ATI RN
Client Comfort and End of Life Care ATI Questions
Question 1 of 5
What is a key focus in end-of-life care?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Symptom management is a key focus in end-of-life care, aiming to alleviate pain, nausea, dyspnea, or anxiety, ensuring the patient's final days are as comfortable as possible. This shifts priority from curing to caring, addressing physical and emotional suffering holistically. Choice A, aggressive curative measures, opposes this, as end-of-life care accepts the disease's terminality, avoiding futile treatments that may increase distress. Choice C, prolonged hospitalization, isn't a focuscare often moves to hospice or home settings for comfort and familiarity, not extended hospital stays. Choice D, avoiding patient interaction, is wrong; meaningful engagement with patients and families enhances dignity and support. Choice B stands out, reflecting palliative principles nurses uphold, using medications, positioning, or emotional care to manage symptoms, fostering peace over prolonging life unnecessarily.
Question 2 of 5
A client who has just returned from surgery refuses additional pain medication despite reporting severe pain. What would the nurse do first?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse would first try to determine why the client is refusing additional pain medication despite severe pain, as understanding the reasonfear of addiction, side effects, or cultural beliefsguides effective, respectful care. Post-surgical pain needs management, but forcing treatment violates autonomy. Choice A, forcing medication, is unethical and illegal, ignoring consent and escalating distress. Choice C, telling the client it's needed, assumes refusal stems from ignorance, not addressing underlying concerns, and may erode trust. Choice D, reporting to the surgeon, delays action; nurses assess first to inform reports with data. Choice B is correct, reflecting nursing's patient-centered approachasking open-ended questions (e.g., What worries you about the medication?') uncovers barriers, enabling education (e.g., on safety) or alternatives (e.g., non-opioids), ensuring pain relief aligns with the client's values and needs post-surgery.
Question 3 of 5
A client asks the nurse why pain medication is given around-the-clock for the first few days after surgery rather than just when the pain is severe. What would be the basis of the nurse's response?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The basis of the nurse's response is to maintain a stable blood level of the drug, as around-the-clock (ATC) dosing post-surgery prevents pain peaks by keeping analgesic levels consistent, blocking nociceptive signals before they escalate. This contrasts with PRN's reactive approach. Choice A, keeping the client sedated, isn't the goalsedation may occur, but pain control drives scheduling. Choice C, reducing total drug amount, is falseATC may use more initially to preempt pain, not less. Choice D, preventing addiction, isn't relevant; short-term post-op use rarely causes dependence. Choice B is correct, explaining ATC's pharmacokinetic logicnurses educate that steady levels (e.g., via morphine every 4 hours) optimize comfort, reduce breakthrough pain, and aid healing, a standard in acute post-surgical management.
Question 4 of 5
A client asks the nurse how aspirin relieves pain. What would be the basis of the nurse's response?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The basis of the nurse's response is that aspirin reduces inflammation, as it inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, decreasing prostaglandin productionchemicals that sensitize nociceptors and swell tissues, driving pain in conditions like arthritis. This anti-inflammatory action is aspirin's core pain-relief mechanism. Choice A, blocks nerve impulses, is wrongnerve blockers (e.g., lidocaine) do this, not aspirin, which acts peripherally. Choice C, numbs the skin, applies to topical anesthetics, not oral aspirin, which targets systemic inflammation. Choice D, increases blood flow, isn't primaryaspirin thins blood, but pain relief ties to inflammation reduction. Choice B is correct, enabling nurses to explain aspirin's role in inflammatory pain (e.g., headaches, joint pain), distinguishing it from opioids, and advising on use (e.g., with food) to manage mild-to-moderate pain effectively.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is caring for a client who reports chronic pain that is worse in the morning. What would the nurse suggest?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse would suggest applying heat to the area for chronic pain worse in the morning, as heat boosts blood flow, relaxes stiff muscles, and eases joint paincommon with conditions like arthritis, where inactivity overnight stiffens tissues. This targets morning exacerbation. Choice A, increase activity, may help later but risks strain when pain peaks; gradual movement post-relief is better. Choice C, take medication at noon, misses the morning windowpain needs earlier control (e.g., bedtime dosing). Choice D, sleep later, avoids the issue; pain persists regardless of wake time. Choice B is correct, offering a practical, nonpharmacological fix nurses recommend, paired with meds if needed, to reduce morning stiffness and improve daily function for chronic pain clients.