HESI RN COMPREHENSIVE PREDICTOR EXAM
An oriented client has recently had surgery. Which action is best for the
caregiver to take to assess this client’s pain?
a. Assess the client’s body language.
b. Ask the client to rate the level of pain.
c. Observe the cardiac monitor for increased heart rate.
d. Have the client describe the effect of pain on the ability to cope.
ANSWER: B
One of the most subjective and therefore most useful characteristics for
reporting pain is its severity. Therefore, the best way to assess a client’s pain
is to ask the client to rate the pain. Nonverbal communication, such as body
language, is not as effective in assessing pain, especially when the client is
oriented. Heart rate sometimes increases when a client is in pain, but this is
not a symptom that is specific to pain. Pain sometimes affects a client’s ability
to cope, but assessing the effect of pain on coping assesses the client’s ability
to cope; it does not assess the client’s pain.
2. A caregiver is caring for a client who recently had abdominal surgery and is
experiencing severe pain. The client’s blood pressure is 110/60 mm Hg,
and heart rate is 60 beats/min. Additionally, the client does not appear to be
in any distress. Which response by the caregiver is most therapeutic?
“Your vitals do not show that you are having pain; can you describe
a. your pain?”
b. “OK, I will go get you some narcotic pain relievers immediately.”
c. “What would you like to try to alleviate your pain?”
d. “You do not look like you are in pain.”
ANSWER: C
Be sure the client is a partner in making decisions about the best approaches
for managing pain. A client knows the most about his or her pain and is an 205
important partner in selecting successful pain therapies. The caregiver must
believe that a client is in pain whenever the client reports that he or she is in
, pain, even if the client does not appear to be in pain. The caregiver must be
careful to not judge the client based on vital signs or nonverbal
communication and must not assume that the client is seeking narcotics. The
client is a partner in pain management, so going to get narcotics to treat the
pain without consulting with the client first is not appropriate.
3. A caregiver teaches the client about the gate control theory. Which statement
made by a client reflects a correct understanding about the relationship?
between the gate control theory of pain and the use of meditation to relieve
pain?
“Meditation controls pain by blocking pain impulses from coming
a. through the gate.”
“Meditation alters the chemical composition of pain neuroregulators,
b. Which closes the gate.”
“Meditation will help me sleep through the pain because it opens the
c. gate.”
d. “Meditation stops the occurrence of pain stimuli.”
ANSWER: A
According to this theory, gating mechanisms located along the central nervous
system regulate or block pain impulses. Pain impulses pass through when a
gate is open and are blocked when a gate is closed.
Nonpharmacologic pain-relief measures, such as meditation, work by
closing the gates, which keeps pain impulses from coming through.
Meditation does not open pain gates or stop pain from occurring. Meditation
also does not have an effect on pain neuroregulators.
4.A caregiver is planning care for an older-adult client who is experiencing pain.
Which statement made by the caregiver indicates the supervising caregiver needs
to
follow up?
a. “As adults age, their ability to perceive pain decreases.”
“Older clients may have low serum albumin in their blood, causing
b. toxic effects of analgesic drugs.”
“Clients who have dementia probably experience pain, and their pain
c. is not always well controlled.”
“It is safe to administer opioids to 205
older adults as long as you start with
An oriented client has recently had surgery. Which action is best for the
caregiver to take to assess this client’s pain?
a. Assess the client’s body language.
b. Ask the client to rate the level of pain.
c. Observe the cardiac monitor for increased heart rate.
d. Have the client describe the effect of pain on the ability to cope.
ANSWER: B
One of the most subjective and therefore most useful characteristics for
reporting pain is its severity. Therefore, the best way to assess a client’s pain
is to ask the client to rate the pain. Nonverbal communication, such as body
language, is not as effective in assessing pain, especially when the client is
oriented. Heart rate sometimes increases when a client is in pain, but this is
not a symptom that is specific to pain. Pain sometimes affects a client’s ability
to cope, but assessing the effect of pain on coping assesses the client’s ability
to cope; it does not assess the client’s pain.
2. A caregiver is caring for a client who recently had abdominal surgery and is
experiencing severe pain. The client’s blood pressure is 110/60 mm Hg,
and heart rate is 60 beats/min. Additionally, the client does not appear to be
in any distress. Which response by the caregiver is most therapeutic?
“Your vitals do not show that you are having pain; can you describe
a. your pain?”
b. “OK, I will go get you some narcotic pain relievers immediately.”
c. “What would you like to try to alleviate your pain?”
d. “You do not look like you are in pain.”
ANSWER: C
Be sure the client is a partner in making decisions about the best approaches
for managing pain. A client knows the most about his or her pain and is an 205
important partner in selecting successful pain therapies. The caregiver must
believe that a client is in pain whenever the client reports that he or she is in
, pain, even if the client does not appear to be in pain. The caregiver must be
careful to not judge the client based on vital signs or nonverbal
communication and must not assume that the client is seeking narcotics. The
client is a partner in pain management, so going to get narcotics to treat the
pain without consulting with the client first is not appropriate.
3. A caregiver teaches the client about the gate control theory. Which statement
made by a client reflects a correct understanding about the relationship?
between the gate control theory of pain and the use of meditation to relieve
pain?
“Meditation controls pain by blocking pain impulses from coming
a. through the gate.”
“Meditation alters the chemical composition of pain neuroregulators,
b. Which closes the gate.”
“Meditation will help me sleep through the pain because it opens the
c. gate.”
d. “Meditation stops the occurrence of pain stimuli.”
ANSWER: A
According to this theory, gating mechanisms located along the central nervous
system regulate or block pain impulses. Pain impulses pass through when a
gate is open and are blocked when a gate is closed.
Nonpharmacologic pain-relief measures, such as meditation, work by
closing the gates, which keeps pain impulses from coming through.
Meditation does not open pain gates or stop pain from occurring. Meditation
also does not have an effect on pain neuroregulators.
4.A caregiver is planning care for an older-adult client who is experiencing pain.
Which statement made by the caregiver indicates the supervising caregiver needs
to
follow up?
a. “As adults age, their ability to perceive pain decreases.”
“Older clients may have low serum albumin in their blood, causing
b. toxic effects of analgesic drugs.”
“Clients who have dementia probably experience pain, and their pain
c. is not always well controlled.”
“It is safe to administer opioids to 205
older adults as long as you start with
