ATI MED-SURG TEST BANK 2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS PLUS RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATED
Pain
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which question asked by the nurse will give the most information about the patient’s
metastatic bone cancer pain?
a. “How long have you had this pain?”
b. “How would you describe your pain?”
c. “How much medication do you take
for the pain?”
d. “How many times a day do you
take medication for the pain?”
ANS: B
2. A patient who uses a fentanyl (Duragesic) patch for chronic cancer pain suddenly
complains of rapid onset pain at a level 9 (0 to 10 scale) and requests “something for pain
that will work now.” How will the nurse document the type of pain reported by this
patient?
, a. Somatic pain
b. Referred pain
c. Neuropathic pain
d. Breakthrough pain
ANS: D
3. The nurse teaches a student nurse about the action of ibuprofen. Which statement, if made
by the student, indicates that teaching was effective?
a. “The drug decreases pain impulses in
the spinal cord.”
b. “The drug decreases sensitivity of
the brain to painful stimuli.”
c. “The drug decreases production of
pain- sensitizing chemicals.”
d. “The drug decreases the modulating
effect of descending nerves.”
ANS: C
4. A nurse assesses a patient with chronic cancer pain who is receiving imipramine (Tofranil)
in addition to long-acting morphine. Which statement, if made by the patient, indicates to
the nurse that the patient is receiving adequate pain control?
a. “I’m not anxious at all.”
b. “I sleep 8 hours every night.”
c. “I feel much less depressed since I’ve
been taking the Tofranil.”
d. “The pain is manageable and I
can accomplish my desired
activities.
ANS: D
5. A patient with chronic back pain has learned to control the pain with the use of imagery
and hypnosis. The patient’s spouse asks the nurse how these techniques work. Which
response by the nurse is best?
a. “The strategies work by affecting
the perception of pain.”
b. “These techniques block the pain
pathways of the nerves.”
c. “Both strategies prevent transmission
of painful stimuli to the brain.”
, d. “The therapies slow the release of
chemicals in the spinal cord that
cause pain.”
ANS: A
6. A patient who is receiving sustained-release morphine sulfate (MS Contin) every 12 hours
for chronic pain experiences level 9 (0 to 10 scale) breakthrough pain and anxiety. Which
action by the nurse is best?
a. Provide amitriptyline (Elavil) 10 mg
orally.
b. Administer lorazepam (Ativan) 1
mg orally.
c. Offer ibuprofen (Motrin) 400 to 800
mg orally.
d. Give immediate-release morphine 30
mg orally.
ANS: D
7. A patient with chronic neck pain is seen in the pain clinic for follow-up. In order to
evaluate whether the pain management is effective, which question is best for the nurse to
ask?
a. “Can you describe the quality of
your pain?”
b. “Has there been a change in the
pain location?”
c. “How would you rate your pain on a 0
to 10 scale?”
d. “Does the pain keep you from
doing things you enjoy?”
ANS: D
8. A patient with second-degree burns has been receiving hydromorphone through patient-
controlled analgesia (PCA) for a week. The patient wakes up frequently during the night
complaining of pain. What action by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. Administer a dose of morphine every 1
to 2 hours from the PCA machine while
the patient is sleeping.
b. Consult with the health care provider
about using a different treatment
protocol to control the patient’s pain.
, c. Request that the health care provider
order a bolus dose of morphine to be
given when the patient awakens with
pain.
d. Teach the patient to push the button
every 10 minutes for an hour before
going to sleep, even if the pain is
minimal.
ANS: B
9. The nurse assesses that a patient receiving epidural morphine has not voided for over 10
hours. What action should the nurse take initially?
a. Monitor for withdrawal symptoms.
b. Place an indwelling urinary catheter.
c. Ask if the patient feels the need to void.
d. Document this allergic reaction in the
patient’s chart.
ANS: C
10. When visiting a hospice patient, the nurse assesses that the patient has a respiratory rate of
11 breaths/minute and complains of severe pain. Which action is best for the nurse to take?
a. Inform the patient that increasing the
morphine will cause the respiratory
drive to fail.
b. Tell the patient that additional
morphine can be administered when
the respirations are 12.
c. Titrate the prescribed morphine
dose upward until the patient
indicates adequate pain relief.
d. Administer a nonopioid analgesic, such
as a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug
(NSAID), to improve patient pain
control.
