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 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 2 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 3 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 4 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.
Question 5 of 5
When the nurse assists a patient recovering from abdominal surgery to walk, the nurse observes that the patient grimaces, moves stiffly, and becomes pale. The nurse received in shift report that the patient has consistently refused pain medication. To help promote comfort, which additional data will the nurse gather? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: A,B,C,D
Rationale:
To promote comfort, the nurse should assess fears of analgesics (
A), current pain (
B), anxiety or stressors (
C), and incision for infection (
D), as these may explain refusal and pain behaviors. Diet (E) and spirometer use (F) are less directly related to pain management.