ATI LPN
Fundamentals of Nursing: The Art and Science of Person-Centered Care Tenth, North American Edition
Chapter 36 : Comfort and Pain Management Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is caring for patients in a hospital setting. Which patient would the nurse place at risk for pain related to the mechanical activation of pain receptors?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Mechanical activation of pain receptors occurs from friction or pressure, such as pressure sores from bedrest in an older adult post-cervical spine surgery (
A). Sunburn (
B) and acid burns (
C) are thermal and chemical stimulants, respectively, while electrical shock (
D) is an electrical stimulant.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse plans to promote a patient's natural pain mediators by using a whirlpool following intensive physical therapy to the legs. What is a potent pain-blocking neuromodulator, released through relaxation techniques?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Endorphins are powerful pain-blocking neuromodulators released through relaxation techniques like whirlpool therapy (
C). Prostaglandins and substance P (A,
B) enhance pain transmission, and serotonin (
D) primarily affects mood and smooth muscle function.
Question 3 of 5
A postoperative patient asks the nurse about pain management following surgery. What teaching will the nurse provide?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Patients should take pain medication at regular intervals to prevent severe pain (
D). Waiting until pain is severe (
B) makes it harder to control, and addiction is rare with short-term use (
A). Pain should be managed, not accepted as natural (
C).
Question 4 of 5
The nurse applies the gate control theory of pain to provide pain relief to a patient with chronic lower back pain. What nursing intervention will help relieve pain by 'closing the gate'?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The gate control theory suggests stimulating large nerve fibers to block pain signals. Applying moist heat (
B) stimulates these fibers to 'close the gate,' reducing pain perception. Analgesics (
A), reviewing pain (
C), or ambulation post-medication (
D) do not directly target this mechanism.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is assessing the pain of a neonate who is admitted to the NICU with a heart defect. Which pain assessment scale would be the best tool to use with this patient?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The CRIES Pain Scale is designed for neonates and infants from 0 to 6 months (
A), making it ideal for a NICU neonate. COMFORT (
B) is for critically ill pediatric patients, FLACC (
C) for infants and children 2 months to 7 years, and FACES (
D) for children who can compare pain to facial expressions.