Fundamentals of Nursing Theory Concepts and
Applications 4th Edition Wilkinson
Test Bank Chapters 31-40
Chapter 31: Pain
1. A patient suddenly develops right lower-quadrant pain, nausea, vomiting, and
rebound tenderness. How should the nurse classify this patients pain?
1) Acute
2) Chronic
3) Intractable
4) Neuropathic
2. How should the nurse classify pain that a patient with lung cancer is
experiencing?
1) Radiating
2) Deep somatic
3) Visceral
4) Referred
3. A patient who underwent a left above-the-knee amputation complains of pain in
his left foot. The nurse should document this finding as what type of pain?
1) Psychogenic
2) Phantom
3) Referred
4) Radiating
4. A patient who sustained a leg laceration in an industrial accident is brought to
the emergency department. The area around the laceration is red, swollen, and
tender. Which substance is responsible for causing this response?
1) Histamine
2) Prostaglandin
3) Bradykinin
4) Serotonin
5. In which process do peripheral nerves carry the pain message to the dorsal horn
of the spinal cord?
1) Transduction
2) Transmission
3) Perception
4) Modulation
6. A patient reports that he uses music therapy to help control his chronic pain.
Music therapy works by prompting the release of endogenous opioids during
which stage of the pain process?
1) Perception
2) Transduction
, 3) Transmission
4) Modulation
7. The nurse is assessing an intubated patient who returned from coronary artery
bypass surgery 3 hours ago. Which assessment finding might indicate that this
patient is experiencing pain?
1) Blood pressure 160/92 mm Hg
2) Temperature 100.6F
3) Heart rate 80 beats/min
4) Oxygen saturation 95%
8. A patient who sustained rib fractures in a motor vehicle accident is complaining
that his pain medication is ineffective. Inadequate pain control places this patient
at risk for which complication?
1) Metabolic alkalosis
2) Pneumothorax
3) Pneumonia
4) Hemothorax
9. When should the nurse assess pain?
1) Whenever a full set of vital signs is taken
2) During the admission interview
3) Every 4 hours for the first 2 days after surgery
4) Only when the patient complains of pain
10. Which nursing diagnosis is most appropriate for the patient who returns from the
postanesthesia care unit after undergoing right hemicolectomy surgery for colon
cancer?
1) Acute pain secondary to surgery
2) Acute pain (abdominal) secondary to surgery for colon cancer
3) Chronic pain secondary to cancer diagnosis
4) Chronic pain (abdominal) secondary to abdominal surgery
11. Which drug might the primary care provider prescribe to help facilitate pain
management in a client with chronic pain?
1) Paroxetine (Paxil)
2) Atomoxetine (Strattera)
3) Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
4) Ondansetron (Zofran)
12. The nurse administers acetaminophen 325 mg and codeine 30 mg orally to a
patient complaining of a severe headache. When should the nurse reassess the
patients pain?
1) 15 minutes after administration
2) 60 minutes after administration
3) 90 minutes after administration
4) Immediately before the next dose is due
,13. After receiving ibuprofen (Motrin) 800 mg orally for right hip pain, the patient
states that his pain is 8 out of 10 on the numerical pain scale. Which action
should the nurse take?
1) Use nonpharmacological therapy while waiting 3 more hours before next
dose.
2) Administer an additional 800 mg oral dose of ibuprofen right away.
3) Do nothing because the patients facial expression indicates he is
comfortable.
4) Notify the prescriber that the current pain management plan is
ineffective.
14. The nurse is teaching a client who sustained an ankle injury about cold
application. Which instruction should the nurse include in the teaching plan?
1) Place the cold pack directly on the skin over the ankle.
2) Apply the cold pack to the ankle for 30 minutes at a time.
3) Check the skin frequently for extreme redness.
4) Keep the cold pack in place for at least 24 hours.
15. The nurse plays music for a child with leukemia who is experiencing pain.
Which pain management technique is this nurse using?
1) Distraction
2) Guided imagery
3) Sequential muscle relaxation
4) Hypnosis
16. The nurse uses his hands to direct energy fields surrounding the patients body.
After this intervention, the patient states that his pain has lessened. How should
the nurse document the intervention?
1) Tactile distraction was performed and appeared effective in reducing
pain.
2) Guided imagery was effective to relax the patient and reduce the pain.
3) Therapeutic touch was performed; patient verbalized lessening of pain
after treatment.
4) Sequential muscle relaxation was performed; patient states pain is less.
17. A patient prescribed a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), naproxen
(Aleve, Naprosyn), for treatment of arthritis complains of stomach upset. What
should the nurse instruct the patient to do?
1) Notify the prescriber immediately.
2) Take the medication with food.
