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EXAM 1 MED SURG GALEN 2026\2027
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
What are the three main types of headaches? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Migraine, Tension, Cluster
Steps to Pain Assessment - CORRECT ANSWER -Provoking
Quality
Radiation
Severity
Time
Provoking - CORRECT ANSWER -has anything made it better or worse
Quality - CORRECT ANSWER -Sharp, dull, achy, throbbing
Radiation - CORRECT ANSWER -Does it radiate to another part of the
body
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Severity - CORRECT ANSWER -Pain scale, 1-10 scale, intense pain,
Other symptoms: N/V, photophobia
Time - CORRECT ANSWER -how long has it been going on? how long
does it usually last?
Tension Headache - CORRECT ANSWER -Bandlike, tightness
Describe a Migraine - CORRECT ANSWER -Unilateral, supra and retro
orbital, pulsating or throbbing, worse with movement, sensitivity with light
and sounds
Cluster - CORRECT ANSWER -Lancinationg or stabbing, 5-30 minutes.
Extreme pain
Migraine Pathophysiology - CORRECT ANSWER -Pathophysiology - Not
entirely clear.; theories?
Prevalence: May be seen in children and adults; Among children more
common in boys; among adults more common in women.
History of patient with migraine: Otherwise healthy, usually female in 30's
Individualized triggers (stress, smells, foods, hormones, menses)
Tyramine rich foods- chocolate, cheeses, beer, wine, cigar, sweet and low.
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Treatment for Migraine - CORRECT ANSWER -Vasoconstriction works the
best, irritation of the 5th cranial nerve, Estrogen hormone can causes
migraines.
Migraine Manifestations - CORRECT ANSWER -Manifestations
Pain: Usually unilateral, supra/retro-orbital, pulsating. Worse with
movement.
Accompanied by non-h/a symptoms: N/V, photophobia, phonophobia,
Aura: (20% of cases):
Migraine Interventions - CORRECT ANSWER -Pain management
Symptom management
Ex. Pitch black, turn off all the lights, N/V causes dehydration
Migraine Drug Therapy - CORRECT ANSWER -APAP/Caffeine/ Butabital
(Fioricet)
NSAIDS : Naprosyn
CCBs and Beta- Blockers (Preventative therapy) : Verapamil
Triptans and ergotamine's: Sumatriptan and Cafergot
Anticonvulsants (Preventative therapy): Topiramate
Botox Injections (monthly)
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Magnesium
Migraine Complementary and alternative therapies - CORRECT ANSWER
Acupuncture, Yoga, Stress reduction activities, Supplemental mag,
Distraction sometimes works.
Pound acronym - CORRECT ANSWER -P:Pulsating
O:Duration
U: Unilateral location
N: N/V
D: Disabling
Epilepsy - CORRECT ANSWER -Chronic disorder with two or more
seizures experienced by the client.
Epilepsy Assessment - CORRECT ANSWER -Inquire about the seizure
activity, frequency, precipitating factors, aura (pre-ictal phase).
Family history
Collateral medical conditions (hx stroke, HTN, TBI, drug/alcohol abuse)
Seizure risk factors - CORRECT ANSWER -V: Vascular
EXAM 1 MED SURG GALEN 2026\2027
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
What are the three main types of headaches? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Migraine, Tension, Cluster
Steps to Pain Assessment - CORRECT ANSWER -Provoking
Quality
Radiation
Severity
Time
Provoking - CORRECT ANSWER -has anything made it better or worse
Quality - CORRECT ANSWER -Sharp, dull, achy, throbbing
Radiation - CORRECT ANSWER -Does it radiate to another part of the
body
, Page|2
Severity - CORRECT ANSWER -Pain scale, 1-10 scale, intense pain,
Other symptoms: N/V, photophobia
Time - CORRECT ANSWER -how long has it been going on? how long
does it usually last?
Tension Headache - CORRECT ANSWER -Bandlike, tightness
Describe a Migraine - CORRECT ANSWER -Unilateral, supra and retro
orbital, pulsating or throbbing, worse with movement, sensitivity with light
and sounds
Cluster - CORRECT ANSWER -Lancinationg or stabbing, 5-30 minutes.
Extreme pain
Migraine Pathophysiology - CORRECT ANSWER -Pathophysiology - Not
entirely clear.; theories?
Prevalence: May be seen in children and adults; Among children more
common in boys; among adults more common in women.
History of patient with migraine: Otherwise healthy, usually female in 30's
Individualized triggers (stress, smells, foods, hormones, menses)
Tyramine rich foods- chocolate, cheeses, beer, wine, cigar, sweet and low.
, Page|3
Treatment for Migraine - CORRECT ANSWER -Vasoconstriction works the
best, irritation of the 5th cranial nerve, Estrogen hormone can causes
migraines.
Migraine Manifestations - CORRECT ANSWER -Manifestations
Pain: Usually unilateral, supra/retro-orbital, pulsating. Worse with
movement.
Accompanied by non-h/a symptoms: N/V, photophobia, phonophobia,
Aura: (20% of cases):
Migraine Interventions - CORRECT ANSWER -Pain management
Symptom management
Ex. Pitch black, turn off all the lights, N/V causes dehydration
Migraine Drug Therapy - CORRECT ANSWER -APAP/Caffeine/ Butabital
(Fioricet)
NSAIDS : Naprosyn
CCBs and Beta- Blockers (Preventative therapy) : Verapamil
Triptans and ergotamine's: Sumatriptan and Cafergot
Anticonvulsants (Preventative therapy): Topiramate
Botox Injections (monthly)
, Page|4
Magnesium
Migraine Complementary and alternative therapies - CORRECT ANSWER
Acupuncture, Yoga, Stress reduction activities, Supplemental mag,
Distraction sometimes works.
Pound acronym - CORRECT ANSWER -P:Pulsating
O:Duration
U: Unilateral location
N: N/V
D: Disabling
Epilepsy - CORRECT ANSWER -Chronic disorder with two or more
seizures experienced by the client.
Epilepsy Assessment - CORRECT ANSWER -Inquire about the seizure
activity, frequency, precipitating factors, aura (pre-ictal phase).
Family history
Collateral medical conditions (hx stroke, HTN, TBI, drug/alcohol abuse)
Seizure risk factors - CORRECT ANSWER -V: Vascular
