NURS 3209 PAIN MANAGEMENT EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES Q&A INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
140 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Critically evaluate pain assessment tools and their application across diverse patient populations
2 Integrate pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies for optimal pain control
3 Analyze the impact of pain on physiological and psychological well-being
4 Apply ethical and legal principles in pain management practice
5 NURS 3209 Pain Management Exam Practice Questions And Correct Answers
6 Verified Answers
7 Plus Rationales Q&A Instant Download Pdf
8 Foundations of Pain Management Nursing
9 Applied Pain Management Nursing
10 Advanced Pain Management Nursing
11 Pain Management Nursing Review
Page 1
,Q1 CRITICALLY EVALUATE PAIN ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND THEIR APPLICATION ACROSS
DIVERSE PATIENT POPULATIONS
A patient with chronic neuropathic pain has been on gabapentin 1800 mg/day with
partial relief. Which combination strategy is most supported by current evidence
and guidelines?
A. Add duloxetine and titrate to 60 mg/day CORRECT
B. Switch to pregabalin at an equivalent dose
C. Add an opioid such as tramadol
D. Increase gabapentin to 3600 mg/day
RATIONALE: Current guidelines (e.g., Neuropathic Pain Special Interest Group) recommend
first-line agents like SNRIs or TCAs. Adding duloxetine, an SNRI, is recommended for
combination therapy when monotherapy is partial. Pregabalin has similar efficacy but no added
benefit; opioids are not first-line; gabapentin dose is already near maximum.
Q2 CRITICALLY EVALUATE PAIN ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND THEIR APPLICATION ACROSS
DIVERSE PATIENT POPULATIONS
Which statement best reflects the current evidence regarding the use of naloxone
in a patient on long-term opioids who presents with respiratory depression?
A. Administer full-dose naloxone to rapidly reverse respiratory depression
B. Titrate naloxone in small increments to achieve adequate ventilation without precipitating
withdrawal CORRECT
C. Use intramuscular naloxone for faster onset
D. Avoid naloxone if the patient has a history of chronic pain
RATIONALE: In patients on long-term opioids, naloxone should be titrated to reverse respiratory
depression while avoiding severe withdrawal and pain crisis. Full-dose may cause acute
withdrawal; IM has slower onset; naloxone is indicated despite chronic pain.
Page 2
,Q3 CRITICALLY EVALUATE PAIN ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND THEIR APPLICATION ACROSS
DIVERSE PATIENT POPULATIONS
A patient with moderate to severe pain is prescribed a medication that inhibits
cyclooxygenase-2 selectively. Which concurrent condition would most warrant
caution or avoidance?
A. Hypertension
B. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
C. Asthma with nasal polyps CORRECT
D. Type 2 diabetes mellitus
RATIONALE: COX-2 inhibitors may precipitate bronchospasm in patients with
aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (asthma with nasal polyps). Hypertension is a concern
but less absolute; GERD and diabetes are not contraindications.
Q4 CRITICALLY EVALUATE PAIN ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND THEIR APPLICATION ACROSS
DIVERSE PATIENT POPULATIONS
Which pain assessment tool is most appropriate for a patient who is cognitively
impaired and nonverbal?
A. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
B. Wong-Baker FACES Scale
C. Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) Scale CORRECT
D. Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
RATIONALE: PAINAD is designed for nonverbal patients with dementia, using behavioral
indicators. NRS and VAS require self-report; FACES is for children/adults who can point, not for
severe cognitive impairment.
Page 3
, Q5 CRITICALLY EVALUATE PAIN ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND THEIR APPLICATION ACROSS
DIVERSE PATIENT POPULATIONS
A patient is receiving morphine via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Which
assessment finding indicates the need to adjust the PCA settings?
A. Sedation score of 3 (sleepy, easily aroused) CORRECT
B. Respiratory rate of 12 breaths/min
C. Pain score of 4 on a 0-10 scale
D. Patient pressing the button every 30 minutes
RATIONALE: Sedation precedes respiratory depression. A sedation score of 3 (somnolent) is a
critical sign to reduce or stop PCA. RR of 12 is acceptable; pain score of 4 may be acceptable;
frequent button presses may indicate poor analgesia but not immediate danger.
Q6 CRITICALLY EVALUATE PAIN ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND THEIR APPLICATION ACROSS
DIVERSE PATIENT POPULATIONS
A patient with chronic noncancer pain is being started on methadone. Which
statement is accurate regarding its pharmacology?
A. It has a short half-life, requiring multiple daily doses
B. It blocks NMDA receptors and has a long, variable half-life CORRECT
C. It is a pure antagonist at opioid receptors
D. It has a ceiling effect for analgesia
RATIONALE: Methadone is an NMDA receptor antagonist and has a long, variable half-life
(15-60 hours), requiring careful titration. It is an agonist, not antagonist; no ceiling effect for
analgesia.