3) Take the medication with 8 ounces of water.
4) Take the medication before bedtime.
18. A patient is prescribed morphine sulfate 4.0 mg intravenously for postoperative
pain.
1) Which action should the nurse take before administering the medication?
2) Monitor the patients respiratory status.
3) Auscultate the patients heart sounds.
4) Check blood pressure in supine and sitting positions.
5) Monitor the patient for psychological drug dependence.
, 19. A client reports taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) to control osteoarthritis. Which
instruction should the nurse give the patient requiring long-term acetaminophen
use?
1) Caution the patient against combining acetaminophen with alcohol.
2) Explain that acetaminophen increases the risk for bleeding.
3) Advise taking acetaminophen with meals to prevent gastric irritation.
4) Explain that physical dependence may occur with long-term oral use.
20. Which side effects associated with opioid use may improve after taking a few
doses of the drug?
1) Constipation
2) Drowsiness
3) Dry mouth
4) Difficulty with urination
21. A patient develops a respiratory rate 6 breaths/minute after receiving IV
hydromorphone (Dilaudid) 2.0 mg. Which medication should the nurse
anticipate administering to this patient after notifying the prescriber of this side
effect?
1) Physostigmine (Antilirium)
2) Flumazenil (Romazicon)
3) Naloxone (Narcan)
4) Protamine sulfate
22. Which pain management task can be safely delegated to nursing assistive
personnel?
1) Assessing the quality and intensity of the patients pain
2) Evaluating the effectiveness of pain medication
3) Providing a therapeutic back massage
4) Administering oral dose of acetaminophen
23. Which expected outcome is best for the patient with a nursing diagnosis of
Acute Pain related to movement and secondary to surgical resection of a
ruptured spleen and possible inadequate analgesia?
1) The patient will verbalize a reduction in pain after receiving pain
medication and repositioning.
2) The patient will rest quietly when undisturbed.
3) On a scale of 0 to 10, the patient will rate pain as a 3 while in bed or as a
4 during ambulation.
4) The patient will receive pain medication every 2 hours as prescribed.
24. A patient had a bowel resection 5 days ago. Which request by the patient might
alert the nurse that the patient has a history of substance abuse?
1) Oral pain medication once every 6 to 8 hours
2) Patient-controlled analgesic
3) Oral pain medications instead of the IM form
4) Only nonpharmacological pain measures
Applications 4th Edition Wilkinson
Test Bank Chapters 31-40
Chapter 31: Pain
1. A patient suddenly develops right lower-quadrant pain, nausea, vomiting, and
rebound tenderness. How should the nurse classify this patients pain?
1) Acute
2) Chronic
3) Intractable
4) Neuropathic
2. How should the nurse classify pain that a patient with lung cancer is
experiencing?
1) Radiating
2) Deep somatic
3) Visceral
4) Referred
3. A patient who underwent a left above-the-knee amputation complains of pain in
his left foot. The nurse should document this finding as what type of pain?
1) Psychogenic
2) Phantom
3) Referred
4) Radiating
4. A patient who sustained a leg laceration in an industrial accident is brought to
the emergency department. The area around the laceration is red, swollen, and
tender. Which substance is responsible for causing this response?
1) Histamine
2) Prostaglandin
3) Bradykinin
4) Serotonin
5. In which process do peripheral nerves carry the pain message to the dorsal horn
of the spinal cord?
1) Transduction
2) Transmission
3) Perception
4) Modulation
6. A patient reports that he uses music therapy to help control his chronic pain.
Music therapy works by prompting the release of endogenous opioids during
which stage of the pain process?
1) Perception
2) Transduction
, 3) Transmission
4) Modulation
7. The nurse is assessing an intubated patient who returned from coronary artery
bypass surgery 3 hours ago. Which assessment finding might indicate that this
patient is experiencing pain?
1) Blood pressure 160/92 mm Hg
2) Temperature 100.6F
3) Heart rate 80 beats/min
4) Oxygen saturation 95%
8. A patient who sustained rib fractures in a motor vehicle accident is complaining
that his pain medication is ineffective. Inadequate pain control places this patient
at risk for which complication?
1) Metabolic alkalosis
2) Pneumothorax
3) Pneumonia
4) Hemothorax
9. When should the nurse assess pain?
1) Whenever a full set of vital signs is taken
2) During the admission interview
3) Every 4 hours for the first 2 days after surgery
4) Only when the patient complains of pain
10. Which nursing diagnosis is most appropriate for the patient who returns from the
postanesthesia care unit after undergoing right hemicolectomy surgery for colon
cancer?
