Question 1

The healthcare provider asks you to rate a patient's postoperative pain. What is your best response?

Accepted Answer

The most accurate way to assess pain is to ask the patient to rate their own pain using a standardized pain scale. It is not appropriate to assume a sleeping patient's pain level is acceptable or to rely solely on information from a family member or past medication administration.

Question 2

When assessing the blood pressure of a patient receiving pentazocine 30 mg orally for pain control two days after surgery, the reading is 166/100, which is much higher than the patient's presurgical blood pressure. What is your best action?

Accepted Answer

The increased blood pressure could be a side effect of the pentazocine or could indicate other cardiac changes. The best action would be to assess the patient for other cardiac symptoms and potentially adjust their pain management plan to avoid further increases in blood pressure.

Question 3

A patient being discharged to home is prescribed an oxycodone-acetaminophen combination for pain management. Which precaution is most important to teach this patient?

Accepted Answer

It is important for the patient to avoid drinking alcohol while taking this drug to prevent potentially dangerous interactions and side effects. Option A is not a necessary precaution as the patient should contact their healthcare provider if they have any concerns regardless of the time frame. Option B is also important but may not be the most crucial precaution to teach the patient. Option C is not recommended as the patient should wait until they are drowsy before going to bed and should avoid activities that require full alertness, such as driving or operating machinery.

Question 4

Indicate which analgesics are considered strong opioid agonists. (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

The answer of Indicate which analgesics are considered strong opioid...

Question 5

Which miscellaneous drugs are often prescribed to help with pain management? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Antibiotics, anticholinergics, and antihistamines are not typically prescribed for pain management. Anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and anti-inflammatories, on the other hand, are commonly prescribed to manage pain. Anticonvulsants such as gabapentin and pregabalin can help with nerve pain, while antidepressants such as amitriptyline and duloxetine can help with chronic pain. Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen and naproxen are often used to reduce inflammation and pain.

Question 6

A 10-month-old infant who weighs 22 lb is prescribed to receive acetaminophen 8 mg/kg by oral liquid. The drug on hand is acetaminophen liquid with a concentration of 70 mg/mL. How many mL is the correct dose for this patient? _____

Accepted Answer

The answer of A 10-month-old infant who weighs 22 lb...

Question 7

How does tramadol help control pain?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does tramadol help control pain?
...

Question 8

Why are natural and synthetic opioids considered "high-alert drugs?"

Accepted Answer

Natural and synthetic opioids are considered "high-alert drugs" because they have an increased risk for causing patient harm if given in error. This is due to their potency and the potential for adverse effects such as respiratory depression, sedation, and overdose. Therefore, extra precautions must be taken when administering these drugs to ensure accuracy and safety.

Question 9

What types of drugs have the main purpose of relieving pain?

Accepted Answer

Analgesics are drugs that are specifically designed to relieve pain. Anticholinergics are used to treat conditions such as overactive bladder or gastrointestinal disorders, antagonists block the effects of other drugs or chemicals, and agonists activate or enhance the effects of other drugs or chemicals.

Question 10

The postoperative orders for a large adult patient who has just arrived on your unit after major abdominal surgery reads morphine 15 mg IM every 4 to 6 h as needed for pain. What is the best schedule for pain relief during the first postoperative day for this patient?

Accepted Answer

Administering the medication every 4 hours around the clock ensures consistent pain management, preventing the pain from becoming severe and harder to control, which is especially important in the immediate postoperative period.

Question 11

Which health problem is a severe adverse reaction to chronic acetaminophen therapy?

Accepted Answer

Chronic acetaminophen therapy can lead to liver toxicity, which can be severe and even fatal. Therefore, patients should be cautious when taking this medication for a long time or in large doses.

Question 12

You are caring for a patient who is paralyzed from the waist down and has a large open wound on her right heel. When asked about her pain in that foot, she tells you it is a 0 on a 0 to 10 pain rating scale. What does this response indicate?

Accepted Answer

The patient's response indicates that her paralysis may be preventing her brain from perceiving pain sensations in her foot. It is important to continue to assess the wound regularly for signs of infection or other issues, as the patient may not be able to feel or recognize pain in that area.

Question 13

You accidentally give a patient 30 mg orally of hydromorphone instead of the ordered hydrocodone. What is your first best action?

Accepted Answer

Notifying the RN in charge immediately is the first best action to take in the event of a medication error. The RN can assess the patient and take appropriate actions, such as administering naloxone or calling a rapid response team, if necessary. Inducing vomiting is not recommended as the medication may have already been absorbed. Assessing vital signs is important, but notifying the RN takes priority. Documenting the drug error is also important, but it is not the priority in this situation.

Question 14

Which drugs listed below help manage pain by acting at the tissue where pain starts and do not change the person's perception of pain? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Corticosteroids and NSAIDs help manage pain by reducing inflammation at the site of tissue damage, without altering the perception of pain in the central nervous system.

Question 15

Which of the following assessments is most important to perform on a patient newly prescribed to take cyclobenzaprine for severe muscle pain?

Accepted Answer

Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant that can cause drowsiness and has the potential to lower blood pressure and heart rate, so it is important to assess these vital signs before and during therapy to avoid adverse reactions. Respiratory rate (A) is not typically affected by cyclobenzaprine. Deep tendon reflexes (B) and muscle strength and coordination (D) may be assessed, but they are not as important as monitoring vital signs in patients taking cyclobenzaprine.

Question 16

A patient is prescribed to receive 0.6 mg of hydromorphone intravenously. The drug on hand is hydromorphone 2 mg/mL. How many mL will you prepare to give this drug? _____

Accepted Answer

The answer of A patient is prescribed to receive 0.6...

Question 17

Which patient should be assessed closely for complications of pain management with methocarbamol?

Accepted Answer

Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant that can cause urinary retention as a side effect. A 75-year-old man with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is at increased risk for this complication due to the pre-existing condition affecting the prostate, which can already impair urine flow.

Question 18

When you assess a patient's pain level an hour after giving 2 mg of hydromorphone intravenously, you find the patient sleeping with a respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute. What is your best first action?

Accepted Answer

Assessing the patient's oxygen saturation with pulse oximetry is the best first action because it provides immediate information about the patient's respiratory and oxygenation status, which is crucial given the low respiratory rate. This step helps determine the urgency of further interventions.

Question 19

A patient is prescribed Vicodin for pain, two tablets every 4 h. The tablets contain 2.5 mg of hydrocodone and 325 mg acetaminophen. In addition, this patient takes an over-the-counter cold preparation that contains 650 mg of acetaminophen. How much total acetaminophen does this represent in a 24-h period? _____

Accepted Answer

The answer of A patient is prescribed Vicodin for pain,...

Quiz 11: Drugs for Pain Management