NR 293 Exam 2 Practice Questions
Chapter 10: Analgesic Drugs
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last month, and has complained
of a dull ache in the abdomen for the past 4 months. This pain has been gradually
increasing, and the pain relievers taken at home are no longer effective. What type
of pain is the patient experiencing?
a Acute pain
.
b Chronic pain
.
c Somatic pain
.
d Neuropathic pain
.
ANS: B
Chronic pain is associated with cancer and is characterized by slow onset, long
duration, and dull, persistent aching. The patient’s symptoms are not characteristics
of acute pain, somatic pain, or neuropathic pain.
2. An 18-year-old basketball player fell and twisted his ankle during a game. The
nurse will expect to administer which type of analgesic?
a Synthetic opioid, such as meperidine (Demerol)
.
,b Opium alkaloid, such as morphine sulfate
.
c Opioid antagonist, such as naloxone HCL (Narcan)
.
d Nonopioid analgesic, such as indomethacin (Indocin)
.
ANS: D
Somatic pain, which originates from skeletal muscles, ligaments, and joints, usually
responds to nonopioid analgesics such as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs). The other options are not the best choices for somatic pain.
3. 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.
4. 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
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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
.
Chapter 10: Analgesic Drugs
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last month, and has complained
of a dull ache in the abdomen for the past 4 months. This pain has been gradually
increasing, and the pain relievers taken at home are no longer effective. What type
of pain is the patient experiencing?
a Acute pain
.
b Chronic pain
.
c Somatic pain
.
d Neuropathic pain
.
ANS: B
Chronic pain is associated with cancer and is characterized by slow onset, long
duration, and dull, persistent aching. The patient’s symptoms are not characteristics
of acute pain, somatic pain, or neuropathic pain.
2. An 18-year-old basketball player fell and twisted his ankle during a game. The
nurse will expect to administer which type of analgesic?
a Synthetic opioid, such as meperidine (Demerol)
.
,b Opium alkaloid, such as morphine sulfate
.
c Opioid antagonist, such as naloxone HCL (Narcan)
.
d Nonopioid analgesic, such as indomethacin (Indocin)
.
ANS: D
Somatic pain, which originates from skeletal muscles, ligaments, and joints, usually
responds to nonopioid analgesics such as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs). The other options are not the best choices for somatic pain.
3. 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.
4. 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
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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
.
