NSG 322 Exam 1 - (Latest 2026/2027 Update) Pain Management, Obesity,
Diabetes, & Endocrine Disorders | Q&A | Grade A | 100% Correct (Verified
Answers)
Subject: Medical-Surgical Nursing / Pain, Obesity, Diabetes, & Endocrine Disorders
Source: NSG 322 Exam 1 – Comprehensive Review
Format: Q&A Guide with Clinical Rationale
1: What does PQRST mean in pain assessment?
Correct Answer: P: precipitate or palliate (what makes pain worse or better); Q: quality (sharp, dull,
burning, etc.); R: region and radiating (where is the pain); S: severity (how bad does it hurt); T: time
(how long has it hurt).
1. Standard pain assessment mnemonic for all patient populations.
2. Patients who are comatose or have developmental delays may have varying methods of
reporting pain.
3. Incorporate nonverbal information into pain assessment (wincing, guarding).
2: What is pain?
Correct Answer: Pain is subjective and is the patient's experience. Patients who are comatose or who
have developmental delays may have varying methods of reporting pain. Incorporate nonverbal
information into your pain assessment: wincing, guarding, etc.
1. Pain is whatever the patient says it is.
2. Self-report is gold standard when possible.
3. Behavioral observation needed for nonverbal patients.
3: What is nociception?
Correct Answer: Nociception is the physiologic process by which information about tissue damage is
communicated to the central nervous system. It involves four processes: 1. transduction: conversion of
"danger" to the tissue into a neuronal action potential; 2. transmission: action potential travels along
peripheral nerve to spinal cord to thalamus and cerebral cortex; 3. perception: pain is recognized; 4.
modulation: action to stop the pain. Pain is essentially protection for the body.
1. Nociception is the normal pain pathway.
2. Pain serves a protective function.
3. Modulation involves endogenous opioids and descending inhibition.
4: What is nociceptive pain?
Correct Answer: Damage to somatic or visceral tissue (surgical incision, broken bone, arthritis).
Usually responsive to opioids and nonopioid meds.
1. Nociceptive pain arises from tissue injury.
2. Somatic vs visceral subtypes.
3. Typically responds to standard analgesics.
, 5: What is somatic pain?
Correct Answer: Superficial or deep pain. Localized. Arises from bone, joint, muscle, skin, or
connective tissue. Superficial: sharp, burning or prickly. Deep: aching, throbbing, originates in bones,
joints, muscles, skin, or connective tissue.
1. Well-localized pain.
2. Can be superficial (skin) or deep (musculoskeletal).p>
3. Example: arthritis pain, surgical incision.
6: What is neuropathic pain?
Correct Answer: Damage to peripheral nerve or CNS. Numbing, hot-burning, shooting, stabbing, or
electrical in nature. Sudden, intense, short-lived, or lingering. Phantom limb pain, diabetic neuropathy.
1. Pathophysiology involves damaged nerves firing abnormally.
2. Often described as burning, shooting, electric shock.
3. May respond to adjuvant medications (gabapentin, TCAs).
7: What is visceral pain?
Correct Answer: Tumor involvement or obstruction. Arises from internal organs such as the intestines
or bladder.
1. Poorly localized, often referred to other areas.
2. May be described as cramping, pressure, aching.
3. Associated with nausea, sweating, hypotension.
8: What are the psychologic and physical effects of unrelieved pain?
Correct Answer: Unnecessary suffering, physical and psychosocial dysfunction, immunosuppression,
sleep disturbances.
1. Chronic pain affects all domains of health.
2. Pain is the "fifth vital sign" requiring routine assessment.
3. Unrelieved pain delays healing and recovery.
9: What is the nurse's role and responsibility in pain management?
Correct Answer: Nurses have a central role in assessment and pain management. Assess pain to
determine interventions needed. Communicate and consult with other providers to alleviate pain. Make
collaborative decisions with the patient. Identify goals for therapy. Remember PQRST.
