CERTIFIED PAIN MANAGEMENT NURSE
(CPMN) EXAM QUESTION AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A INSTANT
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1. Which definition best describes pain according to the International
Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)?
A. A sensory response to tissue injury only
B. A psychological reaction to discomfort
C. An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with
actual or potential tissue damage
D. A symptom that can be objectively measured
Answer: C
Rationale: Pain is defined by IASP as both a sensory and emotional experience,
emphasizing its subjective and multifactorial nature.
2. Which pain pathway transmits sharp, well-localized pain?
A. C fibers
B. A-delta fibers
C. Sympathetic fibers
D. Parasympathetic fibers
Answer: B
Rationale: A-delta fibers are myelinated and transmit fast, sharp, well-localized
pain.
, 3. Chronic pain is best defined as pain lasting longer than:
A. 1 month
B. 2 months
C. 3 months
D. 6 months
Answer: C
Rationale: Chronic pain is generally defined as pain persisting beyond normal
tissue healing time, usually more than 3 months.
4. Which neurotransmitter is primarily excitatory in pain transmission?
A. GABA
B. Endorphins
C. Substance P
D. Serotonin
Answer: C
Rationale: Substance P facilitates transmission of pain signals in the dorsal horn
of the spinal cord.
5. Which assessment tool is most appropriate for a nonverbal adult patient?
A. Numeric Rating Scale
B. Visual Analog Scale
C. PAINAD scale
D. Wong-Baker FACES
Answer: C
Rationale: PAINAD is designed to assess pain in patients with advanced
dementia or limited verbal ability.
, 6. Neuropathic pain is caused by:
A. Tissue inflammation
B. Ischemia
C. Damage or dysfunction of the nervous system
D. Muscle spasm
Answer: C
Rationale: Neuropathic pain originates from injury or disease affecting the
somatosensory nervous system.
7. Which medication class is first-line for mild nociceptive pain?
A. Opioids
B. Antidepressants
C. Nonopioid analgesics
D. Anticonvulsants
Answer: C
Rationale: Acetaminophen and NSAIDs are first-line for mild nociceptive pain.
8. The pain gate control theory suggests that pain perception can be modified
at the level of the:
A. Cortex
B. Thalamus
C. Spinal cord
D. Brainstem
Answer: C
Rationale: Gate control theory proposes that spinal cord mechanisms modulate
pain transmission.
9. Which opioid receptor is primarily responsible for analgesia?
A. Delta
(CPMN) EXAM QUESTION AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which definition best describes pain according to the International
Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)?
A. A sensory response to tissue injury only
B. A psychological reaction to discomfort
C. An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with
actual or potential tissue damage
D. A symptom that can be objectively measured
Answer: C
Rationale: Pain is defined by IASP as both a sensory and emotional experience,
emphasizing its subjective and multifactorial nature.
2. Which pain pathway transmits sharp, well-localized pain?
A. C fibers
B. A-delta fibers
C. Sympathetic fibers
D. Parasympathetic fibers
Answer: B
Rationale: A-delta fibers are myelinated and transmit fast, sharp, well-localized
pain.
, 3. Chronic pain is best defined as pain lasting longer than:
A. 1 month
B. 2 months
C. 3 months
D. 6 months
Answer: C
Rationale: Chronic pain is generally defined as pain persisting beyond normal
tissue healing time, usually more than 3 months.
4. Which neurotransmitter is primarily excitatory in pain transmission?
A. GABA
B. Endorphins
C. Substance P
D. Serotonin
Answer: C
Rationale: Substance P facilitates transmission of pain signals in the dorsal horn
of the spinal cord.
5. Which assessment tool is most appropriate for a nonverbal adult patient?
A. Numeric Rating Scale
B. Visual Analog Scale
C. PAINAD scale
D. Wong-Baker FACES
Answer: C
Rationale: PAINAD is designed to assess pain in patients with advanced
dementia or limited verbal ability.
, 6. Neuropathic pain is caused by:
A. Tissue inflammation
B. Ischemia
C. Damage or dysfunction of the nervous system
D. Muscle spasm
Answer: C
Rationale: Neuropathic pain originates from injury or disease affecting the
somatosensory nervous system.
7. Which medication class is first-line for mild nociceptive pain?
A. Opioids
B. Antidepressants
C. Nonopioid analgesics
D. Anticonvulsants
Answer: C
Rationale: Acetaminophen and NSAIDs are first-line for mild nociceptive pain.
8. The pain gate control theory suggests that pain perception can be modified
at the level of the:
A. Cortex
B. Thalamus
C. Spinal cord
D. Brainstem
Answer: C
Rationale: Gate control theory proposes that spinal cord mechanisms modulate
pain transmission.
9. Which opioid receptor is primarily responsible for analgesia?
A. Delta
