ATI Med-Surg Proctored 2023-2024 Exam Questions and Correct
ANSWERS TESTBANK GRADED A+
Pain
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which question asked by the nurse will give the most information about the patient’s
metastaticbone cancer pain?
a. “How long have you had this pain?”
b. “How would you describe your pain?”
c. “How much medication do you take
forthe pain?”
d. “How many times a day do you
takemedication 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 thestudent, indicates that teaching was effective?
a. “The drug decreases pain impulses in
thespinal cord.”
b. “The drug decreases sensitivity of
thebrain to painful stimuli.”
c. “The drug decreases production of
pain-sensitizing chemicals.”
d. “The drug decreases the modulating
effectof descending nerves.”
ANS: C
4. A nurse assesses a patient with chronic cancer pain who is receiving imipramine (Tofranil)
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, in addition to long-acting morphine. Which statement, if made by the patient, indicates to
the nursethat 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
canaccomplish 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 thenurse is best?
a. “The strategies work by affecting
theperception of pain.”
b. “These techniques block the
painpathways of the nerves.”
c. “Both strategies prevent transmission
ofpainful stimuli to the brain.”
d. “The therapies slow the release of
chemicals in the spinal cord that
causepain.”
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 bythe nurse is best?
a. Provide amitriptyline (Elavil) 10
mgorally.
b. Administer lorazepam (Ativan) 1
mgorally.
c. Offer ibuprofen (Motrin) 400 to 800
mgorally.
d. Give immediate-release morphine 30
mgorally.
ANS: D
7. A patient with chronic neck pain is seen in the pain clinic for follow-up. In order to
evaluatewhether the pain management is effective, which question is best for the nurse
to ask?
a. “Can you describe the quality of
yourpain?”
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, b. “Has there been a change in the
painlocation?”
c. “How would you rate your pain on a 0
to10 scale?”
d. “Does the pain keep you from
doingthings 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
to2 hours from the PCA machine while
the patient is sleeping.
b. Consult with the health care provider
about using a different treatment
protocolto control the patient’s pain.
c. Request that the health care provider
ordera bolus dose of morphine to be
given
when the patient awakens with pain.
d. Teach the patient to push the button
every10 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
thepatient’s chart.
ANS: C
10. When visiting a hospice patient, the nurse assesses that the patient has a respiratory
rate of 11breaths/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
driveto fail.
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, b. Tell the patient that additional
morphine can be administered when
the respirationsare 12.
c. Titrate the prescribed morphine
doseupward until the patient
indicates adequate pain relief.
d. Administer a nonopioid analgesic, such
asa 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
twicedaily
d. Meperidine (Demerol) 25 mg every
4hours
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 8on 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 decreasethe 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 patientis asleep when the nurse returns with the medication. Which action is best
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ANSWERS TESTBANK GRADED A+
Pain
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which question asked by the nurse will give the most information about the patient’s
metastaticbone cancer pain?
a. “How long have you had this pain?”
b. “How would you describe your pain?”
c. “How much medication do you take
forthe pain?”
d. “How many times a day do you
takemedication 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 thestudent, indicates that teaching was effective?
a. “The drug decreases pain impulses in
thespinal cord.”
b. “The drug decreases sensitivity of
thebrain to painful stimuli.”
c. “The drug decreases production of
pain-sensitizing chemicals.”
d. “The drug decreases the modulating
effectof descending nerves.”
ANS: C
4. A nurse assesses a patient with chronic cancer pain who is receiving imipramine (Tofranil)
P a g e 1 | 1025
, in addition to long-acting morphine. Which statement, if made by the patient, indicates to
the nursethat 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
canaccomplish 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 thenurse is best?
a. “The strategies work by affecting
theperception of pain.”
b. “These techniques block the
painpathways of the nerves.”
c. “Both strategies prevent transmission
ofpainful stimuli to the brain.”
d. “The therapies slow the release of
chemicals in the spinal cord that
causepain.”
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 bythe nurse is best?
a. Provide amitriptyline (Elavil) 10
mgorally.
b. Administer lorazepam (Ativan) 1
mgorally.
c. Offer ibuprofen (Motrin) 400 to 800
mgorally.
d. Give immediate-release morphine 30
mgorally.
ANS: D
7. A patient with chronic neck pain is seen in the pain clinic for follow-up. In order to
evaluatewhether the pain management is effective, which question is best for the nurse
to ask?
a. “Can you describe the quality of
yourpain?”
P a g e 2 | 1025
, b. “Has there been a change in the
painlocation?”
c. “How would you rate your pain on a 0
to10 scale?”
d. “Does the pain keep you from
doingthings 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
to2 hours from the PCA machine while
the patient is sleeping.
b. Consult with the health care provider
about using a different treatment
protocolto control the patient’s pain.
c. Request that the health care provider
ordera bolus dose of morphine to be
given
when the patient awakens with pain.
d. Teach the patient to push the button
every10 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
thepatient’s chart.
ANS: C
10. When visiting a hospice patient, the nurse assesses that the patient has a respiratory
rate of 11breaths/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
driveto fail.
P a g e 3 | 1025
, b. Tell the patient that additional
morphine can be administered when
the respirationsare 12.
c. Titrate the prescribed morphine
doseupward until the patient
indicates adequate pain relief.
d. Administer a nonopioid analgesic, such
asa 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
twicedaily
d. Meperidine (Demerol) 25 mg every
4hours
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 8on 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 decreasethe 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 patientis asleep when the nurse returns with the medication. Which action is best
P a g e 4 | 1025
