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NCLEX PN Exam Bank Pain Management and
Analgesics for Practical Nurses
Table of Contents
Subtopic 1: Fundamentals of Pain Assessment and Types of Pain ..................................... 2
Subtopic 2: Pharmacologic Pain Management – Analgesics, Opioids, and NSAIDs ........... 10
Subtopic 3: Pain Management in Special Populations – Pediatric, Geriatric, and Cognitively
Impaired Patients ........................................................................................................ 19
Subtopic 4: Non-Pharmacologic and Complementary Pain Management Techniques ...... 27
Subtopic 5: Non-Pharmacological Pain Management Techniques and Complementary
Therapies ................................................................................................................... 36
Subtopic 6: Patient-Centered Pain Care Across the Lifespan .......................................... 45
Subtopic 7: Pain Management in Older Adults and Special Populations .......................... 54
Subtopic 8: Patient-Centered Pain Education and Communication Strategies ................. 62
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Subtopic 1: Fundamentals of Pain Assessment and
Types of Pain
Question 1:
A practical nurse is assessing a client who describes a sharp, stabbing pain in the lower
abdomen that started 2 hours ago. What type of pain is the client most likely experiencing?
A. Acute pain
B. Chronic pain
C. Neuropathic pain
D. Referred pain
Correct answer: A. Acute pain
Rationale: Acute pain has a sudden onset and is usually sharp in quality. It is often a
warning of disease or a threat to the body and typically resolves once the underlying cause
is treated.
Question 2:
Which pain assessment scale is most appropriate for a 3-year-old pediatric patient?
A. Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)
B. Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
C. FLACC Scale
D. Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale
Correct answer: C. FLACC Scale
Rationale: The FLACC scale is suitable for children aged 2 months to 7 years who cannot
communicate their pain. It evaluates five criteria: Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and
Consolability.
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Question 3:
What is the most reliable indicator of a patient’s pain?
A. Facial expression
B. Heart rate and blood pressure
C. Physical assessment
D. Patient’s self-report
Correct answer: D. Patient’s self-report
Rationale: Pain is subjective, and the most accurate indicator is the patient’s own report,
regardless of objective signs.
Question 4:
A nurse is caring for a client with diabetic neuropathy complaining of burning foot pain.
Which type of pain is this?
A. Visceral pain
B. Neuropathic pain
C. Somatic pain
D. Referred pain
Correct answer: B. Neuropathic pain
Rationale: Neuropathic pain is caused by nerve damage and often presents as burning,
tingling, or shooting pain.
Question 5:
A client reports a dull, aching pain in the lower back for over 6 months. How is this pain
best categorized?
A. Acute pain
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B. Referred pain
C. Chronic pain
D. Somatic pain
Correct answer: C. Chronic pain
Rationale: Pain lasting longer than 3 to 6 months is considered chronic, and it can persist
beyond the usual course of healing.
Question 6:
Which of the following should be assessed first when a patient reports severe pain?
A. Coping mechanisms
B. Pain location
C. Pain intensity
D. Pain history
Correct answer: C. Pain intensity
Rationale: Determining how severe the pain is will guide immediate interventions and the
urgency of care.
Question 7:
What is the purpose of using a pain scale from 0 to 10 in pain assessment?
A. Identify the source of pain
B. Determine cause of pain
C. Measure the intensity of pain
D. Predict pain duration
Correct answer: C. Measure the intensity of pain
NCLEX PN Exam Bank Pain Management and
Analgesics for Practical Nurses
Table of Contents
Subtopic 1: Fundamentals of Pain Assessment and Types of Pain ..................................... 2
Subtopic 2: Pharmacologic Pain Management – Analgesics, Opioids, and NSAIDs ........... 10
Subtopic 3: Pain Management in Special Populations – Pediatric, Geriatric, and Cognitively
Impaired Patients ........................................................................................................ 19
Subtopic 4: Non-Pharmacologic and Complementary Pain Management Techniques ...... 27
Subtopic 5: Non-Pharmacological Pain Management Techniques and Complementary
Therapies ................................................................................................................... 36
Subtopic 6: Patient-Centered Pain Care Across the Lifespan .......................................... 45
Subtopic 7: Pain Management in Older Adults and Special Populations .......................... 54
Subtopic 8: Patient-Centered Pain Education and Communication Strategies ................. 62
, 2
Subtopic 1: Fundamentals of Pain Assessment and
Types of Pain
Question 1:
A practical nurse is assessing a client who describes a sharp, stabbing pain in the lower
abdomen that started 2 hours ago. What type of pain is the client most likely experiencing?
A. Acute pain
B. Chronic pain
C. Neuropathic pain
D. Referred pain
Correct answer: A. Acute pain
Rationale: Acute pain has a sudden onset and is usually sharp in quality. It is often a
warning of disease or a threat to the body and typically resolves once the underlying cause
is treated.
Question 2:
Which pain assessment scale is most appropriate for a 3-year-old pediatric patient?
A. Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)
B. Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
C. FLACC Scale
D. Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale
Correct answer: C. FLACC Scale
Rationale: The FLACC scale is suitable for children aged 2 months to 7 years who cannot
communicate their pain. It evaluates five criteria: Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and
Consolability.
, 3
Question 3:
What is the most reliable indicator of a patient’s pain?
A. Facial expression
B. Heart rate and blood pressure
C. Physical assessment
D. Patient’s self-report
Correct answer: D. Patient’s self-report
Rationale: Pain is subjective, and the most accurate indicator is the patient’s own report,
regardless of objective signs.
Question 4:
A nurse is caring for a client with diabetic neuropathy complaining of burning foot pain.
Which type of pain is this?
A. Visceral pain
B. Neuropathic pain
C. Somatic pain
D. Referred pain
Correct answer: B. Neuropathic pain
Rationale: Neuropathic pain is caused by nerve damage and often presents as burning,
tingling, or shooting pain.
Question 5:
A client reports a dull, aching pain in the lower back for over 6 months. How is this pain
best categorized?
A. Acute pain
, 4
B. Referred pain
C. Chronic pain
D. Somatic pain
Correct answer: C. Chronic pain
Rationale: Pain lasting longer than 3 to 6 months is considered chronic, and it can persist
beyond the usual course of healing.
Question 6:
Which of the following should be assessed first when a patient reports severe pain?
A. Coping mechanisms
B. Pain location
C. Pain intensity
D. Pain history
Correct answer: C. Pain intensity
Rationale: Determining how severe the pain is will guide immediate interventions and the
urgency of care.
Question 7:
What is the purpose of using a pain scale from 0 to 10 in pain assessment?
A. Identify the source of pain
B. Determine cause of pain
C. Measure the intensity of pain
D. Predict pain duration
Correct answer: C. Measure the intensity of pain
