Pain Quiz: Can You Assess And Treat It Right?

1. NSAIDs are contraindicated in patients with which condition?

Hypertension only

Severe renal impairment or active peptic ulcer disease

Mild headache

Low fever

2. Which statement is true regarding the WHO analgesic ladder for pain management?

It recommends starting with strong opioids for all pain

It progresses from non-opioid to weak opioid to strong opioid based on pain severity

It excludes non-pharmacological interventions

It is outdated and no longer used in clinical practice

3. When a patient's pain management plan is ineffective, the nurse should first _____ the patient's pain.

Ignore

Reassess

Document

Dismiss

4. A patient with severe pain is prescribed a transdermal fentanyl patch. What is a critical nursing consideration?

The patch provides immediate pain relief

Heat sources increase fentanyl absorption and risk overdose

The patch is appropriate for acute postoperative pain

No breakthrough analgesia is needed

5. Which factor most significantly affects a patient's pain perception and response?

Age alone

Gender alone

Prior pain experiences, cultural beliefs, anxiety, and coping skills

The type of medication available

6. A patient reports pain that radiates down the leg following a specific nerve pathway. This describes _____ pain.

Somatic

Visceral

Referred

Neuropathic

7. Which pain management approach aligns with current evidence-based practice guidelines?

Opioids as first-line treatment for all pain types

Multimodal analgesia combining pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods

Non-pharmacological interventions exclusively

Waiting for patients to request pain relief

8. A patient on opioids reports severe constipation. Which is the best preventive approach?

Hold the opioid until constipation resolves

Prescribe a stool softener and increase fluids proactively

Wait until constipation occurs to treat it

Recommend laxatives only as needed

9. When documenting pain, which element is most critical for continuity of care?

The patient's pain tolerance level

Location, intensity, quality, onset, duration, and response to interventions

Only the numeric pain rating

The nurse's personal opinion about the pain

10. A patient with cancer pain is prescribed around-the-clock opioids. What is the primary goal of this regimen?

To prevent withdrawal symptoms

To maintain consistent pain control and prevent breakthrough pain

To maximize the drug's cost-effectiveness

To reduce the patient's need for non-pharmacological methods

11. Which pain scale is most appropriate for assessing pain in a non-verbal patient with dementia?

Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) scale

Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

Verbal Descriptor Scale (VDS)

12. A nurse is assessing pain in a 5-year-old child. Which scale is most developmentally appropriate?

Numeric Rating Scale (0–10)

FACES Pain Rating Scale with cartoon faces

Visual Analog Scale

Verbal Descriptor Scale

13. Which statement best describes acute pain versus chronic pain?

Acute pain lasts less than 3 months; chronic pain persists beyond 3-6 months

Acute pain is always more severe than chronic pain

Chronic pain always requires opioid treatment

Acute pain cannot be treated with non-pharmacological methods

14. A patient on patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) reports the pain is not controlled. What should the nurse assess first?

Whether the patient is using the pump correctly

The patient's psychological state

If the patient is seeking drugs

The patient's pain threshold

15. Which non-pharmacological intervention is most effective for reducing acute postoperative pain?

Relaxation breathing and guided imagery

Music therapy alone

Combined pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches

Distraction by television

16. A patient refuses opioid analgesia due to fear of addiction. What is the nurse's best response?

Respect the refusal and provide no pain management

Educate that therapeutic opioid use rarely causes addiction when properly managed

Administer the medication without the patient's knowledge

Suggest the patient simply tolerate the pain

17. Morphine is prescribed for a postoperative patient. Which side effect requires immediate intervention?

Constipation and dry mouth

Respiratory depression below 10 breaths per minute

Drowsiness and mild dizziness

Nausea for the first 24 hours

18. Which characteristic is typical of neuropathic pain?

Sharp, burning, or tingling sensation

Dull, constant ache

Localized to the injury site

Relieved by rest and elevation

19. A patient rates pain as 8/10 on the numeric scale. Which action is the nurse's priority?

Document the pain level and reassess in 2 hours

Administer prescribed analgesic and implement comfort measures

Notify the physician that the patient is exaggerating pain

Apply heat therapy and encourage distraction techniques only

Pain Quiz: Can You Assess and Treat It Right?