NUR 257 Chronic Pain Management Exam
Questions with Correct Answers
(VerifiedAnswers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A
Instant Download PDF
Question 1
A patient with chronic low-back pain reports a pain intensity of
7/10. Which nursing action is most appropriate initially?
A. Tell the patient that chronic pain is expected and should be
tolerated.
B. Administer medication without completing an assessment.
C. Perform a comprehensive pain assessment, including
location, quality, timing, aggravating factors, relieving factors,
and functional impact.
D. Ask the patient's family member to determine the severity of
the pain.
Rationale: Chronic pain is multidimensional and should be
assessed comprehensively rather than relying only on a
numerical rating. The nurse should assess the patient's
description of the pain, associated symptoms, functional
limitations, psychological effects, current therapies, and
,response to previous interventions. A patient's self-report is
central to pain assessment when the patient can communicate
reliably. A numeric rating alone does not provide enough
information to develop an individualized management plan.
Question 2
Which statement best describes chronic pain?
A. Pain that always indicates ongoing tissue destruction
B. Pain that is exclusively psychological
C. Pain that persists or recurs over an extended period and can
involve biological, psychological, and social factors
D. Pain that should always be treated with opioids
Rationale: Chronic pain is a complex experience that can persist
beyond expected tissue healing and can be influenced by
biological, psychological, behavioral, and social factors. It
should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of
continued tissue damage. Effective management therefore
requires more than simply escalating analgesic therapy and
often includes functional, psychological, educational, and
nonpharmacologic interventions.
Question 3
,A patient says, “My pain is an 8 out of 10, but I can still walk to
the bathroom.” How should the nurse interpret this finding?
A. The patient is exaggerating the pain.
B. The patient must have a low pain tolerance.
C. Pain intensity and functional ability can differ, so the
patient's report should be accepted and further assessed.
D. The patient should not receive analgesia because mobility is
preserved.
Rationale: Pain is subjective, and pain intensity does not always
correlate directly with observable function. Some patients can
continue activities despite substantial pain, while others may
have significant functional limitations with lower reported
intensity. The nurse should assess how pain affects sleep,
mobility, mood, relationships, activities, and quality of life
rather than dismissing the patient's report because the patient
remains mobile.
Question 4
Which assessment finding is most suggestive of neuropathic
pain?
A. Dull pain associated with a muscle strain
B. Aching pain caused by osteoarthritis
C. Burning, shooting pain accompanied by tingling or electric-
, like sensations
D. Cramping after vigorous exercise
Rationale: Neuropathic pain is associated with injury or
dysfunction of the somatosensory nervous system and may be
described as burning, shooting, stabbing, electric, or pins-and-
needles sensations. Numbness, tingling, allodynia, and altered
sensation may also occur. Recognizing neuropathic
characteristics is important because treatment strategies may
differ from those used for primarily nociceptive pain.
Question 5
A patient with chronic pain states that pain has interfered with
sleep for several months. What is the nurse's best response?
A. “You should avoid discussing your sleep because it is
unrelated to pain.”
B. “Sleep disruption is unavoidable with chronic pain.”
C. “Let's explore how your pain and sleep affect each other
and identify strategies that may improve both.”
D. “You should sleep during the day whenever pain becomes
severe.”
Rationale: Pain and sleep have a bidirectional relationship.
Persistent pain can interfere with sleep, while inadequate sleep
can increase pain sensitivity, fatigue, irritability, and difficulty
Questions with Correct Answers
(VerifiedAnswers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A
Instant Download PDF
Question 1
A patient with chronic low-back pain reports a pain intensity of
7/10. Which nursing action is most appropriate initially?
A. Tell the patient that chronic pain is expected and should be
tolerated.
B. Administer medication without completing an assessment.
C. Perform a comprehensive pain assessment, including
location, quality, timing, aggravating factors, relieving factors,
and functional impact.
D. Ask the patient's family member to determine the severity of
the pain.
Rationale: Chronic pain is multidimensional and should be
assessed comprehensively rather than relying only on a
numerical rating. The nurse should assess the patient's
description of the pain, associated symptoms, functional
limitations, psychological effects, current therapies, and
,response to previous interventions. A patient's self-report is
central to pain assessment when the patient can communicate
reliably. A numeric rating alone does not provide enough
information to develop an individualized management plan.
Question 2
Which statement best describes chronic pain?
A. Pain that always indicates ongoing tissue destruction
B. Pain that is exclusively psychological
C. Pain that persists or recurs over an extended period and can
involve biological, psychological, and social factors
D. Pain that should always be treated with opioids
Rationale: Chronic pain is a complex experience that can persist
beyond expected tissue healing and can be influenced by
biological, psychological, behavioral, and social factors. It
should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of
continued tissue damage. Effective management therefore
requires more than simply escalating analgesic therapy and
often includes functional, psychological, educational, and
nonpharmacologic interventions.
Question 3
,A patient says, “My pain is an 8 out of 10, but I can still walk to
the bathroom.” How should the nurse interpret this finding?
A. The patient is exaggerating the pain.
B. The patient must have a low pain tolerance.
C. Pain intensity and functional ability can differ, so the
patient's report should be accepted and further assessed.
D. The patient should not receive analgesia because mobility is
preserved.
Rationale: Pain is subjective, and pain intensity does not always
correlate directly with observable function. Some patients can
continue activities despite substantial pain, while others may
have significant functional limitations with lower reported
intensity. The nurse should assess how pain affects sleep,
mobility, mood, relationships, activities, and quality of life
rather than dismissing the patient's report because the patient
remains mobile.
Question 4
Which assessment finding is most suggestive of neuropathic
pain?
A. Dull pain associated with a muscle strain
B. Aching pain caused by osteoarthritis
C. Burning, shooting pain accompanied by tingling or electric-
, like sensations
D. Cramping after vigorous exercise
Rationale: Neuropathic pain is associated with injury or
dysfunction of the somatosensory nervous system and may be
described as burning, shooting, stabbing, electric, or pins-and-
needles sensations. Numbness, tingling, allodynia, and altered
sensation may also occur. Recognizing neuropathic
characteristics is important because treatment strategies may
differ from those used for primarily nociceptive pain.
Question 5
A patient with chronic pain states that pain has interfered with
sleep for several months. What is the nurse's best response?
A. “You should avoid discussing your sleep because it is
unrelated to pain.”
B. “Sleep disruption is unavoidable with chronic pain.”
C. “Let's explore how your pain and sleep affect each other
and identify strategies that may improve both.”
D. “You should sleep during the day whenever pain becomes
severe.”
Rationale: Pain and sleep have a bidirectional relationship.
Persistent pain can interfere with sleep, while inadequate sleep
can increase pain sensitivity, fatigue, irritability, and difficulty
