Chapter 12: Drugs for Pain
Management Visovsky: Introduction to
Clinical Pharmacology, 10th Edition
with questions and answers
1. What types of drugs have the main purpose of relieving pain? a. Anticholinergics
b. Antagonists
c. Analgesics
d. Agonists - answer <<<<<<<<<<<ANS: C
2. An adult patient has returned to the unit from an operative procedure. The healthcare provider asks
you to rate a patient's postoperative pain. What is your best response?
a. "He is asleep now, so his pain level is acceptable."
b. "I will ask the patient to rate his own pain."
c. "His wife says he can still feel the incision when he turns or coughs."
d. "Since he received 15 mg of morphine an hour ago, his pain is probably minimal." - answer
<<<<<<<<<<<ANS: B
3. You are caring for a female patient who is paralyzed from the waist down and has a large open wound
on her right heel. When asked about her pain in that foot, she tells you it is a 0 on a 0 to 10 pain rating
scale. What does this response indicate?
a. The patient's paralysis prevents the patient's brain from perceiving the pain.
b. The patient has chronic pain that does not trigger the stress response.
c. The patient has demonstrated substance misuse behaviors from taking pain drugs too often. d. The
patient's acute pain has been effectively managed by the prescribed pain drug. - answer
<<<<<<<<<<<ANS: A
, 4. A nursing student assigned to work with you asks you to explain why natural and synthetic opioids are
considered "high-alert drugs?" What is your best response?
a. "Opioids have an increased risk for causing a patient harm if given in error." b. "Opioids have a
relatively high potential for addiction or abuse."
c. "There is wide variation in the dosages between opioid types."
d. "High-alert drugs are those that can be given by a variety of routes." - answer <<<<<<<<<<<ANS: A
5. The RN has given 2 mg of hydromorphone intravenously to a patient for severe pain. When you assess
the patient's pain level an hour after receiving the drug you find the patient asleep with a respiratory
rate of 10 breaths/min. What is your best first action?
a. Give naloxone intravenously.
b. Document the finding as the only action.
c. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
d. Assess the patient's oxygen saturation with pulse oximetry. - answer <<<<<<<<<<<ANS: D
6. A patient being discharged to home is prescribed an oxycodone-acetaminophen combination for pain
management. Which statement regarding a precaution is most important to teach this patient?
a. "If you still need this drug after 48 hours, notify your healthcare provider immediately." b. "Always go
to bed immediately after taking a dose of this drug."
c. "Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this drug."
d. "Be sure to drink plenty of water and eat foods high in fiber to prevent constipation." - answer
<<<<<<<<<<<ANS: D
7. You accidentally give a patient 30 mg orally of hydromorphone (Dilaudid) instead of the 30 mg of oral
hydrocodone ordered. What is your first best action?
a. Notify the RN in charge immediately.
b. Induce the patient to vomit immediately.
c. Assess the patient's vital signs immediately.
d. Follow your agency's policy for documenting a drug error. - answer <<<<<<<<<<<ANS: A
Management Visovsky: Introduction to
Clinical Pharmacology, 10th Edition
with questions and answers
1. What types of drugs have the main purpose of relieving pain? a. Anticholinergics
b. Antagonists
c. Analgesics
d. Agonists - answer <<<<<<<<<<<ANS: C
2. An adult patient has returned to the unit from an operative procedure. The healthcare provider asks
you to rate a patient's postoperative pain. What is your best response?
a. "He is asleep now, so his pain level is acceptable."
b. "I will ask the patient to rate his own pain."
c. "His wife says he can still feel the incision when he turns or coughs."
d. "Since he received 15 mg of morphine an hour ago, his pain is probably minimal." - answer
<<<<<<<<<<<ANS: B
3. You are caring for a female patient who is paralyzed from the waist down and has a large open wound
on her right heel. When asked about her pain in that foot, she tells you it is a 0 on a 0 to 10 pain rating
scale. What does this response indicate?
a. The patient's paralysis prevents the patient's brain from perceiving the pain.
b. The patient has chronic pain that does not trigger the stress response.
c. The patient has demonstrated substance misuse behaviors from taking pain drugs too often. d. The
patient's acute pain has been effectively managed by the prescribed pain drug. - answer
<<<<<<<<<<<ANS: A
, 4. A nursing student assigned to work with you asks you to explain why natural and synthetic opioids are
considered "high-alert drugs?" What is your best response?
a. "Opioids have an increased risk for causing a patient harm if given in error." b. "Opioids have a
relatively high potential for addiction or abuse."
c. "There is wide variation in the dosages between opioid types."
d. "High-alert drugs are those that can be given by a variety of routes." - answer <<<<<<<<<<<ANS: A
5. The RN has given 2 mg of hydromorphone intravenously to a patient for severe pain. When you assess
the patient's pain level an hour after receiving the drug you find the patient asleep with a respiratory
rate of 10 breaths/min. What is your best first action?
a. Give naloxone intravenously.
b. Document the finding as the only action.
c. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
d. Assess the patient's oxygen saturation with pulse oximetry. - answer <<<<<<<<<<<ANS: D
6. A patient being discharged to home is prescribed an oxycodone-acetaminophen combination for pain
management. Which statement regarding a precaution is most important to teach this patient?
a. "If you still need this drug after 48 hours, notify your healthcare provider immediately." b. "Always go
to bed immediately after taking a dose of this drug."
c. "Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this drug."
d. "Be sure to drink plenty of water and eat foods high in fiber to prevent constipation." - answer
<<<<<<<<<<<ANS: D
7. You accidentally give a patient 30 mg orally of hydromorphone (Dilaudid) instead of the 30 mg of oral
hydrocodone ordered. What is your first best action?
a. Notify the RN in charge immediately.
b. Induce the patient to vomit immediately.
c. Assess the patient's vital signs immediately.
d. Follow your agency's policy for documenting a drug error. - answer <<<<<<<<<<<ANS: A