Page 4
AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES Q&A INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
140 QUESTIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
# TOPIC
1 Critically evaluate pain assessment tools and their application across diverse patient populations
2 Integrate pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies for optimal pain control
3 Analyze the impact of pain on physiological and psychological well-being
4 Apply ethical and legal principles in pain management practice
5 NURS 3209 Pain Management Exam Practice Questions And Correct Answers
6 Verified Answers
7 Plus Rationales Q&A Instant Download Pdf
8 Foundations of Pain Management Nursing
9 Applied Pain Management Nursing
10 Advanced Pain Management Nursing
11 Pain Management Nursing Review
Page 1
,Q1 CRITICALLY EVALUATE PAIN ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND THEIR APPLICATION ACROSS
DIVERSE PATIENT POPULATIONS
A patient with chronic neuropathic pain has been on gabapentin 1800 mg/day with
partial relief. Which combination strategy is most supported by current evidence
and guidelines?
A. Add duloxetine and titrate to 60 mg/day CORRECT
B. Switch to pregabalin at an equivalent dose
C. Add an opioid such as tramadol
D. Increase gabapentin to 3600 mg/day
RATIONALE: Current guidelines (e.g., Neuropathic Pain Special Interest Group) recommend
first-line agents like SNRIs or TCAs. Adding duloxetine, an SNRI, is recommended for
combination therapy when monotherapy is partial. Pregabalin has similar efficacy but no added
benefit; opioids are not first-line; gabapentin dose is already near maximum.
Q2 CRITICALLY EVALUATE PAIN ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND THEIR APPLICATION ACROSS
DIVERSE PATIENT POPULATIONS
Which statement best reflects the current evidence regarding the use of naloxone
in a patient on long-term opioids who presents with respiratory depression?
A. Administer full-dose naloxone to rapidly reverse respiratory depression
B. Titrate naloxone in small increments to achieve adequate ventilation without precipitating
withdrawal CORRECT
C. Use intramuscular naloxone for faster onset
D. Avoid naloxone if the patient has a history of chronic pain
RATIONALE: In patients on long-term opioids, naloxone should be titrated to reverse respiratory
depression while avoiding severe withdrawal and pain crisis. Full-dose may cause acute
withdrawal; IM has slower onset; naloxone is indicated despite chronic pain.
Page 2
,Q3 CRITICALLY EVALUATE PAIN ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND THEIR APPLICATION ACROSS
DIVERSE PATIENT POPULATIONS
A patient with moderate to severe pain is prescribed a medication that inhibits
cyclooxygenase-2 selectively. Which concurrent condition would most warrant
caution or avoidance?
A. Hypertension
B. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
C. Asthma with nasal polyps CORRECT
D. Type 2 diabetes mellitus
RATIONALE: COX-2 inhibitors may precipitate bronchospasm in patients with
aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (asthma with nasal polyps). Hypertension is a concern
but less absolute; GERD and diabetes are not contraindications.
Q4 CRITICALLY EVALUATE PAIN ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND THEIR APPLICATION ACROSS
DIVERSE PATIENT POPULATIONS
Which pain assessment tool is most appropriate for a patient who is cognitively
impaired and nonverbal?
A. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
B. Wong-Baker FACES Scale
C. Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) Scale CORRECT
D. Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
RATIONALE: PAINAD is designed for nonverbal patients with dementia, using behavioral
indicators. NRS and VAS require self-report; FACES is for children/adults who can point, not for
severe cognitive impairment.
Page 3
, Q5 CRITICALLY EVALUATE PAIN ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND THEIR APPLICATION ACROSS
DIVERSE PATIENT POPULATIONS
A patient is receiving morphine via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Which
assessment finding indicates the need to adjust the PCA settings?
A. Sedation score of 3 (sleepy, easily aroused) CORRECT
B. Respiratory rate of 12 breaths/min
C. Pain score of 4 on a 0-10 scale
D. Patient pressing the button every 30 minutes
RATIONALE: Sedation precedes respiratory depression. A sedation score of 3 (somnolent) is a
critical sign to reduce or stop PCA. RR of 12 is acceptable; pain score of 4 may be acceptable;
frequent button presses may indicate poor analgesia but not immediate danger.
Q6 CRITICALLY EVALUATE PAIN ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND THEIR APPLICATION ACROSS
DIVERSE PATIENT POPULATIONS
A patient with chronic noncancer pain is being started on methadone. Which
statement is accurate regarding its pharmacology?
A. It has a short half-life, requiring multiple daily doses
B. It blocks NMDA receptors and has a long, variable half-life CORRECT
C. It is a pure antagonist at opioid receptors
D. It has a ceiling effect for analgesia
RATIONALE: Methadone is an NMDA receptor antagonist and has a long, variable half-life
(15-60 hours), requiring careful titration. It is an agonist, not antagonist; no ceiling effect for
analgesia.
Page 4
