ATI Med-Surg Proctored Exam Question Bank | Updated 2025
Edition with Real Exam Questions, Correct Answers, and Detailed
Explanations for RN & PN Reviewain
Test Bank P
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which question asked by the nurse will give the most information about the patient’s
metastatic bone cancer pain?
a. “How long have you had this pain?”
b. “How would you describe your pain?”
c. “How much medication do you take for
the pain?”
d. “How many times a day do you take
medication for the pain?”
ANS: B
2. A patient who uses a fentanyl (Duragesic) patch for chronic cancer pain suddenly complains of
rapid onset pain at a level 9 (0 to 10 scale) and requests “something for pain that will work
now.” How will the nurse document the type of pain reported by this patient?
a. Somatic pain
b. Referred pain
c. Neuropathic pain
d. Breakthrough pain
ANS: D
3. The nurse teaches a student nurse about the action of ibuprofen. Which statement, if made by
the student, indicates that teaching was effective?
a. “The drug decreases pain impulses in the
spinal cord.”
b. “The drug decreases sensitivity of the
brain to painful stimuli.”
c. “The drug decreases production of pain-
sensitizing chemicals.”
d. “The drug decreases the modulating
effect of descending nerves.”
ANS: C
4. A nurse assesses a patient with chronic cancer pain who is receiving imipramine (Tofranil) in
addition to long-acting morphine. Which statement, if made by the patient, indicates to the
nurse that the patient is receiving adequate pain control?
a. “I’m not anxious at all.”
b. “I sleep 8 hours every night.”
c. “I feel much less depressed since I’ve
been taking the Tofranil.”
, d. “The pain is manageable and I can
accomplish my desired activities.
ANS: D
5. A patient with chronic back pain has learned to control the pain with the use of imagery and
hypnosis. The patient’s spouse asks the nurse how these techniques work. Which response by
the nurse is best?
a. “The strategies work by affecting the
perception of pain.”
b. “These techniques block the pain
pathways of the nerves.”
c. “Both strategies prevent transmission of
painful stimuli to the brain.”
d. “The therapies slow the release of
chemicals in the spinal cord that cause
pain.”
ANS: A
6. A patient who is receiving sustained-release morphine sulfate (MS Contin) every 12 hours for
chronic pain experiences level 9 (0 to 10 scale) breakthrough pain and anxiety. Which action
by the nurse is best?
a. Provide amitriptyline (Elavil) 10 mg
orally.
b. Administer lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg
orally.
c. Offer ibuprofen (Motrin) 400 to 800 mg
orally.
d. Give immediate-release morphine 30 mg
orally.
ANS: D
7. A patient with chronic neck pain is seen in the pain clinic for follow-up. In order to
evaluate whether the pain management is effective, which question is best for the nurse to
ask?
a. “Can you describe the quality of your
pain?”
b. “Has there been a change in the pain
location?”
c. “How would you rate your pain on a 0 to
10 scale?”
d. “Does the pain keep you from doing
things you enjoy?”
ANS: D
, 8. A patient with second-degree burns has been receiving hydromorphone through patient-
controlled analgesia (PCA) for a week. The patient wakes up frequently during the night
complaining of pain. What action by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. Administer a dose of morphine every 1 to
2 hours from the PCA machine while the
patient is sleeping.
b. Consult with the health care provider
about using a different treatment protocol
to control the patient’s pain.
c. Request that the health care provider order
a bolus dose of morphine to be given
when the patient awakens with pain.
d. Teach the patient to push the button
every 10 minutes for an hour before
going to
sleep, even if the pain is minimal.
ANS: B
9. The nurse assesses that a patient receiving epidural morphine has not voided for over 10
hours. What action should the nurse take initially?
a. Monitor for withdrawal symptoms.
b. Place an indwelling urinary catheter.
c. Ask if the patient feels the need to void.
d. Document this allergic reaction in the
patient’s chart.
