Chapter 5 Relieving Pain and Providing Comfort

Chapter 5  Relieving Pain and Providing Comfort

Complete Chapter Questions And Answers
 

Sample Questions

1.
A patient is in the ICU after suffering multiple trauma from a car wreck that occurred 24 hours ago. The patient feels pain from many sources, including lacerations on the arm, a fractured femur, a tension headache from the stress of the accident, lower back pain from a sports injury 30 years ago, nasal irritation from an endotracheal tube, and joint aches from ongoing arthritis. The nurse recognizes which of the following as the most likely instances of chronic pain? Select all that apply.
A)
Lacerations on arm
B)
Fractured femur
C)
Tension headache
D)
Lower back pain from old sports injury
E)
Irritation in throat from endotracheal tube
F)
Arthritis in joints

2.
A Nepali man is in the ICU recovering from spinal surgery to remove a malignant tumor. He does not speak English, and struggles to communicate with the nurse by using hand motions. His family is constantly at his bedside, speaking with him in Nepalese. Frequently, he puts on headphones and listens to music on his MP3 player. His wife occasionally massages his feet. Which of the following factors is most likely exacerbating this patient’s pain?
A)
Inability to communicate with the nurse
B)
Constant presence of his family
C)
Listening to music
D)
His wife massaging his feet

3.
A nurse is caring for a patient in the ICU who is recovering from coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Over the course of the next few days, the nurse will be responsible for changing a dressing over the surgical incision site, having the patient change positions in bed, assisting with tracheal suctioning, and assisting with drain removal. The nurse should anticipate that the patient will most likely perceive pain resulting from these procedures in which order, from least painful to most?
A)
Changing the dressing, position change in bed, tracheal suctioning, drain removal
B)
Position change in bed, changing the dressing, drain removal, tracheal suctioning
C)
Drain removal, tracheal suctioning, position change in bed, changing the dressing
D)
Tracheal suctioning, position change in bed, changing the dressing, drain removal

4.
A patient in the ICU is receiving intravenous opioid analgesia following myocardial infarction. Despite receiving continuous infusion of the opioid, the patient is grimacing and asks for an increase in the medication level. Consulting the medical chart, the nurse recognizes that this patient has a history of opioid addiction. What would be the most appropriate intervention?
A)
Immediately take the patient off of the opioid and give him Tylenol.
B)
Leave the patient on the opioid at the current dose level.
C)
Increase the dose of opioid to provide more effective pain relief.
D)
Reduce the dose of opioid and offer to turn on the television as a distraction from the pain.

5.
A patient with no history of opioid abuse is receiving opioid analgesia intravenously in the ICU for severe pain from extensive third-degree burns. The patient and his family are concerned about the likelihood of developing an addiction to the medication. What would be the best response on the part of the nurse?
A)
Stop the opioid infusion immediately and use only nonpharmacological means of analgesia.
B)
Begin tapering off the medication gradually.
C)
Explain that the risk for addiction is low and that opioids are necessary for the patient’s level of pain.
D)
Explain that addiction is likely but cannot be avoided and suggest a rehabilitation program following discharge.

Answer Key

1.
D, F
2.
A
3.
A
4.
C
5.
C