1. Nurses are accountable for pain assessment and intervention.
2. Advocate for patients with unrelieved pain.
3. Collaborate with interdisciplinary team.
Diabetes, & Endocrine Disorders | Q&A | Grade A | 100% Correct (Verified
Answers)
Subject: Medical-Surgical Nursing / Pain, Obesity, Diabetes, & Endocrine Disorders
Source: NSG 322 Exam 1 – Comprehensive Review
Format: Q&A Guide with Clinical Rationale
1: What does PQRST mean in pain assessment?
Correct Answer: P: precipitate or palliate (what makes pain worse or better); Q: quality (sharp, dull,
burning, etc.); R: region and radiating (where is the pain); S: severity (how bad does it hurt); T: time
(how long has it hurt).
1. Standard pain assessment mnemonic for all patient populations.
2. Patients who are comatose or have developmental delays may have varying methods of
reporting pain.
3. Incorporate nonverbal information into pain assessment (wincing, guarding).
2: What is pain?
Correct Answer: Pain is subjective and is the patient's experience. Patients who are comatose or who
have developmental delays may have varying methods of reporting pain. Incorporate nonverbal
information into your pain assessment: wincing, guarding, etc.
1. Pain is whatever the patient says it is.
2. Self-report is gold standard when possible.
3. Behavioral observation needed for nonverbal patients.
3: What is nociception?
Correct Answer: Nociception is the physiologic process by which information about tissue damage is
communicated to the central nervous system. It involves four processes: 1. transduction: conversion of
"danger" to the tissue into a neuronal action potential; 2. transmission: action potential travels along
peripheral nerve to spinal cord to thalamus and cerebral cortex; 3. perception: pain is recognized; 4.
modulation: action to stop the pain. Pain is essentially protection for the body.
1. Nociception is the normal pain pathway.
2. Pain serves a protective function.
3. Modulation involves endogenous opioids and descending inhibition.
4: What is nociceptive pain?
Correct Answer: Damage to somatic or visceral tissue (surgical incision, broken bone, arthritis).
Usually responsive to opioids and nonopioid meds.
1. Nociceptive pain arises from tissue injury.
2. Somatic vs visceral subtypes.
3. Typically responds to standard analgesics.
, 5: What is somatic pain?
Correct Answer: Superficial or deep pain. Localized. Arises from bone, joint, muscle, skin, or
connective tissue. Superficial: sharp, burning or prickly. Deep: aching, throbbing, originates in bones,
joints, muscles, skin, or connective tissue.
1. Well-localized pain.
2. Can be superficial (skin) or deep (musculoskeletal).p>
3. Example: arthritis pain, surgical incision.
6: What is neuropathic pain?
Correct Answer: Damage to peripheral nerve or CNS. Numbing, hot-burning, shooting, stabbing, or
electrical in nature. Sudden, intense, short-lived, or lingering. Phantom limb pain, diabetic neuropathy.
1. Pathophysiology involves damaged nerves firing abnormally.
2. Often described as burning, shooting, electric shock.
3. May respond to adjuvant medications (gabapentin, TCAs).
7: What is visceral pain?
Correct Answer: Tumor involvement or obstruction. Arises from internal organs such as the intestines
or bladder.
1. Poorly localized, often referred to other areas.
2. May be described as cramping, pressure, aching.
3. Associated with nausea, sweating, hypotension.
8: What are the psychologic and physical effects of unrelieved pain?
Correct Answer: Unnecessary suffering, physical and psychosocial dysfunction, immunosuppression,
sleep disturbances.
1. Chronic pain affects all domains of health.
2. Pain is the "fifth vital sign" requiring routine assessment.
3. Unrelieved pain delays healing and recovery.
9: What is the nurse's role and responsibility in pain management?
Correct Answer: Nurses have a central role in assessment and pain management. Assess pain to
determine interventions needed. Communicate and consult with other providers to alleviate pain. Make
collaborative decisions with the patient. Identify goals for therapy. Remember PQRST.
1. Nurses are accountable for pain assessment and intervention.
2. Advocate for patients with unrelieved pain.
3. Collaborate with interdisciplinary team.
