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Clinical Nursing Skills

Review Questions

Clinical Nursing SkillsReview Questions

Review Questions

1 .
What step in the pain process involves the gate control theory of pain?
  1. transduction of pain
  2. transmission of pain
  3. perception of pain
  4. modification of pain
2 .
The nurse is providing a class to nursing students on chronic pain management. What example describes chronic pain?
  1. a patient admitted to the hospital for a femur fracture
  2. a patient experiencing back pain from a car accident last year
  3. a patient receiving first aid for burning their hand on the stove
  4. a patient experiencing a ruptured aneurysm
3 .
A patient is complaining of right ankle pain that feels “dull and aching.” The nurse documents this as what type of pain?
  1. cutaneous
  2. visceral
  3. somatic
  4. referred
4 .
The nurse is providing a class to nursing students about pain. How would the nurse define pain to the students?
  1. an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage
  2. an objective experience that is defined by a pain rating scale
  3. an unpleasant sensation that can only be treated with medications
  4. an unpleasant sensation for a short duration and in a specific location
5 .
The nurse is caring for an older adult patient who has been experiencing back pain. The nurse asks the patient to rate their pain and the patient states “I am not in pain. I am fine.” The nurse knows the patient could have what factor impacting their perception of pain?
  1. medical diagnosis
  2. culture
  3. age
  4. cognitive function
6 .
The nurse is explaining the sympathetic response to pain to a student who has just started their orientation in the emergency department. What statement does the nurse make about the sympathetic response to pain?
  1. “It is an involuntary reaction to pain that keeps the body safe from danger.”
  2. “It helps the body relax and rest after perceived pain.”
  3. “It involves facial expressions and vocal expressions of pain.”
  4. “It can include emotions such as fear and anxiety in connection to pain.”
7 .
The nurse is caring for an infant patient and knows what physical response or sign is most likely going to be present in an infant in pain?
  1. increased blood pressure
  2. decreased heart rate
  3. crying
  4. withdrawal from touch
8 .
The nurse is caring for a patient experiencing chronic pain due to bladder cancer treatment. The nurse knows the patient is at risk for what type of behavioral response to pain?
  1. vocalization of pain
  2. social withdrawal
  3. algophobia
  4. catastrophizing
9 .
A patient dealing with chronic pain is seeking help with their anxiety. The patient states “My anxiety has gotten so much worse since this pain began.” The nurse can make what recommendation to the patient to treat anxiety in chronic pain?
  1. cognitive behavioral therapy
  2. opioid analgesics
  3. avoiding potential painful situations
  4. treating the chronic pain
10 .
The nurse is teaching a class on pain management and is discussing the physiologic response to pain. What would the nurse state is a sign of the sympathetic response to pain?
  1. lowering blood pressure
  2. directing the pancreas to create insulin
  3. slowing digestion
  4. constricting pupils to limit light
11 .
The nurse is caring for a patient who is struggling to cope with their chronic pain from cancer treatment. The nurse knows what factor can make a positive difference in the patient’s perception of pain?
  1. strong social support
  2. quitting their job
  3. avoidance
  4. catastrophizing
12 .
The nurse is caring for a preschool-aged patient who is admitted for abdominal pain. How would the nurse expect the patient to express their pain?
  1. catastrophizing
  2. accepting the pain is normal
  3. physical resistance and anger
  4. appear quiet and reserved
13 .
What is the definition of the placebo effect?
  1. when a patient thinks of the worst possible outcome for their pain
  2. when pain intervention proves to be effective because the patient believed it would be
  3. when the patient experiences extreme physical or mental suffering
  4. when the patient experiences pain because they expect it
14 .
The effect of trauma on the perception of pain is what type of factor?
  1. psychological
  2. psychosocial
  3. physiological
  4. cultural
15 .
The nurse is caring for an 80-year-old patient who has come into the emergency room to be monitored after a fall at home. The nurse knows the patient is at risk for what factor impacting their pain?
  1. age
  2. trauma
  3. distress
  4. expectation
16 .
A 40-year-old patient diagnosed with congestive heart failure is laughing and eating dinner with his visiting family. When asked to rate his pain on a numeric rating scale, the patient rates his pain as an 8 out of 10. What would the nurse conclude is the patient’s pain rating?
  1. It is what the patient says it is.
  2. It is less severe due to the patient’s behaviors.
  3. It is in anticipation of future pain.
  4. It is not accurate and the patient is exhibiting drug-seeking behaviors.
17 .
A patient comes to the emergency department with reports of decreased physical mobility, nausea, lack of appetite, and a “strange ache” in her back. What is the nurse’s initial focus?
  1. starting IV fluids for dehydration
  2. performing a comprehensive pain assessment
  3. ordering a physical therapy evaluation
  4. administering antiemetic medications
18 .
The nurse notices a 6-year-old patient grimacing and moaning as he walks to the bathroom. The patient does not respond when the nurse asks the patient to rate his pain on the numeric rating scale. What is the nurse’s response?
  1. Accept the patient’s lack of response as an indication of no pain.
  2. Clarify the patient’s pain rating using the FACES Pain Scale.
  3. Ask the patient’s parents to rate his pain.
  4. Ask the patient to rate his pain using the same scale again.
19 .
For a patient who is cognitively impaired and cannot use a pain scale, what vital sign changes may indicate the patient is experiencing pain?
  1. decreased blood pressure
  2. decreased respiratory rate
  3. increased heart rate
  4. increased oxygen saturation
20 .
What should the nurse document when evaluating an intervention for pain?
  1. current pain level and any symptoms
  2. vital signs
  3. head-to-toe assessment
  4. skin assessment
21 .
What is biofeedback therapy used for?
  1. controlling bodily functions such as heart rate to decrease pain
  2. controlling pain using a programmed pump
  3. decreasing pain through exercise and movement
  4. decreasing pain through positive imagery
22 .
The nurse is caring for a patient who was recently prescribed opioids following surgery. What is the best nursing intervention to prevent the side effect of constipation?
  1. increasing fluids and exercise
  2. monitoring for respiratory depression
  3. using stool softeners as needed
  4. increasing the patient’s diet to promote motility
23 .
The nurse is caring for a patient with pancreatitis that has been unable to take oral pain medications. What is the best action for the nurse?
  1. administering antiemetic medication
  2. using massage as a pain intervention
  3. initiating biofeedback therapy
  4. requesting a PCA order from the practitioner
24 .
The patient states they have been consuming acetaminophen frequently for the past several days to reduce their back pain. What side effect would the nurse be concerned about?
  1. gastrointestinal bleeding
  2. liver damage
  3. respiratory depression
  4. constipation
25 .
What safeguard should the nurse initiate to prevent medication errors when caring for a patient receiving a patient-controlled analgesic?
  1. checking the pump settings with the oncoming nurse
  2. decreasing the patient’s dose to prevent side effects
  3. monitoring the patient for respiratory depression
  4. ensuring the pump alarms are at full volume
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