CHAPTER 10:NR 293-ANALGESIC DRUGS QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS EXAM
MULTIPLE CHOICE
A patient is recovering from abdominal surgery, which he had this morning. He is groggy but
complaining of severe pain around his incision. What is the most important assessment data to
consider before the nurse administers a dose of morphine sulfate to the patient?
a His pulse rate
.
b His respiratory rate
.
c The appearance of the incision
.
d The date of his last bowel movement
.
ANS: B
One of the most serious adverse effects of opioids is respiratory depression. The nurse must assess the
patient’s respiratory rate before administering an opioid. The other options are incorrect.
A 78-year-old patient is in the recovery room after having a lengthy surgery on his hip. As he is
gradually awakening, he requests pain medication. Within 10 minutes after receiving a dose of
morphine sulfate, he is very lethargic and his respirations are shallow, with a rate of 7 per minute.
The nurse prepares for which priority action at this time?
a Assessment of the patient’s pain level
.
b Immediate intubation and artificial ventilation
.
c Administration of naloxone (Narcan)
.
d Close observation of signs of opioid tolerance
.
ANS: C
,CHAPTER 10:NR 293-ANALGESIC DRUGS QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS EXAM
Naloxone, an opioid-reversal agent, is used to reverse the effects of acute opioid overdose and is the
drug of choice for reversal of opioid-induced respiratory depression. This situation is describing an
opioid overdose, not opioid tolerance. Intubation and artificial ventilation are not appropriate because
the patient is still breathing at 7 breaths per minute. It would be inappropriate to assess the patient’s
level of pain.
A patient will be discharged with a 1-week supply of an opioid analgesic for pain management after
abdominal surgery. The nurse will include which information in the teaching plan?
A How to prevent dehydration due to diarrhea
b. Importance of taking the drug only when the pain becomes
severe c How to prevent constipation
.
d Importance of taking the drug on an empty stomach
.
ANS: C
Gastrointestinal adverse effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and constipation, are the most common
adverse effects associated with opioid analgesics. Physical dependence usually occurs in patients
undergoing long-term treatment. Diarrhea is not an effect of opioid analgesics. Taking the dose with
food may help minimize GI upset.
A patient has been treated for lung cancer for 3 years. Over the past few months, the patient has
noticed that the opioid analgesic is not helping as much as it had previously and more medication is
needed for the same pain relief. The nurse is aware that this patient is experiencing opioid
a addiction.
.
b tolerance.
.
c toxicity.
.
d abstinence syndrome.
ANS: B
,CHAPTER 10:NR 293-ANALGESIC DRUGS QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS EXAM
Opioid tolerance is a common physiologic result of long-term opioid use. Patients with opioid tolerance
require larger doses of the opioid agent to maintain the same level of analgesia. This situation does not
describe toxicity (overdose), addiction, or abstinence syndrome (withdrawal).
A 38-year-old man has come into the urgent care center with severe hip pain after falling from a
ladder at work. He says he has taken several pain pills over the past few hours but cannot remember
how many he has taken. He hands the nurse an empty bottle of acetaminophen (Tylenol). The nurse
is aware that the most serious toxic effect of acute acetaminophen overdose is which condition?
a Tachycardia
.
b Central nervous system depression
.
c Hepatic necrosis
.
d Nephropathy
.
ANS: C
Hepatic necrosis is the most serious acute toxic effect of an acute overdose of acetaminophen. The
other options are incorrect.
A 57-year-old woman being treated for end-stage breast cancer has been using a transdermal opioid
analgesic as part of the management of pain. Lately, she has been experiencing breakthrough pain.
The nurse expects this type of pain to be managed by
a administering NSAIDs.
administering an immediate-release opioid.
c changing the opioid route to the rectal
route.
.
d not changing the current therapy.
.
ANS: B
, CHAPTER 10:NR 293-ANALGESIC DRUGS QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS EXAM
If a patient is taking long-acting opioid analgesics, breakthrough pain must be treated with an
immediate-release dosage form that is given between scheduled doses of the long-acting opioid. The
other options are not appropriate actions.
The nurse is reviewing herbal therapies. Which is a common use of the herb
feverfew? a Muscle aches
.
b Migraine headaches
.
c Leg cramps
.
d Incision pain after surgery
.
