this condition, and phantom pain occurs in patients with amputated limbs.

A patient diagnosed with fibromyalgia is describing burning like electrical pain, and has not responded to OTC pain medications. What medication will the patient most likely be given?

• Gabapentin (Neurontin)

• Morphine

• Lorazepam (Ativan)

• Acetaminophen

Answer explanation

The patient is describing neuropathic pain, which will not respond to

normal medications for pain like NSAIDs or opioids. Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant that helps relax neurons from producing the effects of neuropathic pain. Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine and would not be used to treat neuropathic pain.

The nurse observes the patient who has been receiving morphine for pain having shallow breathing, low respirations, and a lessened LOC. What medication should the nurse administer (as ordered) for the patient displaying signs of opioid overdose?

• Flumazenil (Romazicon)

• Naloxone (Narcan)

• Methadone (Dolophine)

• protamine sulfate

Answer explanation

Naloxone is the indicated treatment for reversal of an opioid

overdose. Flumazenil is the antidote for benzodiazepine overdose, and protamine sulfate is used to reverse the effects of heparin. Methadone is a drug used for long term management of opioid addiction.