NURS 565 WEEK 2 REVISED
PRACTICE GUIDE EXAM 2026
Types of Acute Pain - - -Referred Pain
• Pain that is present in an area removed or distant from its point of origin -Acute Somatic Pain
• Arises from connective tissue, muscle, bone & skin
• Sharp & localized or dull & non-localized
• Responds best to: acetaminophen, corticosteroids, NSAIDs, opiates, local anesthetics,
ice, massage -Acute visceral pain
• Pain in the internal organs & abdomen
• Poorly localized (C-fibers)
• Radiates
• Most responsive to opiates
• May also use corticosteroids, NSAIDs
*rated by severity
Inflammatory response - --inflammation
• redness
• swelling
• heat
• pain
Chemokines - -small proteins cells release as a signaling mechanism -best known for their ability to stimulate the migration of cells, most notably white blood
cells (leukocytes).
mast cells - --release histamine
• goes to endothelial cells that line capillaries, makes capillaries larger (vasodilation),
causing swelling, capillary walls become more porous (things get through more easily)
First responders - -phagocytes
Neutrophils
Diapedesis - -the passage of blood cells through the intact walls of the capillaries,
typically accompanying inflammation.
Extravasation - -escape of fluid from a blood vessel into surrounding tissue
NURS 565
NURS 565
Pain is influenced by: - -gender, genetics, social, cultural, and personal factors
Acute pain has an occurrence of fewer than __________ - -three months -often precipitated by trauma & acute medical conditions or tx
Treatment goals about pain relief: Considerations - --reducing the intensity of pain while
enhancing physical & psychological functioning -common goal is to resume the activities of daily life -Complete elimination of pain is often not realistic if the source of pain continues to exist
• finding the lowest effective dose to achieve tolerable pain levels is paramount -Non-pharmacological treatments may also be considered to promote comfort
Appropriate selection of medications includes: - --Patient factors
• age, ethnicity, gender, the presence of hepatic and/or renal impairment, genetic
polymorphisms, and/or coexisting cardiorespiratory or cerebrovascular disease -Drug factors
• Drug metabolism, receptor binding strength, potential for drug-drug interactions, and/or
co-administration with other CNS depressants
Commonly used agents for acute pain management - --Opioids -Acetaminophen -NSAIDs -Salicylates -COX-2 Inhibitors
Opioids - --Drug Indication:
• Moderate to severe pain -Dosing Considerations:
• Opioid naïve vs chronic pain patient -Adverse Drug Reactions:
• Sedation, drowsiness, mental clouding; constipation; nausea & decreased appetite;
sexual dysfunction; tolerance/ dependency
• ADRs worse when combined with alcohol or benzodiazepines -Patient Education:
• Clear instructions regarding safety & ADRs
• discuss length of tx; discuss non-opiate therapy -Monitoring:
• Is pain medication effective? Is the dose being tapered or discontinued? If not
reassess cause of pain. -Drug Interaction:
• Any other drug that causes a sedative effect.
