ATI RN
Client Comfort and End of Life Care Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is caring for a client who reports chronic pain. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further education?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The statement I only take my pain medication when I can't stand the pain anymore' indicates a need for further education, as it suggests the client delays medication until pain peaks, undermining chronic pain management. Effective control requires consistent dosing to maintain steady relief, preventing escalation that's harder to reverse. Choice A, taking medication as prescribed, shows adherence to a regimen, not a gap in understanding. Choice B, using relaxation techniques, reflects a proactive, educated approach to complement medication. Choice D, keeping a pain diary, demonstrates awareness and engagement in tracking pain patterns, aiding treatment adjustments. Choice C is correct, highlighting a misconceptionwaiting until pain is unbearable can increase suffering and medication needs. Nurses should educate on scheduled dosing, explaining how proactive management stabilizes pain levels, reduces flare-ups, and improves function, contrasting with reactive use that perpetuates a pain cycle.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is assessing the pain of a client who has had abdominal surgery and finds the client laughing with visitors. How would the nurse proceed?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse would ask the client to rate the pain, as laughter with visitors doesn't reliably indicate pain absenceclients may mask discomfort socially or feel temporary relief, but post-abdominal surgery pain is expected. Self-report remains the gold standard. Choice A, assuming no pain, risks undertreatmentlaughter isn't a clinical sign; pain can surge later. Choice B, giving medication anyway, could overtreat without evidence, risking side effects like sedation in a seemingly coping client. Choice D, charting comfort, is premature and inaccurate without confirmationobjective observation alone doesn't suffice. Choice C is correct, ensuring accuracy via a scale (e.g., 0-10), respecting the client's subjective experience, and guiding appropriate post-op care, like PRN analgesics, to prevent suffering despite outward appearances.
Question 3 of 5
A client asks the nurse why pain medication doesn't take all the pain away. What would be the basis of the nurse's response?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The basis of the nurse's response is that medication has limits, as pain relief depends on drug type, dose, and pain mechanismanalgesics reduce, not eliminate, pain, especially chronic or neuropathic types resistant to full blockade. Receptors may saturate, or pain pathways (e.g., inflammation) persist beyond medication reach. Choice A, pain is too severe, is partialseverity matters, but limits apply regardless; even mild pain may linger. Choice C, client is too active, might worsen pain but isn't why medication falls shortrested clients still report residual pain. Choice D, pain is not real, invalidates the clientpain's subjectivity doesn't negate its existence. Choice B is correct, enabling nurses to educate on realistic expectations, pairing drugs with adjuncts (e.g., heat) to maximize relief, addressing why total eradication isn't always achievable in pain management.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is caring for a client who reports no pain relief after taking a newly prescribed analgesic. What would the nurse do first?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse would first assess the client's pain further when a newly prescribed analgesic fails, as lack of relief could stem from wrong dose, pain type (e.g., neuropathic vs. somatic), or timing issues. Detailed assessment (e.g., intensity, quality) pinpoints why it's ineffective, guiding next steps. Choice A, administering a different analgesic, risks error without dataswapping blindly may not address the cause. Choice C, telling the client to wait, delays care; if relief hasn't started within expected onset (e.g., 30-60 minutes for oral), waiting won't help. Choice D, reporting to the physician, may follow, but nurses assess first to provide informed input. Choice B is correct, reflecting nursing's systematic approachreassessing ensures accurate diagnosis (e.g., breakthrough pain) and tailored action, like adjusting dose or type, preventing prolonged suffering and optimizing the new prescription's impact.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is caring for a client who reports pain relief after a nerve block. What does the nurse understand about this procedure?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse understands that a nerve block blocks nerve impulses, as it injects anesthetic (e.g., lidocaine) near nerves, halting pain signal transmission to the braineffective for localized pain (e.g., post-op, chronic). This is its core mechanism. Choice A, numbs the skin, is partialtopical numbing differs; blocks target deeper nerves. Choice C, reduces inflammation, isn't primarysteroids might, but nerve blocks focus on signal interruption, not swelling. Choice D, increases blood flow, is falseblocks don't alter circulation; relief is neural. Choice B is correct, informing nursing carenurses monitor block duration (hours) and sensation return, ensuring pain control and safety (e.g., no injury to numb areas), distinct from systemic analgesics.