ATI RN
Client Comfort and End of Care ATI Questions
Question 1 of 5
A client with chronic pain is reluctant to take prescribed opioid analgesics. What is the basis for this reluctance likely to be?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The basis for reluctance to take prescribed opioid analgesics in a client with chronic pain is likely fear of addiction, a common concern rooted in opioids' reputation for dependence. Clients may worry about physical or psychological reliance, even when medically justified, due to stigma or past experiences. Choice B, desire for more pain, is illogicalpain prompts treatment-seeking, not avoidance, unless psychological factors like self-punishment exist, which isn't typical. Choice C, allergic reaction, could deter use, but reluctance suggests hesitation, not a confirmed reaction, and allergies are less common than addiction fears. Choice D, lack of finances, might limit access but isn't implied herereluctance points to personal choice, not cost. Choice A is correct, highlighting a key barrier nurses address through education, explaining safe use, monitoring, and tapering plans to ease fears, ensuring pain relief without compromising trust or safety.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is caring for a client who reports relief of pain after a placebo was administered during a research study. What does the nurse understand about this response?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse understands that pain relief after a placebo reflects psychological factors, as placebos lack active ingredients but can trigger endorphin release via expectation or belief, reducing perceived pain. This mind-body effect is well-documented in studies. Choice A, not really in pain, dismisses the client's experiencepain is real, but perception shifts. Choice C, addicted to placebos, is implausible; addiction requires substances, not inert pills, and relief isn't dependence. Choice D, placebo contained an analgesic, contradicts placebo definitionresearch uses controls like sugar pills, not drugs. Choice B is correct, informing nurses that psychological relief (e.g., placebo effect) can complement care, though ethical use is limited; it underscores pain's subjective nature, guiding holistic approaches beyond pharmacology.
Question 3 of 5
What does the nurse recognize as the greatest advantage of intravenous (IV) pain medication over oral medication?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse recognizes faster onset of action as the greatest advantage of IV pain medication over oral, as IV delivery bypasses digestion, entering the bloodstream directly for near-immediate reliefcrucial in acute pain (e.g., post-op). Oral meds take 30-60 minutes, delayed by absorption. Choice A, less expensive, is falseIV administration (e.g., tubing, pumps) costs more than pills. Choice B, fewer side effects, doesn't hold; IV opioids (e.g., morphine) carry similar risks (e.g., nausea) but hit harder due to potency. Choice D, easier to administer, is incorrectIV requires skill (e.g., vein access), unlike oral's simplicity. Choice C is correct, highlighting why nurses choose IV in emergencies or severe pain, ensuring rapid control, though monitoring (e.g., respiration) is key due to quick peak effects.
Question 4 of 5
What does the nurse recognize as the primary benefit of using a pain rating scale with clients?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse recognizes that the primary benefit of a pain rating scale is allowing comparison over time, as it quantifies subjective pain (e.g., 0-10) consistently, tracking changes to assess treatment efficacy or pain progression. This aids longitudinal care. Choice A, reduces medication use, isn't directscales guide dosing, not inherently lower it. Choice B, provides objective data, is inaccurate; pain is subjectivescales standardize reporting, not objectify it. Choice D, eliminates need for observation, is falsescales complement, not replace, nonverbal cues (e.g., grimacing). Choice C is correct, reflecting nursing's reliance on scales (e.g., numeric, FACES) to monitor trendse.g., pain dropping from 8 to 4 post-interventionensuring dynamic, responsive management across acute or chronic cases.
Question 5 of 5
A client with chronic pain asks the nurse why the pain medication makes the client feel sleepy. What would be the basis of the nurse's response?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The basis of the nurse's response is the effect on the brain, as opioid pain medications (e.g., morphine) depress the central nervous system, slowing activity in areas like the reticular formation, causing drowsinessa common side effect tied to their mechanism. This explains sleepiness consistently. Choice A, reduced pain perception, is the goal, not the causepain relief doesn't inherently sedate; CNS depression does. Choice C, increased metabolism, is falseopioids slow processes (e.g., gut), not hasten them, and metabolism doesn't drive sedation. Choice D, allergic reaction, is incorrect; sleepiness is pharmacological, not anaphylactic. Choice B is correct, enabling nurses to clarify this CNS effect, suggesting timing (e.g., bedtime dosing) to use sleepiness beneficially, reassuring clients it's normal while monitoring for excess sedation in chronic pain care.