Acetaminophen - --Drug Indication:
• Mild to moderate pain -Dosing Considerations: Dose appropriately
NURS 565
NURS 565
• Mild pain: 325 to 650 mg q4-6 hrs
• Children: 10/kg/mg every 4 to 8 hours
• Moderate pain: 500 to 1,000 mg q4-6 hrs drugging indication used for fever
• Max: 4 gms/ 24 hrs use for fever &/or pain
• Children: 15 mg/kg/dose -Adverse Drug Reactions:
• Usually well-tolerated
• Hepatic injury with overdose
• Renal disease with chronic use -Drug interactions:
• alcohol -Patient Education:
• Do not exceed maximum dose (4gm/24 hours) -Monitoring:
• Monitor for effectiveness. May need to add an opioid agonist -Drug Interaction:
• None
NSAIDS - --Drug Indication:
• Use for fever &/or pain
• inflammation as an antiplatelet -Avoid in pregnancy & renal dysfunction -Dosing Considerations: -Ibuprofen dosing:
• 200-800 mg/ dose every 6-8 hrs
• Maximum: 3,200 mg/day
• Children: 5 to 10 mg/kg/dose (Pediatric dosage maximum is 40mg/kg/day) -Naproxen dosing:
• 500mg Then 500mg every 12 hours or 250mg every 6-8 hrs
• Maximum: 1,250 mg/day
•-Adverse Drug Reactions:
• Gastrointestinal (GI) upset, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, GI bleed, fluid retention,
edema, hypertension, renal damage
Salicylates - --Drug Indication:
• Use for fever, pain, inflammation, antiplatelet use. -Avoid in pregnancy, children, & renal dysfunction. -Dosing Considerations:
• Dosing for pain: 325 mg to 1,000 mg q4-6 hrs (max: 4 gm/day)
• Arthritis: 3.6 to 5.4 gm/day in divided doses -Adverse Drug Reactions:
• GI upset, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, GI bleed, renal impairment, tinnitus -Monitoring:
• Monitor for effectiveness. May need to add an opioid agonist
COX-2 Inhibitors - --Drug Indication:
NURS 565
NURS 565
• Use for pain &/or inflammation. -Avoid in pregnancy, children, renal dysfunction, pain after coronary artery bypass graft
surgery, use caution in heart failure, hypertension, & fluid retention -Dosing Considerations:
• pts with renal impairment & cardiovascular disease -Adverse Drug Reactions:
• GI upset, abdominal pain, GI bleed, edema, HTN, thrombi events (myocardial
infarction & stroke), fluid retention, renal impairment, poor metabolizers of CYP2C9 -Patient Education:
• Avoid alcohol use.
• Avoid aspirin & OTC medications.
• May increase risk of myocardial infarction or stroke -Monitoring:
• Monitor for effectiveness. May need to add an opioid agonist. -Drug Interaction:
• Drugs that inhibit CYP2C9, drugs that are metabolized by CYP2D6, increased risk of
renal failure with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
Chronic Pain Management - -Pain that persists beyond three months or the expected
time of healing is chronic -Agents used to manage are often the same ones used to manage acute pain
Special Considerations in Opioid Medication Management - --An opioid is an agent that
works at an opioid receptor, is a derivative from opium -includes full agonists, partial agonists, mixed agonist-antagonists, and antagonists -Opioids have a variable affinity for certain receptors -absorption and therapeutic effects are impacted by the route and individual
characteristics. -Short-acting opioids should be used exclusively for the treatment of acute pain in opioid
naïve patients -Titration to optimal therapeutic effects is faster, safer, and easier with immediate
release opioids -Unintentional overdose may be more likely when opioid therapy begins with long-acting
opioids in opioid naïve patients.
Guidelines in Opioid Prescribing - --three main principles to improve opioid prescribing
• determining when to initiate or continue opioids for chronic pain
• opioid selection, dosage, duration, follow-up, & discontinuation
• assessing risk & addressing harms of opioid use
Conversion of opioid analgesia formulations - --requires extreme caution &
consideration of the unique characteristics of the patient -Use of conversion calculators
• requires consideration of the specific patient characteristics & variability -Referral to a pain specialist is required for pts who take 120mg/day of morphine
milligram equivalents
NURS 565
NURS 565
12 essential considerations for safe pain management - -
1. Opioids are not first-line therapy
2. Establish goals for pain & function
3. Discuss risk & benefits
4. Use IR opioids when starting
5. Use the lowest effective dose
6. Prescribe short durations for acute pain
7. Evaluate benefits & harms frequently
8. Use strategies to mitigate risk
9. Review PDMP data
10. Use urine drug testing
11. Avoid concurrent opioid & benzodiazepine prescribing
12. Offer tx for opioid disorder
Opioid Use Disorder - --2017, federal gov declared the opioid crisis a national
