NURS 252 EXAM 3 2026/2027 | NURSING STUDY GUIDE, EXAM
REVIEW & PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Pain in older adults can lead to: - Correct answer ✔✔ sleep disturbance, hopelessness, loss of
control, and impaired social interactions.
Osteoarthritis - Correct answer ✔✔ most common disorder associated with pain in older adults.
Other common types of pain include - Correct answer ✔✔ headaches, cancer, low back pain,
neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain - Correct answer ✔✔ significant bc difficult to treat(cant use pain meds).
phantom pain, diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia-from shingles, trigeminal neuralgia.
acute pain - Correct answer ✔✔ less than 6 months. results from injury to tissues-surgery.
temporary. responds to analgesics-dont keep on them for too long. as heal>pain decreases.
accompanied by fear and anxiety
chronic pain - Correct answer ✔✔ persistent. harder to assess. any pain lasting longer than 6
months. cause can be known or unknown. S&S may be absent-still believe patient. may be
disabled by pain.
Nociceptive pain - Correct answer ✔✔ chronic pain type. pain receptors. somatic& visceral.
Somatic nociceptive pain - Correct answer ✔✔ localized pain. skeletal, CT
Visceral nociceptive pain - Correct answer ✔✔ organs, non-localized, more painful. stabbing,
burning, hurts all over-cancer, referred pain(different spot)
, Neuropathic pain - Correct answer ✔✔ nerve damage. amp, shingles, neuropathy(diabetes),
cyclic anti-depressants, anti-convulsive.
patient's description and self-report - Correct answer ✔✔ most accurate evidence of pain
Characteristics of pain assessed: - Correct answer ✔✔ intensity. quality-burning, stabbing.
onset. duration. patient's manner of expressing pain-facial. aggravating factors.
factors/conditions that relieve or minimize pain-tylenol, rest
Pain rating scales - Correct answer ✔✔ visual analog scale-facial expression. word descriptor
scale-mild, severe, moderate. Numerical scale. always use same skill through patient treatment
Older adults unable to use pain scales: - Correct answer ✔✔ vocalizations-screaming. disruptive
behaviors-combative
Assessing pain in cognitively impaired - Correct answer ✔✔ decreased ability to report pain-but
still there. Nonverbal behaviors-agitation, combative, crying, grimace. adjust pain rating tools.
analgesics to assess-give tylenol to see if behaviors change. reports from caregivers
adverse consequences with pain in older adults - Correct answer ✔✔ decreased quality of life,
depression, decreased socialization, sleep disturbance, impaired ambulation, suicidal ideation,
decreased appetite& food intake, increased health care costs
Strategies for treating pain in older adults - Correct answer ✔✔ assess for chronic pain.
persistent or recurrent pain should be investigated (constipation). maintain pain log(OLDCARTS).
reassess regularly.
Pharmacological nursing interventions - Correct answer ✔✔ nonopioid analgesics(non-
narcotic), opioids(narcotic), adjuvant drugs(in addition to meds)
REVIEW & PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Pain in older adults can lead to: - Correct answer ✔✔ sleep disturbance, hopelessness, loss of
control, and impaired social interactions.
Osteoarthritis - Correct answer ✔✔ most common disorder associated with pain in older adults.
Other common types of pain include - Correct answer ✔✔ headaches, cancer, low back pain,
neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain - Correct answer ✔✔ significant bc difficult to treat(cant use pain meds).
phantom pain, diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia-from shingles, trigeminal neuralgia.
acute pain - Correct answer ✔✔ less than 6 months. results from injury to tissues-surgery.
temporary. responds to analgesics-dont keep on them for too long. as heal>pain decreases.
accompanied by fear and anxiety
chronic pain - Correct answer ✔✔ persistent. harder to assess. any pain lasting longer than 6
months. cause can be known or unknown. S&S may be absent-still believe patient. may be
disabled by pain.
Nociceptive pain - Correct answer ✔✔ chronic pain type. pain receptors. somatic& visceral.
Somatic nociceptive pain - Correct answer ✔✔ localized pain. skeletal, CT
Visceral nociceptive pain - Correct answer ✔✔ organs, non-localized, more painful. stabbing,
burning, hurts all over-cancer, referred pain(different spot)
, Neuropathic pain - Correct answer ✔✔ nerve damage. amp, shingles, neuropathy(diabetes),
cyclic anti-depressants, anti-convulsive.
patient's description and self-report - Correct answer ✔✔ most accurate evidence of pain
Characteristics of pain assessed: - Correct answer ✔✔ intensity. quality-burning, stabbing.
onset. duration. patient's manner of expressing pain-facial. aggravating factors.
factors/conditions that relieve or minimize pain-tylenol, rest
Pain rating scales - Correct answer ✔✔ visual analog scale-facial expression. word descriptor
scale-mild, severe, moderate. Numerical scale. always use same skill through patient treatment
Older adults unable to use pain scales: - Correct answer ✔✔ vocalizations-screaming. disruptive
behaviors-combative
Assessing pain in cognitively impaired - Correct answer ✔✔ decreased ability to report pain-but
still there. Nonverbal behaviors-agitation, combative, crying, grimace. adjust pain rating tools.
analgesics to assess-give tylenol to see if behaviors change. reports from caregivers
adverse consequences with pain in older adults - Correct answer ✔✔ decreased quality of life,
depression, decreased socialization, sleep disturbance, impaired ambulation, suicidal ideation,
decreased appetite& food intake, increased health care costs
Strategies for treating pain in older adults - Correct answer ✔✔ assess for chronic pain.
persistent or recurrent pain should be investigated (constipation). maintain pain log(OLDCARTS).
reassess regularly.
Pharmacological nursing interventions - Correct answer ✔✔ nonopioid analgesics(non-
narcotic), opioids(narcotic), adjuvant drugs(in addition to meds)