ANS: C
10. When visiting a hospice patient, the nurse assesses that the patient has a respiratory rate of
11 breaths/minute and complains of severe pain. Which action is best for the nurse to take?
a. Inform the patient that increasing the
morphine will cause the respiratory drive
to fail.
b. Tell the patient that additional morphine
can be administered when the respirations
are 12.
c. Titrate the prescribed morphine
dose upward until the patient
indicates adequate pain relief.
d. Administer a nonopioid analgesic, such as
a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug
(NSAID), to improve patient pain control.
ANS: C
11. The nurse is completing the medication reconciliation form for a patient admitted with chronic
, cancer pain. Which medication is of most concern to the nurse?
a. Amitriptyline (Elavil) 50 mg at bedtime
b. Ibuprofen (Advil) 800 mg 3 times daily
c. Oxycodone (OxyContin) 80 mg twice daily
d. Meperidine (Demerol) 25 mg every 4
hours
ANS: D
12. The nurse reviews the medication administration record in order to choose the most appropriate
pain medication for a patient with cancer who describes the pain as “deep, aching and at a level
8 on a 0 to 10 scale”. Which medication should the nurse administer?
a. Fentanyl (Duragesic) patch
b. Ketorolac (Toradol) tablets
c. Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) IV
d. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) suppository
ANS: C
13. The nurse is caring for a patient who has diabetes and complains of chronic burning leg pain
even when taking oxycodone (OxyContin) twice daily. When reviewing the orders, which
prescribed medication is the best choice for the nurse to administer as an adjuvant to
decrease the patient’s pain?
a. Aspirin (Ecotrin)
b. Celecoxib (Celebrex)
c. Amitriptyline (Elavil)
d. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
ANS: C
14. A patient who uses a fentanyl (Duragesic) patch for chronic abdominal pain caused by ovarian
cancer asks the nurse to administer the prescribed hydrocodone (Vicodin) tablets, but the
patient is asleep when the nurse returns with the medication. Which action is best for the nurse
to take?
a. Wake the patient and administer the
hydrocodone.
b. Wait until the patient wakes up and
reassess the pain.
c. Suggest the use of nondrug therapies for
pain relief instead of additional opioids.
d. Consult with the health care provider about
changing the fentanyl (Duragesic) dose.
ANS: A
15. The following medications are prescribed by the health care provider for a middle-aged patient
Edition with Real Exam Questions, Correct Answers, and Detailed
Explanations for RN & PN Reviewain
Test Bank P
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which question asked by the nurse will give the most information about the patient’s
metastatic bone cancer pain?
a. “How long have you had this pain?”
b. “How would you describe your pain?”
c. “How much medication do you take for
the pain?”
d. “How many times a day do you take
medication for the pain?”
ANS: B
2. A patient who uses a fentanyl (Duragesic) patch for chronic cancer pain suddenly complains of
rapid onset pain at a level 9 (0 to 10 scale) and requests “something for pain that will work
now.” How will the nurse document the type of pain reported by this patient?
a. Somatic pain
b. Referred pain
c. Neuropathic pain
d. Breakthrough pain
ANS: D
3. The nurse teaches a student nurse about the action of ibuprofen. Which statement, if made by
the student, indicates that teaching was effective?
a. “The drug decreases pain impulses in the
spinal cord.”
b. “The drug decreases sensitivity of the
brain to painful stimuli.”
c. “The drug decreases production of pain-
sensitizing chemicals.”
d. “The drug decreases the modulating
effect of descending nerves.”
ANS: C
4. A nurse assesses a patient with chronic cancer pain who is receiving imipramine (Tofranil) in
addition to long-acting morphine. Which statement, if made by the patient, indicates to the
nurse that the patient is receiving adequate pain control?
a. “I’m not anxious at all.”
b. “I sleep 8 hours every night.”
c. “I feel much less depressed since I’ve
been taking the Tofranil.”
, d. “The pain is manageable and I can
accomplish my desired activities.
ANS: D
5. A patient with chronic back pain has learned to control the pain with the use of imagery and
hypnosis. The patient’s spouse asks the nurse how these techniques work. Which response by
the nurse is best?
a. “The strategies work by affecting the
perception of pain.”
b. “These techniques block the pain
pathways of the nerves.”
c. “Both strategies prevent transmission of
painful stimuli to the brain.”
d. “The therapies slow the release of
chemicals in the spinal cord that cause
pain.”
