Created By: Irfan Ali
ATI MED-SURG PROCTORED EXAM QUESTION
BANK WITH ANSWERS A+ Updated
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which question asked by the nurse will give the most information about the patient’s
metastatic bone cancer pain?
a. “How long have you had this pain?”
b. “How would you describe your pain?”
c. “How much medication do you take for the pain?”
d. “How many times a day do you take medication 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 the student, indicates that teaching was effective?
a. “The drug decreases pain impulses in the spinal cord.”
b. “The drug decreases sensitivity of the brain to painful stimuli.”
c. “The drug decreases production of pain- sensitizing chemicals.”
d. “The drug decreases the modulating effect of descending nerves.”
ANS: C
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,Created By: Irfan Ali
4. A nurse assesses a patient with chronic cancer pain who is receiving imipramine
(Tofranil) in addition to long-acting morphine. Which statement, if made by the patient, indicates
to the nurse that 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 can accomplish 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 the nurse is best?
a. “The strategies work by affecting the perception of pain.”
b. “These techniques block the pain pathways of the nerves.”
c. “Both strategies prevent transmission of painful stimuli to the brain.”
d. “The therapies slow the release of
chemicals in the spinal cord that cause pain.”
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 by the nurse is best?
a. Provide amitriptyline (Elavil) 10 mg orally.
b. Administer lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg orally.
c. Offer ibuprofen (Motrin) 400 to 800 mg orally.
d. Give immediate-release morphine 30 mg orally.
ANS: D
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,Created By: Irfan Ali
7. A patient with chronic neck pain is seen in the pain clinic for follow-up. In order to
evaluate whether the pain management is effective, which question is best for the nurse to ask?
a. “Can you describe the quality of your pain?”
b. “Has there been a change in the pain location?”
c. “How would you rate your pain on a 0 to 10 scale?”
d. “Does the pain keep you from doing things 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 to 2 hours from the PCA machine while the
patient is sleeping.
b. Consult with the health care provider about using a different treatment protocol to control
the patient’s pain.
c. Request that the health care provider order a bolus dose of morphine to be given
when the patient awakens with pain.
d. Teach the patient to push the button every 10 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 the patient’s chart.
ANS: C
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, Created By: Irfan Ali
10. When visiting a hospice patient, the nurse assesses that the patient has a respiratory rate
of 11 breaths/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 drive to fail.
b. Tell the patient that additional morphine can be administered when the respirations are
12.
c. Titrate the prescribed morphine dose upward until the patient indicates adequate pain
relief.
d. Administer a nonopioid analgesic, such as a 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 twice daily
d. Meperidine (Demerol) 25 mg every 4 hours
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 8 on 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
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ATI MED-SURG PROCTORED EXAM QUESTION
BANK WITH ANSWERS A+ Updated
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which question asked by the nurse will give the most information about the patient’s
metastatic bone cancer pain?
a. “How long have you had this pain?”
b. “How would you describe your pain?”
c. “How much medication do you take for the pain?”
d. “How many times a day do you take medication 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 the student, indicates that teaching was effective?
a. “The drug decreases pain impulses in the spinal cord.”
b. “The drug decreases sensitivity of the brain to painful stimuli.”
c. “The drug decreases production of pain- sensitizing chemicals.”
d. “The drug decreases the modulating effect of descending nerves.”
ANS: C
A+ Page 1
,Created By: Irfan Ali
4. A nurse assesses a patient with chronic cancer pain who is receiving imipramine
(Tofranil) in addition to long-acting morphine. Which statement, if made by the patient, indicates
to the nurse that 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 can accomplish 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 the nurse is best?
a. “The strategies work by affecting the perception of pain.”
b. “These techniques block the pain pathways of the nerves.”
c. “Both strategies prevent transmission of painful stimuli to the brain.”
d. “The therapies slow the release of
chemicals in the spinal cord that cause pain.”
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 by the nurse is best?
a. Provide amitriptyline (Elavil) 10 mg orally.
b. Administer lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg orally.
c. Offer ibuprofen (Motrin) 400 to 800 mg orally.
d. Give immediate-release morphine 30 mg orally.
ANS: D
A+ Page 2
,Created By: Irfan Ali
7. A patient with chronic neck pain is seen in the pain clinic for follow-up. In order to
evaluate whether the pain management is effective, which question is best for the nurse to ask?
a. “Can you describe the quality of your pain?”
b. “Has there been a change in the pain location?”
c. “How would you rate your pain on a 0 to 10 scale?”
d. “Does the pain keep you from doing things 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 to 2 hours from the PCA machine while the
patient is sleeping.
b. Consult with the health care provider about using a different treatment protocol to control
the patient’s pain.
c. Request that the health care provider order a bolus dose of morphine to be given
when the patient awakens with pain.
d. Teach the patient to push the button every 10 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 the patient’s chart.
ANS: C
A+ Page 3
, Created By: Irfan Ali
10. When visiting a hospice patient, the nurse assesses that the patient has a respiratory rate
of 11 breaths/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 drive to fail.
b. Tell the patient that additional morphine can be administered when the respirations are
12.
c. Titrate the prescribed morphine dose upward until the patient indicates adequate pain
relief.
d. Administer a nonopioid analgesic, such as a 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 twice daily
d. Meperidine (Demerol) 25 mg every 4 hours
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 8 on 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
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