RNSG 1430 Comfort and Pain Management
(Fundamentals) questions with verified answers
Acupuncture Ans✓✓✓ Uses needles in various lengths inserted into specific parts
of the body to produce insensitivity to pain.
* Headaches, cramps, postoperative dental pain, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, low
back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Acute Pain Ans✓✓✓ Rapid onset, varies in intensity from mild to severe.
* Acute and Chronic can apear at the same time.
Addiction Ans✓✓✓ Behavioral pattern characterized by need to take drug for
psychic effects
Administering Analgesics Ans✓✓✓ A analgesic is a pharmaceutical agent that
relieves pain.
Opioids: all controlled substances. Eg. morphine, codeine.
* used for moderate to severe pain.
* Naloxone is antagonist
* Side effects: sedation, nausea, and CONSTIPATION.
Sedation scale: S=sleep. easy arousal, 1=awake and alert, 2=occasionally drowsy,
but easy to arouse, 3=frequently drowsy and drifts off to sleep during
conversation (decrease opioid dose), 4= somnolent with minimal or no response
to stimuli ( discontinue opioid, and consider use of naloxone).
Morphine is considered the gold standard of opioids.
, Methadone: must be used cautiously because it has a long duration of action,
allowing it to accumulate to dangerous levels.
Meperidine (Demerol) toxic metabolite from its breakdown can alter mental
status, delirium, seizures, and psychosis. (NOT for Elderly)
Non-opioid: acetaminophen, (NSAIDS)
Adjuvant analgesics: anticonvulsants, antidepressants.
Altering Factors affecting pain tolerance Ans✓✓✓ Nursing measures include
communication to the Pt that responses to pain are acceptable and provide
education to the Pt's family.
* Fatigue tends to increase pain, thus promoting rest is helpful.
* The Pt in pain usually feels more comfortable when the environment is quiet &
restful.
Common Fears Include: a loss of control and embarrassment by being unable to
deal with the pain maturely.
* Fear of taking pain relief medication
* May view the need for medication as weakness or may fear addiction or loss of
effectiveness at a later date.
Older Pt's are frequently frustrated by similar concerns about pain management.
Animal -facilitated therapy Ans✓✓✓ Either Pt's own pet or an animal w/
experienced handler can be used as complementary therapy to help relieve pain
and provide a degree of comfort.
(Fundamentals) questions with verified answers
Acupuncture Ans✓✓✓ Uses needles in various lengths inserted into specific parts
of the body to produce insensitivity to pain.
* Headaches, cramps, postoperative dental pain, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, low
back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Acute Pain Ans✓✓✓ Rapid onset, varies in intensity from mild to severe.
* Acute and Chronic can apear at the same time.
Addiction Ans✓✓✓ Behavioral pattern characterized by need to take drug for
psychic effects
Administering Analgesics Ans✓✓✓ A analgesic is a pharmaceutical agent that
relieves pain.
Opioids: all controlled substances. Eg. morphine, codeine.
* used for moderate to severe pain.
* Naloxone is antagonist
* Side effects: sedation, nausea, and CONSTIPATION.
Sedation scale: S=sleep. easy arousal, 1=awake and alert, 2=occasionally drowsy,
but easy to arouse, 3=frequently drowsy and drifts off to sleep during
conversation (decrease opioid dose), 4= somnolent with minimal or no response
to stimuli ( discontinue opioid, and consider use of naloxone).
Morphine is considered the gold standard of opioids.
, Methadone: must be used cautiously because it has a long duration of action,
allowing it to accumulate to dangerous levels.
Meperidine (Demerol) toxic metabolite from its breakdown can alter mental
status, delirium, seizures, and psychosis. (NOT for Elderly)
Non-opioid: acetaminophen, (NSAIDS)
Adjuvant analgesics: anticonvulsants, antidepressants.
Altering Factors affecting pain tolerance Ans✓✓✓ Nursing measures include
communication to the Pt that responses to pain are acceptable and provide
education to the Pt's family.
* Fatigue tends to increase pain, thus promoting rest is helpful.
* The Pt in pain usually feels more comfortable when the environment is quiet &
restful.
Common Fears Include: a loss of control and embarrassment by being unable to
deal with the pain maturely.
* Fear of taking pain relief medication
* May view the need for medication as weakness or may fear addiction or loss of
effectiveness at a later date.
Older Pt's are frequently frustrated by similar concerns about pain management.
Animal -facilitated therapy Ans✓✓✓ Either Pt's own pet or an animal w/
experienced handler can be used as complementary therapy to help relieve pain
and provide a degree of comfort.
