Chapter 12: Drugs for Pain Management Visovsky:
Introduction to Clinical Pharmacology, 10th Edition
Questions and Correct Answers
1. What types of drugs have the main purpose of relieving pain? - ANSWER Analgesics
2. An adult patient has returned to the unit from an operative procedure. The healthcare
provider
asks you to rate a patient's postoperative pain. What is your best response? - ANSWER "I
will ask the patient to rate his own pain."
3. You are caring for a female patient who is paralyzed from the waist down and has a large
open
wound on her right heel. When asked about her pain in that foot, she tells you it is a 0 on a 0
to 10
pain rating scale. What does this response indicate? - ANSWER The patient's paralysis
prevents the patient's brain from perceiving the pain.
4. A nursing student assigned to work with you asks you to explain why natural and synthetic
opioids are considered "high-alert drugs?" What is your best response? - ANSWER "Opioids
have an increased risk for causing a patient harm if given in error.
5. The RN has given 2 mg of hydromorphone intravenously to a patient for severe pain.
When
, you assess the patient's pain level an hour after receiving the drug you find the patient
asleep with
a respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min. What is your best first action? - ANSWER Assess the
patient's oxygen saturation with pulse oximetry.
6. A patient being discharged to home is prescribed an oxycodone-acetaminophen
combination
for pain management. Which statement regarding a precaution is most important to teach
this
patient? - ANSWER "Be sure to drink plenty of water and eat foods high in fiber to prevent
constipation."
7. You accidentally give a patient 30 mg orally of hydromorphone (Dilaudid) instead of the 30
mg
of oral hydrocodone ordered. What is your first best action? - ANSWER Notify the RN in
charge immediately
8. When assessing the blood pressure of a patient receiving pentazocine (Talwin) 30 mg
orally for
pain control two days after surgery, the reading is 166/100, which is much higher than the
patient's presurgical blood pressure. What is your best action? - ANSWER Assess the
patient for other cardiac changes.
9. A patient with chronic pain asks you to explain how tramadol works to help control pain.
What
is your best response? - ANSWER "Tramadol acts by blocking neurotransmitters in the
spinal cord and brain."
10.A patient with chronic arthritis pain reports taking acetaminophen 4 to 6 g/day for
arthritis
pain. Which health problem should you teach this patient that can occur as a result of taking
this
acetaminophen therapy? - ANSWER Liver toxicity can result as a result of high
acetaminophen doses."
11. The postoperative orders for an adult patient who has just arrived on your unit after
major
abdominal surgery reads morphine 15mg IM every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain. What is
the
Introduction to Clinical Pharmacology, 10th Edition
Questions and Correct Answers
1. What types of drugs have the main purpose of relieving pain? - ANSWER Analgesics
2. An adult patient has returned to the unit from an operative procedure. The healthcare
provider
asks you to rate a patient's postoperative pain. What is your best response? - ANSWER "I
will ask the patient to rate his own pain."
3. You are caring for a female patient who is paralyzed from the waist down and has a large
open
wound on her right heel. When asked about her pain in that foot, she tells you it is a 0 on a 0
to 10
pain rating scale. What does this response indicate? - ANSWER The patient's paralysis
prevents the patient's brain from perceiving the pain.
4. A nursing student assigned to work with you asks you to explain why natural and synthetic
opioids are considered "high-alert drugs?" What is your best response? - ANSWER "Opioids
have an increased risk for causing a patient harm if given in error.
5. The RN has given 2 mg of hydromorphone intravenously to a patient for severe pain.
When
, you assess the patient's pain level an hour after receiving the drug you find the patient
asleep with
a respiratory rate of 10 breaths/min. What is your best first action? - ANSWER Assess the
patient's oxygen saturation with pulse oximetry.
6. A patient being discharged to home is prescribed an oxycodone-acetaminophen
combination
for pain management. Which statement regarding a precaution is most important to teach
this
patient? - ANSWER "Be sure to drink plenty of water and eat foods high in fiber to prevent
constipation."
7. You accidentally give a patient 30 mg orally of hydromorphone (Dilaudid) instead of the 30
mg
of oral hydrocodone ordered. What is your first best action? - ANSWER Notify the RN in
charge immediately
8. When assessing the blood pressure of a patient receiving pentazocine (Talwin) 30 mg
orally for
pain control two days after surgery, the reading is 166/100, which is much higher than the
patient's presurgical blood pressure. What is your best action? - ANSWER Assess the
patient for other cardiac changes.
9. A patient with chronic pain asks you to explain how tramadol works to help control pain.
What
is your best response? - ANSWER "Tramadol acts by blocking neurotransmitters in the
spinal cord and brain."
10.A patient with chronic arthritis pain reports taking acetaminophen 4 to 6 g/day for
arthritis
pain. Which health problem should you teach this patient that can occur as a result of taking
this
acetaminophen therapy? - ANSWER Liver toxicity can result as a result of high
acetaminophen doses."
11. The postoperative orders for an adult patient who has just arrived on your unit after
major
abdominal surgery reads morphine 15mg IM every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain. What is
the
