MED SURG 170 ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS COMPLETE CLINICAL
STUDY GUIDE
●● How is acute pain typically characterized?
Answer: Short-lived (hours to days), results from sudden
trauma/surgery/inflammation, and often accompanied by a sympathetic
nervous system response.
●● What are the common characteristics of chronic pain?
Answer: Usually lasts longer than three months, has a gradual onset, and
can lead to physical deconditioning.
●● What is the difference between somatic and visceral pain?
Answer: Somatic pain originates in skin, muscle, or bone; visceral pain
originates at the organ level.
●● What are common descriptors for neuropathic pain?
Answer: Burning or numbness.
●● What does the PQRST acronym stand for in pain assessment?
Answer: P: Precipitating factors, Q: Quality, R: Radiation, S: Severity, T:
Treatment/Timing.
,●● What is multimodal analgesia?
Answer: Using two or more classes of analgesia to target different pain
mechanisms, which may allow for lower doses of each drug.
●● What is the recommended approach for dosing opioids in older
adults?
Answer: Start low and go slow; starting doses should be 25-50% lower
than standard.
●● Which opioid is specifically not recommended for pain treatment?
Answer: Meperidine (Demerol).
●● What is the primary goal of opioid titration?
Answer: To use the smallest dose that provides satisfactory pain relief
with the fewest side effects.
●● What are the three main components of a PCA pump order?
Answer: Loading dose, basal rate, and demand dosing.
●● What is the most common side effect of an epidural?
Answer: Hypotension.
,●● What is a critical nursing assessment for a patient with an epidural
regarding motor function?
Answer: The patient should be able to bend their knees and lift their
buttocks.
●● What is an absolute contraindication for patients with an epidural?
Answer: The administration of anticoagulants.
●● What is the difference between tolerance and physical dependence?
Answer: Tolerance is the need for increased doses to achieve the same
effect; physical dependence is a normal physiological response to long-
term opioid use.
●● What is the reversal agent for opioid-induced respiratory depression?
Answer: Naloxone.
●● What is the antidote for acetaminophen overdose?
Answer: Acetylcysteine.
●● What is a major risk associated with the use of NSAIDs?
Answer: Increased risk for bleeding, bruising, GI bleeding, and renal
insufficiency.
, ●● Why should placebos never be used for pain management?
Answer: It violates informed consent laws.
●● What is the purpose of a TENS unit?
Answer: To stimulate nerve fibers and trigger the release of endorphins
to reduce pain.
●● What sensation should a patient feel when using a TENS unit?
Answer: A tingling or 'pins and needles' sensation.
●● What are the first-line medications for persistent neuropathic pain?
Answer: Gabapentinoids.
●● What is the nurse's role when a patient is reluctant to report pain?
Answer: Assess frequently, advocate for proper pain control, and accept
the patient's self-report.
●● What should be monitored when a patient is receiving an epidural
containing opioids?
Answer: Respiratory rate and pulse oximetry.
●● What is the RICE acronym for non-pharmacologic pain
management?
CORRECT ANSWERS COMPLETE CLINICAL
STUDY GUIDE
●● How is acute pain typically characterized?
Answer: Short-lived (hours to days), results from sudden
trauma/surgery/inflammation, and often accompanied by a sympathetic
nervous system response.
●● What are the common characteristics of chronic pain?
Answer: Usually lasts longer than three months, has a gradual onset, and
can lead to physical deconditioning.
●● What is the difference between somatic and visceral pain?
Answer: Somatic pain originates in skin, muscle, or bone; visceral pain
originates at the organ level.
●● What are common descriptors for neuropathic pain?
Answer: Burning or numbness.
●● What does the PQRST acronym stand for in pain assessment?
Answer: P: Precipitating factors, Q: Quality, R: Radiation, S: Severity, T:
Treatment/Timing.
,●● What is multimodal analgesia?
Answer: Using two or more classes of analgesia to target different pain
mechanisms, which may allow for lower doses of each drug.
●● What is the recommended approach for dosing opioids in older
adults?
Answer: Start low and go slow; starting doses should be 25-50% lower
than standard.
●● Which opioid is specifically not recommended for pain treatment?
Answer: Meperidine (Demerol).
●● What is the primary goal of opioid titration?
Answer: To use the smallest dose that provides satisfactory pain relief
with the fewest side effects.
●● What are the three main components of a PCA pump order?
Answer: Loading dose, basal rate, and demand dosing.
●● What is the most common side effect of an epidural?
Answer: Hypotension.
,●● What is a critical nursing assessment for a patient with an epidural
regarding motor function?
Answer: The patient should be able to bend their knees and lift their
buttocks.
●● What is an absolute contraindication for patients with an epidural?
Answer: The administration of anticoagulants.
●● What is the difference between tolerance and physical dependence?
Answer: Tolerance is the need for increased doses to achieve the same
effect; physical dependence is a normal physiological response to long-
term opioid use.
●● What is the reversal agent for opioid-induced respiratory depression?
Answer: Naloxone.
●● What is the antidote for acetaminophen overdose?
Answer: Acetylcysteine.
●● What is a major risk associated with the use of NSAIDs?
Answer: Increased risk for bleeding, bruising, GI bleeding, and renal
insufficiency.
, ●● Why should placebos never be used for pain management?
Answer: It violates informed consent laws.
●● What is the purpose of a TENS unit?
Answer: To stimulate nerve fibers and trigger the release of endorphins
to reduce pain.
●● What sensation should a patient feel when using a TENS unit?
Answer: A tingling or 'pins and needles' sensation.
●● What are the first-line medications for persistent neuropathic pain?
Answer: Gabapentinoids.
●● What is the nurse's role when a patient is reluctant to report pain?
Answer: Assess frequently, advocate for proper pain control, and accept
the patient's self-report.
●● What should be monitored when a patient is receiving an epidural
containing opioids?
Answer: Respiratory rate and pulse oximetry.
●● What is the RICE acronym for non-pharmacologic pain
management?
