ATI RN
Client Comfort and End of Care ATI Questions
Question 1 of 5
Which medication is commonly used for chronic pain management?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Morphine is commonly used for chronic pain management, especially in severe cases like cancer or post-surgical pain persisting beyond acute phases. As an opioid, it targets the central nervous system to dull pain perception, offering relief where milder drugs fail. Choice A, aspirin, is better suited for mild to moderate acute pain or inflammation, lacking the potency for chronic, intense pain. Choice C, antibiotics, treat infections, not pain, making them irrelevant here. Choice D, antidepressants, may adjunctively manage chronic pain (e.g., neuropathic pain) by altering neurotransmitters, but they're not primaryopioids like morphine take precedence for severe cases. Choice B is correct, reflecting its widespread use in chronic pain protocols, though nurses must monitor for tolerance, dependence, and side effects, balancing efficacy with safety in long-term care plans.
Question 2 of 5
What does the nurse understand to be the primary goal when working with clients experiencing chronic pain?
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.
Question 3 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 4 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 5 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.