1) Acute pain secondary to surgery
2) Acute pain (abdominal) secondary to surgery for colon cancer
3) Chronic pain secondary to cancer diagnosis
4) Chronic pain (abdominal) secondary to abdominal surgery
11. Which drug might the primary care provider prescribe to help facilitate pain
management in a client with chronic pain?
1) Paroxetine (Paxil)
2) Atomoxetine (Strattera)
3) Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
4) Ondansetron (Zofran)
12. The nurse administers acetaminophen 325 mg and codeine 30 mg orally to a
patient complaining of a severe headache. When should the nurse reassess the
patients pain?
1) 15 minutes after administration
2) 60 minutes after administration
3) 90 minutes after administration
4) Immediately before the next dose is due
,13. After receiving ibuprofen (Motrin) 800 mg orally for right hip pain, the patient
states that his pain is 8 out of 10 on the numerical pain scale. Which action
should the nurse take?
1) Use nonpharmacological therapy while waiting 3 more hours before next
dose.
2) Administer an additional 800 mg oral dose of ibuprofen right away.
3) Do nothing because the patients facial expression indicates he is
comfortable.
4) Notify the prescriber that the current pain management plan is
ineffective.
14. The nurse is teaching a client who sustained an ankle injury about cold
application. Which instruction should the nurse include in the teaching plan?
1) Place the cold pack directly on the skin over the ankle.
2) Apply the cold pack to the ankle for 30 minutes at a time.
3) Check the skin frequently for extreme redness.
4) Keep the cold pack in place for at least 24 hours.
15. The nurse plays music for a child with leukemia who is experiencing pain.
Which pain management technique is this nurse using?
1) Distraction
2) Guided imagery
3) Sequential muscle relaxation
4) Hypnosis
16. The nurse uses his hands to direct energy fields surrounding the patients body.
After this intervention, the patient states that his pain has lessened. How should
the nurse document the intervention?
1) Tactile distraction was performed and appeared effective in reducing
pain.
2) Guided imagery was effective to relax the patient and reduce the pain.
3) Therapeutic touch was performed; patient verbalized lessening of pain
after treatment.
4) Sequential muscle relaxation was performed; patient states pain is less.
17. A patient prescribed a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), naproxen
(Aleve, Naprosyn), for treatment of arthritis complains of stomach upset. What
should the nurse instruct the patient to do?
1) Notify the prescriber immediately.
2) Take the medication with food.
3) Take the medication with 8 ounces of water.
4) Take the medication before bedtime.
18. A patient is prescribed morphine sulfate 4.0 mg intravenously for postoperative
pain.
1) Which action should the nurse take before administering the medication?
2) Monitor the patients respiratory status.
3) Auscultate the patients heart sounds.
4) Check blood pressure in supine and sitting positions.
5) Monitor the patient for psychological drug dependence.
, 19. A client reports taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) to control osteoarthritis. Which
instruction should the nurse give the patient requiring long-term acetaminophen
use?
1) Caution the patient against combining acetaminophen with alcohol.
2) Explain that acetaminophen increases the risk for bleeding.
3) Advise taking acetaminophen with meals to prevent gastric irritation.
4) Explain that physical dependence may occur with long-term oral use.
20. Which side effects associated with opioid use may improve after taking a few
doses of the drug?
1) Constipation
2) Drowsiness
3) Dry mouth
4) Difficulty with urination
21. A patient develops a respiratory rate 6 breaths/minute after receiving IV
hydromorphone (Dilaudid) 2.0 mg. Which medication should the nurse
anticipate administering to this patient after notifying the prescriber of this side
effect?
1) Physostigmine (Antilirium)
2) Flumazenil (Romazicon)
3) Naloxone (Narcan)
4) Protamine sulfate
22. Which pain management task can be safely delegated to nursing assistive
personnel?
1) Assessing the quality and intensity of the patients pain
2) Evaluating the effectiveness of pain medication
3) Providing a therapeutic back massage
4) Administering oral dose of acetaminophen
23. Which expected outcome is best for the patient with a nursing diagnosis of
Acute Pain related to movement and secondary to surgical resection of a
ruptured spleen and possible inadequate analgesia?
1) The patient will verbalize a reduction in pain after receiving pain
medication and repositioning.
2) The patient will rest quietly when undisturbed.
3) On a scale of 0 to 10, the patient will rate pain as a 3 while in bed or as a
4 during ambulation.
4) The patient will receive pain medication every 2 hours as prescribed.
24. A patient had a bowel resection 5 days ago. Which request by the patient might
alert the nurse that the patient has a history of substance abuse?
1) Oral pain medication once every 6 to 8 hours
2) Patient-controlled analgesic
3) Oral pain medications instead of the IM form
4) Only nonpharmacological pain measures
