RNRS 117 CONCEPT OF COMFORT PEARSON EXAM I QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | RNRS 117 STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
A patient rates abdominal pain as being an 8/10 and states that it frequently occurs after eating a heavy
meal.
Which observation should the nurse identify as best validating the patient's complaint?
Guarding of the abdomen
Facial grimacing
Abnormal gait
Posturing - ANS ✔✔Guarding of the abdomen
A patient with chronic pain spends time with family and friends several times a week.
Which outcome should the nurse expect when assessing this patient?
Minimization of sleep disruption
Enhanced psychosocial well-being
Identification of the source of the discomfort
Improved cognitive function - ANS ✔✔Enhanced psychosocial well-being
A patient reports experiencing back pain "for years."
Which intervention should the nurse select to most directly support this patient's psychological well-
being?
Teaching focused breathing techniques
Reducing environmental distractions
Encouraging a positive attitude
Teaching muscle-relaxation techniques - ANS ✔✔Encouraging a positive attitude
A patient is waiting for the results of genetic testing that was done to help identify health problems.
Which pain disorder should the nurse recall that has been associated with a mutation of the SCN9A
gene?
Psychogenic pain disorder
Neuropathic pain
Sympathetically mediated pain
Fibromyalgia - ANS ✔✔Fibromyalgia
A hospitalized patient reports not getting enough rest because of being woken up for procedures and
activities.
Which action should the nurse take to best address this situation?
Assessing the patient's normal circadian rhythm
Offering the patient a sedative or hypnotic
Encouraging the patient to cat nap when possible
, Reducing excess noise during specified quiet hours - ANS ✔✔Assessing the patient's normal circadian
rhythm
The nurse is teaching a patient about risks related to the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) for pain relief.
Which risk related to NSAID use should the nurse include in the teaching?
Hepatotoxicity
Gastric distress
Kidney toxicity
Constipation - ANS ✔✔Gastric distress
A patient with chronic pain will be using acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain relief when discharged.
Which information found in the patient's history should the nurse identify as increasing the risk for
hepatotoxicity from the use of this medication?
Concurrent anticoagulant therapy
Use of temazepam for sleep
Chronic ingestion of alcohol
Concurrent use of morphine at times - ANS ✔✔Chronic ingestion of alcohol
The nurse is caring for several patients who have the diagnosis Comfort, Impaired.
Which patient statement should the nurse identify as describing discomfort related to fibromyalgia?
"I have suffered a progressive loss of muscle tone."
"I feel like I am having more difficulty breathing."
"It seems like any activity increases my heart rate."
"I have continual tenderness in my neck, spine, shoulders, and hips." - ANS ✔✔"I have continual
tenderness in my neck, spine, shoulders, and hips."
A patient with a history of chronic pain has not been sleeping well.
Which finding should the nurse expect when assessing this patient?
Sluggish healing of a foot wound
Elevated blood pressure
Irregular heart rate
Capillary refill of 3 seconds - ANS ✔✔Sluggish healing of a foot wound
A patient experiencing pain from renal cancer asks about the use of Reiki to help with the pain.
Which response should the nurse give that best reflects current evidence concerning biofield therapies
such as Reiki?
"Biofield therapies such as Reiki have been proven to help significantly reduce pain."
"Reiki is a biofield therapy that does not have side effects or interact with other medications or
treatments."
"Reiki can be helpful, but the biofield therapy of therapeutic touch has been found to be much more
effective."
ANSWERS | RNRS 117 STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
A patient rates abdominal pain as being an 8/10 and states that it frequently occurs after eating a heavy
meal.
Which observation should the nurse identify as best validating the patient's complaint?
Guarding of the abdomen
Facial grimacing
Abnormal gait
Posturing - ANS ✔✔Guarding of the abdomen
A patient with chronic pain spends time with family and friends several times a week.
Which outcome should the nurse expect when assessing this patient?
Minimization of sleep disruption
Enhanced psychosocial well-being
Identification of the source of the discomfort
Improved cognitive function - ANS ✔✔Enhanced psychosocial well-being
A patient reports experiencing back pain "for years."
Which intervention should the nurse select to most directly support this patient's psychological well-
being?
Teaching focused breathing techniques
Reducing environmental distractions
Encouraging a positive attitude
Teaching muscle-relaxation techniques - ANS ✔✔Encouraging a positive attitude
A patient is waiting for the results of genetic testing that was done to help identify health problems.
Which pain disorder should the nurse recall that has been associated with a mutation of the SCN9A
gene?
Psychogenic pain disorder
Neuropathic pain
Sympathetically mediated pain
Fibromyalgia - ANS ✔✔Fibromyalgia
A hospitalized patient reports not getting enough rest because of being woken up for procedures and
activities.
Which action should the nurse take to best address this situation?
Assessing the patient's normal circadian rhythm
Offering the patient a sedative or hypnotic
Encouraging the patient to cat nap when possible
, Reducing excess noise during specified quiet hours - ANS ✔✔Assessing the patient's normal circadian
rhythm
The nurse is teaching a patient about risks related to the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) for pain relief.
Which risk related to NSAID use should the nurse include in the teaching?
Hepatotoxicity
Gastric distress
Kidney toxicity
Constipation - ANS ✔✔Gastric distress
A patient with chronic pain will be using acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain relief when discharged.
Which information found in the patient's history should the nurse identify as increasing the risk for
hepatotoxicity from the use of this medication?
Concurrent anticoagulant therapy
Use of temazepam for sleep
Chronic ingestion of alcohol
Concurrent use of morphine at times - ANS ✔✔Chronic ingestion of alcohol
The nurse is caring for several patients who have the diagnosis Comfort, Impaired.
Which patient statement should the nurse identify as describing discomfort related to fibromyalgia?
"I have suffered a progressive loss of muscle tone."
"I feel like I am having more difficulty breathing."
"It seems like any activity increases my heart rate."
"I have continual tenderness in my neck, spine, shoulders, and hips." - ANS ✔✔"I have continual
tenderness in my neck, spine, shoulders, and hips."
A patient with a history of chronic pain has not been sleeping well.
Which finding should the nurse expect when assessing this patient?
Sluggish healing of a foot wound
Elevated blood pressure
Irregular heart rate
Capillary refill of 3 seconds - ANS ✔✔Sluggish healing of a foot wound
A patient experiencing pain from renal cancer asks about the use of Reiki to help with the pain.
Which response should the nurse give that best reflects current evidence concerning biofield therapies
such as Reiki?
"Biofield therapies such as Reiki have been proven to help significantly reduce pain."
"Reiki is a biofield therapy that does not have side effects or interact with other medications or
treatments."
"Reiki can be helpful, but the biofield therapy of therapeutic touch has been found to be much more
effective."