ANS: B
ANSWERS EXAM
MULTIPLE CHOICE
A patient is recovering from abdominal surgery, which he had this morning. He is groggy but
complaining of severe pain around his incision. What is the most important assessment data to
consider before the nurse administers a dose of morphine sulfate to the patient?
a His pulse rate
.
b His respiratory rate
.
c The appearance of the incision
.
d The date of his last bowel movement
.
ANS: B
One of the most serious adverse effects of opioids is respiratory depression. The nurse must assess the
patient’s respiratory rate before administering an opioid. The other options are incorrect.
A 78-year-old patient is in the recovery room after having a lengthy surgery on his hip. As he is
gradually awakening, he requests pain medication. Within 10 minutes after receiving a dose of
morphine sulfate, he is very lethargic and his respirations are shallow, with a rate of 7 per minute.
The nurse prepares for which priority action at this time?
a Assessment of the patient’s pain level
.
b Immediate intubation and artificial ventilation
.
c Administration of naloxone (Narcan)
.
d Close observation of signs of opioid tolerance
.
ANS: C
,CHAPTER 10:NR 293-ANALGESIC DRUGS QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS EXAM
Naloxone, an opioid-reversal agent, is used to reverse the effects of acute opioid overdose and is the
drug of choice for reversal of opioid-induced respiratory depression. This situation is describing an
opioid overdose, not opioid tolerance. Intubation and artificial ventilation are not appropriate because
the patient is still breathing at 7 breaths per minute. It would be inappropriate to assess the patient’s
level of pain.
A patient will be discharged with a 1-week supply of an opioid analgesic for pain management after
abdominal surgery. The nurse will include which information in the teaching plan?
A How to prevent dehydration due to diarrhea
b. Importance of taking the drug only when the pain becomes
severe c How to prevent constipation
.
d Importance of taking the drug on an empty stomach
.
ANS: C
Gastrointestinal adverse effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and constipation, are the most common
adverse effects associated with opioid analgesics. Physical dependence usually occurs in patients
undergoing long-term treatment. Diarrhea is not an effect of opioid analgesics. Taking the dose with
food may help minimize GI upset.
A patient has been treated for lung cancer for 3 years. Over the past few months, the patient has
noticed that the opioid analgesic is not helping as much as it had previously and more medication is
needed for the same pain relief. The nurse is aware that this patient is experiencing opioid
a addiction.
.
b tolerance.
.
c toxicity.
.
d abstinence syndrome.
ANS: B
,CHAPTER 10:NR 293-ANALGESIC DRUGS QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS EXAM
Opioid tolerance is a common physiologic result of long-term opioid use. Patients with opioid tolerance
require larger doses of the opioid agent to maintain the same level of analgesia. This situation does not
describe toxicity (overdose), addiction, or abstinence syndrome (withdrawal).
A 38-year-old man has come into the urgent care center with severe hip pain after falling from a
ladder at work. He says he has taken several pain pills over the past few hours but cannot remember
how many he has taken. He hands the nurse an empty bottle of acetaminophen (Tylenol). The nurse
is aware that the most serious toxic effect of acute acetaminophen overdose is which condition?
a Tachycardia
.
b Central nervous system depression
.
c Hepatic necrosis
.
d Nephropathy
.
ANS: C
Hepatic necrosis is the most serious acute toxic effect of an acute overdose of acetaminophen. The
other options are incorrect.
A 57-year-old woman being treated for end-stage breast cancer has been using a transdermal opioid
analgesic as part of the management of pain. Lately, she has been experiencing breakthrough pain.
The nurse expects this type of pain to be managed by
a administering NSAIDs.
administering an immediate-release opioid.
c changing the opioid route to the rectal
route.
.
d not changing the current therapy.
.
ANS: B
, CHAPTER 10:NR 293-ANALGESIC DRUGS QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS EXAM
If a patient is taking long-acting opioid analgesics, breakthrough pain must be treated with an
immediate-release dosage form that is given between scheduled doses of the long-acting opioid. The
other options are not appropriate actions.
The nurse is reviewing herbal therapies. Which is a common use of the herb
feverfew? a Muscle aches
.
b Migraine headaches
.
c Leg cramps
.
d Incision pain after surgery
.
ANS: B
