NSG 3130 EXAM 3 – GALEN COLLEGE | COMPLETE EXAM
REVIEW: 200 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
& DETAILED RATIONALES COVERING PAIN ASSESSMENT, ACUTE
VS. CHRONIC PAIN, ANXIETY DISORDERS, GRIEF & KÜBLER-
ROSSSTAGES, STRESS ADAPTATION (GAS), DEATH & DYING,
PALLIATIVE/HOSPICE CARE, ETHICAL-LEGAL PRINCIPLES,
DELEGATION, AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES
1. A nurse is assessing a patient who reports pain. Which statement
best reflects the nurse's understanding of pain assessment?
a. "Objective signs are the most reliable indicator of pain intensity."
b. "Pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing
whenever the person says it does."
c. "Vital sign changes must be present to validate a patient's report of
pain."
d. "Patients with chronic pain typically have higher pain tolerance than
those with acute pain."
Correct Answer: b – Pain is subjective, and the patient's self-report is
the most reliable indicator. Vital signs are not always congruent with
pain expression.
2. A patient who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer tells the
nurse, "I don't think the test results could be right. They must have
mixed up my samples." According to Kübler-Ross, which stage of grief
is the patient exhibiting?
,a. Anger
b. Bargaining
c. Denial
d. Depression
Correct Answer: c – Denial is the initial stage where the patient refuses
to accept the diagnosis.
3. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate for a patient
experiencing moderate anxiety?
a. Leave the patient alone to process feelings independently.
b. Use a calm, reassuring approach and speak in short, simple
sentences.
c. Administer a sedative immediately to reduce anxiety levels.
d. Encourage the patient to make complex decisions to regain control.
Correct Answer: b – Moderate anxiety narrows focus and dulls
perception; a calm approach with simple directions helps the patient
focus.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient receiving a continuous epidural
infusion of an analgesic. Which observation requires the most
immediate nursing intervention?
a. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute
b. Patient reports pain rating of 2/10
c. Patient is drowsy but easily aroused
d. Patient drifts off to sleep mid-sentence and is difficult to arouse
Correct Answer: d – This indicates respiratory depression risk from
epidural analgesia; the nurse must monitor closely.
,5. Which type of grief occurs when a loss is not socially recognized or
validated?
a. Anticipatory grief
b. Complicated grief
c. Disenfranchised grief
d. Normal grief
Correct Answer: c – Disenfranchised grief is any loss not validated or
recognized by others.
6. A patient who had abdominal surgery 4 hours ago is receiving
morphine 2.5–5.0 mg IV every 4 hours. The patient received 2.5 mg 4
hours ago, rates pain as 5/10, and is watching television and visiting
with family. Vital signs are stable. What should the nurse do?
a. Withhold medication because the patient appears comfortable.
b. Administer 2.5 mg to avoid addiction.
c. Administer 5.0 mg IV and reassess in 20 minutes.
d. Encourage distraction techniques instead of medication.
Correct Answer: c – The patient's pain is 5/10, and the ordered range
allows up to 5.0 mg; reassessment is essential.
7. A patient recovering from abdominal surgery refuses analgesia,
stating, "I'm fine as long as I don't move." Which nursing diagnosis
should be the priority?
a. Impaired Physical Mobility
b. Risk for Ineffective Airway Clearance
c. Deficient Knowledge (pain control measures)
, d. Ineffective Health Maintenance
Correct Answer: c – The patient lacks understanding that pain relief
facilitates mobility and recovery.
8. Which characteristic is more common with acute pain than with
chronic pain?
a. Self-focusing behaviors
b. Sleep disturbances
c. Guarding behaviors
d. Variations in vital signs
Correct Answer: d – Acute pain stimulates the sympathetic nervous
system, causing increased pulse, respirations, and blood pressure.
9. A nurse is providing care to an unconscious patient who is dying.
Which finding is NOT a clinical manifestation of impending clinical
death?
a. Rapid, shallow, irregular respirations
b. Mottling and cyanosis of the extremities
c. Difficulty swallowing and gradual loss of gag reflex
d. Faster and weaker pulse
Correct Answer: d – Impending clinical death manifests with
a slower and weaker pulse, not faster.
10. Which concept should a nurse consider when assessing a patient's
pain?
a. Most people experience approximately the same pain tolerance.
