NCLEX – Style Quiz: PAIN ASSESMENT AND MANAGEMENT |VERIFIED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS|GRADED A+ |LATEST 2026/2027
A patient reports a pain level of 8/10 following abdominal surgery. The nurse administers IV morphine
as ordered. What is the nurse's priority action after giving the medication?
A) Encourage the patient to ambulate.
B) Offer a high-protein snack.
C) Reassess pain level in 5 minutes.
D) Monitor respiratory rate and level of consciousness. - ANSWER✔ Answer: ✅ D) Monitor
respiratory rate and level of consciousness
Rationale: Opioids can cause respiratory depression and sedation. Monitoring respiratory status is the
priority after administration.
Which pain scale is most appropriate for assessing pain in a nonverbal adult patient with advanced
dementia?
A) Numeric Rating Scale
B) FLACC Scale
C) Wong-Baker FACES Scale
D) PAINAD Scale - ANSWER✔ Answer: ✅ D) PAINAD Scale
Rationale: The PAINAD scale is specifically designed for assessing pain in patients with advanced
dementia who cannot verbally express pain.
The nurse is educating a patient about managing chronic osteoarthritis pain. Which statement indicates
the patient understands non-pharmacologic interventions?
A) "I will only use medications to treat my pain."
, B) "Using a heating pad and stretching may help me manage my pain better."
C) "If I feel worse, I should just rest in bed all day."
D) "I will take extra doses of NSAIDs when the pain increases." - ANSWER✔ Answer: ✅ B) "Using a
heating pad and stretching may help me manage my pain better."
Rationale: Heat therapy and gentle stretching are effective non-pharmacologic strategies for chronic
pain such as arthritis.
A nurse is teaching a patient about ibuprofen. Which statement made by the patient requires immediate
follow-up?
A) "I take this with food to prevent stomach upset."
B) "I can take it every few hours if my pain returns."
C) "I have a history of stomach ulcers, but I still take ibuprofen daily."
D) "I use it mostly for joint pain." - ANSWER✔ Answer: ✅ C) "I have a history of stomach ulcers, but I
still take ibuprofen daily."
Rationale: NSAIDs like ibuprofen increase the risk of GI bleeding, especially in patients with a history of
ulcers.
A nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the PQRST method. What does the "Q" represent?
A) Quality of the pain
B) Quantity of medication needed
C) Questions about the timing
D) Quick onset vs. gradual onset - ANSWER✔ Answer: ✅ A) Quality of the pain
Rationale: "Q" stands for the quality or character of the pain (e.g., sharp, dull, burning).
A nurse is developing a care plan for a patient with chronic back pain. Which nursing diagnosis is most
appropriate?
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS|GRADED A+ |LATEST 2026/2027
A patient reports a pain level of 8/10 following abdominal surgery. The nurse administers IV morphine
as ordered. What is the nurse's priority action after giving the medication?
A) Encourage the patient to ambulate.
B) Offer a high-protein snack.
C) Reassess pain level in 5 minutes.
D) Monitor respiratory rate and level of consciousness. - ANSWER✔ Answer: ✅ D) Monitor
respiratory rate and level of consciousness
Rationale: Opioids can cause respiratory depression and sedation. Monitoring respiratory status is the
priority after administration.
Which pain scale is most appropriate for assessing pain in a nonverbal adult patient with advanced
dementia?
A) Numeric Rating Scale
B) FLACC Scale
C) Wong-Baker FACES Scale
D) PAINAD Scale - ANSWER✔ Answer: ✅ D) PAINAD Scale
Rationale: The PAINAD scale is specifically designed for assessing pain in patients with advanced
dementia who cannot verbally express pain.
The nurse is educating a patient about managing chronic osteoarthritis pain. Which statement indicates
the patient understands non-pharmacologic interventions?
A) "I will only use medications to treat my pain."
, B) "Using a heating pad and stretching may help me manage my pain better."
C) "If I feel worse, I should just rest in bed all day."
D) "I will take extra doses of NSAIDs when the pain increases." - ANSWER✔ Answer: ✅ B) "Using a
heating pad and stretching may help me manage my pain better."
Rationale: Heat therapy and gentle stretching are effective non-pharmacologic strategies for chronic
pain such as arthritis.
A nurse is teaching a patient about ibuprofen. Which statement made by the patient requires immediate
follow-up?
A) "I take this with food to prevent stomach upset."
B) "I can take it every few hours if my pain returns."
C) "I have a history of stomach ulcers, but I still take ibuprofen daily."
D) "I use it mostly for joint pain." - ANSWER✔ Answer: ✅ C) "I have a history of stomach ulcers, but I
still take ibuprofen daily."
Rationale: NSAIDs like ibuprofen increase the risk of GI bleeding, especially in patients with a history of
ulcers.
A nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the PQRST method. What does the "Q" represent?
A) Quality of the pain
B) Quantity of medication needed
C) Questions about the timing
D) Quick onset vs. gradual onset - ANSWER✔ Answer: ✅ A) Quality of the pain
Rationale: "Q" stands for the quality or character of the pain (e.g., sharp, dull, burning).
A nurse is developing a care plan for a patient with chronic back pain. Which nursing diagnosis is most
appropriate?