ANS: C
11. The nurse is completing the medication reconciliation form for a patient admitted with
chronic cancer pain. Which medication is of most concern to the nurse?
a. Amitriptyline (Elavil) 50 mg at bedtime
b. Ibuprofen (Advil) 800 mg 3 times daily
ANSWERS PLUS RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATED
Pain
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which question asked by the nurse will give the most information about the patient’s
metastatic bone cancer pain?
a. “How long have you had this pain?”
b. “How would you describe your pain?”
c. “How much medication do you take
for the pain?”
d. “How many times a day do you
take medication for the pain?”
ANS: B
2. A patient who uses a fentanyl (Duragesic) patch for chronic cancer pain suddenly
complains of rapid onset pain at a level 9 (0 to 10 scale) and requests “something for pain
that will work now.” How will the nurse document the type of pain reported by this
patient?
, a. Somatic pain
b. Referred pain
c. Neuropathic pain
d. Breakthrough pain
ANS: D
3. The nurse teaches a student nurse about the action of ibuprofen. Which statement, if made
by the student, indicates that teaching was effective?
a. “The drug decreases pain impulses in
the spinal cord.”
b. “The drug decreases sensitivity of
the brain to painful stimuli.”
c. “The drug decreases production of
pain- sensitizing chemicals.”
d. “The drug decreases the modulating
effect of descending nerves.”
ANS: C
4. A nurse assesses a patient with chronic cancer pain who is receiving imipramine (Tofranil)
in addition to long-acting morphine. Which statement, if made by the patient, indicates to
the nurse that the patient is receiving adequate pain control?
a. “I’m not anxious at all.”
b. “I sleep 8 hours every night.”
c. “I feel much less depressed since I’ve
been taking the Tofranil.”
d. “The pain is manageable and I
can accomplish my desired
activities.
ANS: D
5. A patient with chronic back pain has learned to control the pain with the use of imagery
and hypnosis. The patient’s spouse asks the nurse how these techniques work. Which
response by the nurse is best?
a. “The strategies work by affecting
the perception of pain.”
b. “These techniques block the pain
pathways of the nerves.”
c. “Both strategies prevent transmission
of painful stimuli to the brain.”
, d. “The therapies slow the release of
chemicals in the spinal cord that
cause pain.”
ANS: A
6. A patient who is receiving sustained-release morphine sulfate (MS Contin) every 12 hours
for chronic pain experiences level 9 (0 to 10 scale) breakthrough pain and anxiety. Which
action by the nurse is best?
a. Provide amitriptyline (Elavil) 10 mg
orally.
b. Administer lorazepam (Ativan) 1
mg orally.
c. Offer ibuprofen (Motrin) 400 to 800
mg orally.
d. Give immediate-release morphine 30
mg orally.
ANS: D
7. A patient with chronic neck pain is seen in the pain clinic for follow-up. In order to
evaluate whether the pain management is effective, which question is best for the nurse to
ask?
a. “Can you describe the quality of
your pain?”
b. “Has there been a change in the
pain location?”
c. “How would you rate your pain on a 0
to 10 scale?”
d. “Does the pain keep you from
doing things you enjoy?”
ANS: D
8. A patient with second-degree burns has been receiving hydromorphone through patient-
controlled analgesia (PCA) for a week. The patient wakes up frequently during the night
complaining of pain. What action by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. Administer a dose of morphine every 1
to 2 hours from the PCA machine while
the patient is sleeping.
b. Consult with the health care provider
about using a different treatment
protocol to control the patient’s pain.
, c. Request that the health care provider
order a bolus dose of morphine to be
given when the patient awakens with
pain.
d. Teach the patient to push the button
every 10 minutes for an hour before
going to sleep, even if the pain is
minimal.
ANS: B
9. The nurse assesses that a patient receiving epidural morphine has not voided for over 10
hours. What action should the nurse take initially?
a. Monitor for withdrawal symptoms.
b. Place an indwelling urinary catheter.
c. Ask if the patient feels the need to void.
d. Document this allergic reaction in the
patient’s chart.
ANS: C
10. When visiting a hospice patient, the nurse assesses that the patient has a respiratory rate of
11 breaths/minute and complains of severe pain. Which action is best for the nurse to take?
a. Inform the patient that increasing the
morphine will cause the respiratory
drive to fail.
b. Tell the patient that additional
morphine can be administered when
the respirations are 12.
c. Titrate the prescribed morphine
dose upward until the patient
indicates adequate pain relief.
d. Administer a nonopioid analgesic, such
as a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug
(NSAID), to improve patient pain
control.
ANS: C
11. The nurse is completing the medication reconciliation form for a patient admitted with
chronic cancer pain. Which medication is of most concern to the nurse?
a. Amitriptyline (Elavil) 50 mg at bedtime
b. Ibuprofen (Advil) 800 mg 3 times daily