ANS: A
6. A patient who is receiving sustained-release morphine sulfate (MS Contin) every 12 hours for
chronic pain experiences level 9 (0 to 10 scale) breakthrough pain and anxiety. Which action
by the nurse is best?
a. Provide amitriptyline (Elavil) 10 mg
orally.
b. Administer lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg
orally.
c. Offer ibuprofen (Motrin) 400 to 800 mg
orally.
d. Give immediate-release morphine 30 mg
orally.
ANS: D
7. A patient with chronic neck pain is seen in the pain clinic for follow-up. In order to
evaluate whether the pain management is effective, which question is best for the nurse to
ask?
a. “Can you describe the quality of your
pain?”
b. “Has there been a change in the pain
location?”
c. “How would you rate your pain on a 0 to
10 scale?”
d. “Does the pain keep you from doing
things you enjoy?”
ANS: D
, 8. A patient with second-degree burns has been receiving hydromorphone through patient-
controlled analgesia (PCA) for a week. The patient wakes up frequently during the night
complaining of pain. What action by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. Administer a dose of morphine every 1 to
2 hours from the PCA machine while the
patient is sleeping.
b. Consult with the health care provider
about using a different treatment protocol
to control the patient’s pain.
c. Request that the health care provider order
a bolus dose of morphine to be given
when the patient awakens with pain.
d. Teach the patient to push the button
every 10 minutes for an hour before
going to
sleep, even if the pain is minimal.
ANS: B
9. The nurse assesses that a patient receiving epidural morphine has not voided for over 10
hours. What action should the nurse take initially?
a. Monitor for withdrawal symptoms.
b. Place an indwelling urinary catheter.
c. Ask if the patient feels the need to void.
d. Document this allergic reaction in the
patient’s chart.
ANS: C
10. When visiting a hospice patient, the nurse assesses that the patient has a respiratory rate of
11 breaths/minute and complains of severe pain. Which action is best for the nurse to take?
a. Inform the patient that increasing the
morphine will cause the respiratory drive
to fail.
b. Tell the patient that additional morphine
can be administered when the respirations
are 12.
c. Titrate the prescribed morphine
dose upward until the patient
indicates adequate pain relief.
d. Administer a nonopioid analgesic, such as
a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug
(NSAID), to improve patient pain control.
ANS: C
11. The nurse is completing the medication reconciliation form for a patient admitted with chronic
, cancer pain. Which medication is of most concern to the nurse?
a. Amitriptyline (Elavil) 50 mg at bedtime
b. Ibuprofen (Advil) 800 mg 3 times daily
c. Oxycodone (OxyContin) 80 mg twice daily
d. Meperidine (Demerol) 25 mg every 4
hours
ANS: D
12. The nurse reviews the medication administration record in order to choose the most appropriate
pain medication for a patient with cancer who describes the pain as “deep, aching and at a level
8 on a 0 to 10 scale”. Which medication should the nurse administer?
a. Fentanyl (Duragesic) patch
b. Ketorolac (Toradol) tablets
c. Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) IV
d. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) suppository
ANS: C
13. The nurse is caring for a patient who has diabetes and complains of chronic burning leg pain
even when taking oxycodone (OxyContin) twice daily. When reviewing the orders, which
prescribed medication is the best choice for the nurse to administer as an adjuvant to
decrease the patient’s pain?
a. Aspirin (Ecotrin)
b. Celecoxib (Celebrex)
c. Amitriptyline (Elavil)
d. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
ANS: C
14. A patient who uses a fentanyl (Duragesic) patch for chronic abdominal pain caused by ovarian
cancer asks the nurse to administer the prescribed hydrocodone (Vicodin) tablets, but the
patient is asleep when the nurse returns with the medication. Which action is best for the nurse
to take?
a. Wake the patient and administer the
hydrocodone.
b. Wait until the patient wakes up and
reassess the pain.
c. Suggest the use of nondrug therapies for
pain relief instead of additional opioids.
d. Consult with the health care provider about
changing the fentanyl (Duragesic) dose.
ANS: A
15. The following medications are prescribed by the health care provider for a middle-aged patient