emergency -DSM-IV describes opioid use disorder as a pattern of use that leads to significant
impairment or distress
• Typically marked by unsuccessful efforts to reduce or control use resulting in the
inability to fulfill work, school, or home responsibilities
Opioid use - --Opioid use creates high levels of positive reinforcement, increasing the
likelihood of continued use -often a chronic lifelong disorder -serious consequences such as disability and death -can lead to physical dependence in only 4-8 weeks
Opioid use disorder can lead to: - -severe withdrawal symptoms, uncontrolled pain, as
well as psychological distress, and suicidal ideation
Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) & Naloxone - --REMS
• drug safety program to reinforce safe medication use
• issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Goals: ensure that medication is used according to FDA-approved prescribing & that
the benefits outweigh the risk of misuse & abuse -FDA requires drug manufacturers to add recommendations about naloxone to
prescribing information
• used to quickly reverse an opioid overdose
Preventing Opioid Overdose Deaths - --Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service
Administration (SAMHSA) identifies five strategies to prevent overdose deaths:
• encourage providers, persons at high risk, their family members, & others to learn how
to prevent & manage opioid overdose
• ensure access to tx for individuals who are misusing opioids or have a SUD
• ensure ready access to naloxone
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NURS 565
NURS 565 WEEK 2 REVISED
PRACTICE GUIDE EXAM 2026
Types of Acute Pain - -
-Referred Pain
• Pain that is present in an area removed or distant from its point of origin
-Acute Somatic Pain
• Arises from connective tissue, muscle, bone & skin
• Sharp & localized or dull & non-localized
• Responds best to: acetaminophen, corticosteroids, NSAIDs, opiates, local anesthetics,
ice, massage
-Acute visceral pain
• Pain in the internal organs & abdomen
• Poorly localized (C-fibers)
• Radiates
• Most responsive to opiates
• May also use corticosteroids, NSAIDs
*rated by severity
Inflammatory response - --inflammation
• redness
• swelling
• heat
• pain
Chemokines - -small proteins cells release as a signaling mechanism
-best known for their ability to stimulate the migration of cells, most notably white blood
cells (leukocytes).
mast cells - --release histamine
• goes to endothelial cells that line capillaries, makes capillaries larger (vasodilation),
causing swelling, capillary walls become more porous (things get through more easily)
First responders - -phagocytes
Neutrophils
Diapedesis - -the passage of blood cells through the intact walls of the capillaries,
typically accompanying inflammation.
Extravasation - -escape of fluid from a blood vessel into surrounding tissue
NURS 565
, NURS 565
Pain is influenced by: - -gender, genetics, social, cultural, and personal factors
Acute pain has an occurrence of fewer than __________ - -three months
-often precipitated by trauma & acute medical conditions or tx
Treatment goals about pain relief: Considerations - --reducing the intensity of pain while
enhancing physical & psychological functioning
-common goal is to resume the activities of daily life
-Complete elimination of pain is often not realistic if the source of pain continues to exist
• finding the lowest effective dose to achieve tolerable pain levels is paramount
-Non-pharmacological treatments may also be considered to promote comfort
Appropriate selection of medications includes: - --Patient factors
• age, ethnicity, gender, the presence of hepatic and/or renal impairment, genetic
polymorphisms, and/or coexisting cardiorespiratory or cerebrovascular disease
-Drug factors
• Drug metabolism, receptor binding strength, potential for drug-drug interactions, and/or
co-administration with other CNS depressants
Commonly used agents for acute pain management - --Opioids
-Acetaminophen
-NSAIDs
-Salicylates
-COX-2 Inhibitors
Opioids - --Drug Indication:
• Moderate to severe pain
-Dosing Considerations:
• Opioid naïve vs chronic pain patient
-Adverse Drug Reactions:
• Sedation, drowsiness, mental clouding; constipation; nausea & decreased appetite;
sexual dysfunction; tolerance/ dependency
• ADRs worse when combined with alcohol or benzodiazepines
-Patient Education:
• Clear instructions regarding safety & ADRs
• discuss length of tx; discuss non-opiate therapy
-Monitoring:
• Is pain medication effective? Is the dose being tapered or discontinued? If not
reassess cause of pain.
-Drug Interaction:
• Any other drug that causes a sedative effect.
Acetaminophen - --Drug Indication:
• Mild to moderate pain
-Dosing Considerations: Dose appropriately
NURS 565