REVIEW: 200 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
& DETAILED RATIONALES COVERING PAIN ASSESSMENT, ACUTE
VS. CHRONIC PAIN, ANXIETY DISORDERS, GRIEF & KÜBLER-
ROSSSTAGES, STRESS ADAPTATION (GAS), DEATH & DYING,
PALLIATIVE/HOSPICE CARE, ETHICAL-LEGAL PRINCIPLES,
DELEGATION, AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES
1. A nurse is assessing a patient who reports pain. Which statement
best reflects the nurse's understanding of pain assessment?
a. "Objective signs are the most reliable indicator of pain intensity."
b. "Pain is whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing
whenever the person says it does."
c. "Vital sign changes must be present to validate a patient's report of
pain."
d. "Patients with chronic pain typically have higher pain tolerance than
those with acute pain."
Correct Answer: b – Pain is subjective, and the patient's self-report is
the most reliable indicator. Vital signs are not always congruent with
pain expression.
2. A patient who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer tells the
nurse, "I don't think the test results could be right. They must have
mixed up my samples." According to Kübler-Ross, which stage of grief
is the patient exhibiting?
,a. Anger
b. Bargaining
c. Denial
d. Depression
Correct Answer: c – Denial is the initial stage where the patient refuses
to accept the diagnosis.
3. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate for a patient
experiencing moderate anxiety?
a. Leave the patient alone to process feelings independently.
b. Use a calm, reassuring approach and speak in short, simple
sentences.
c. Administer a sedative immediately to reduce anxiety levels.
d. Encourage the patient to make complex decisions to regain control.
Correct Answer: b – Moderate anxiety narrows focus and dulls
perception; a calm approach with simple directions helps the patient
focus.
4. A nurse is caring for a patient receiving a continuous epidural
infusion of an analgesic. Which observation requires the most
immediate nursing intervention?
a. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute
b. Patient reports pain rating of 2/10
c. Patient is drowsy but easily aroused
d. Patient drifts off to sleep mid-sentence and is difficult to arouse
Correct Answer: d – This indicates respiratory depression risk from
epidural analgesia; the nurse must monitor closely.
,5. Which type of grief occurs when a loss is not socially recognized or
validated?
a. Anticipatory grief
b. Complicated grief
c. Disenfranchised grief
d. Normal grief
Correct Answer: c – Disenfranchised grief is any loss not validated or
recognized by others.
6. A patient who had abdominal surgery 4 hours ago is receiving
morphine 2.5–5.0 mg IV every 4 hours. The patient received 2.5 mg 4
hours ago, rates pain as 5/10, and is watching television and visiting
with family. Vital signs are stable. What should the nurse do?
a. Withhold medication because the patient appears comfortable.
b. Administer 2.5 mg to avoid addiction.
c. Administer 5.0 mg IV and reassess in 20 minutes.
d. Encourage distraction techniques instead of medication.
Correct Answer: c – The patient's pain is 5/10, and the ordered range
allows up to 5.0 mg; reassessment is essential.
7. A patient recovering from abdominal surgery refuses analgesia,
stating, "I'm fine as long as I don't move." Which nursing diagnosis
should be the priority?
a. Impaired Physical Mobility
b. Risk for Ineffective Airway Clearance
c. Deficient Knowledge (pain control measures)
, d. Ineffective Health Maintenance
Correct Answer: c – The patient lacks understanding that pain relief
facilitates mobility and recovery.
8. Which characteristic is more common with acute pain than with
chronic pain?
a. Self-focusing behaviors
b. Sleep disturbances
c. Guarding behaviors
d. Variations in vital signs
Correct Answer: d – Acute pain stimulates the sympathetic nervous
system, causing increased pulse, respirations, and blood pressure.
9. A nurse is providing care to an unconscious patient who is dying.
Which finding is NOT a clinical manifestation of impending clinical
death?
a. Rapid, shallow, irregular respirations
b. Mottling and cyanosis of the extremities
c. Difficulty swallowing and gradual loss of gag reflex
d. Faster and weaker pulse
Correct Answer: d – Impending clinical death manifests with
a slower and weaker pulse, not faster.
10. Which concept should a nurse consider when assessing a patient's
pain?
a. Most people experience approximately the same pain tolerance.
