How does chronic pain differ from acute pain in terms of duration?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Chronic pain differs from acute pain primarily in its duration, persisting beyond six months, often without a clear end even after the initial cause has healed. Acute pain, by contrast, is short-lived, typically resolving within days to weeks as the body recovers from injury or surgery. Choice A is incorrect because pain lasting less than one month aligns with acute pain, not chronic. Choice C, suggesting chronic pain resolves with treatment, is misleadingwhile manageable, chronic pain often persists despite interventions, unlike acute pain, which usually subsides with healing. Choice D, claiming chronic pain is always less severe, is false; its intensity varies widely and can be debilitating, unlike acute pain's typically sharp but temporary nature. Choice B correctly highlights the key distinctionchronic pain's extended duration over six monthsmaking it a critical factor in nursing care, requiring long-term strategies like pain management and emotional support rather than just acute symptom relief.

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.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The nurse understands the primary goal for clients with chronic pain is the ability to enjoy life again, focusing on quality of life despite persistent pain. Complete elimination isn't feasible, so enhancing function, mood, and activity tolerance takes precedence. Choice A, elimination of all pain, is unrealisticchronic pain endures, and treatments aim to manage, not erase it. Choice B, return to full physical ability, may be limited by pain or disease; partial improvement is more practical. Choice C, significant reduction of pain, is a means, not the goalreduction aids enjoyment but isn't the endpoint. Choice D is correct, embodying holistic nursing aimsthrough pain control, therapy, and support, clients regain pleasure in daily life, aligning with realistic, patient-centered outcomes for chronic conditions.

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.

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.