NUR 164 EXAM 4 SCENARIOS 2026/2027 | NURSING PRACTICE
QUESTIONS, CASE STUDIES, ANSWERS & EXAM REVIEW
if patient rates pain 8 out of 10, what is being assessed - ANS ✔✔pain intensity
if patient reports pain, who is the best source of information - ANS ✔✔the patient
if pain question asks whether to believe the patient, what should nurse do - ANS ✔✔believe and assess
the patient
if patient has pain after surgery that warns of tissue injury, what type is it - ANS ✔✔acute pain
if pain lasts beyond expected healing, what type is it - ANS ✔✔chronic pain
if chronic pain patient reports pain, should nurse take it seriously - ANS ✔✔yes chronic pain should still
be treated seriously
if severe pain continues despite strong treatment, what type is it - ANS ✔✔intractable pain
if pain comes from muscles bones joints ligaments or tendons, what type is it - ANS ✔✔somatic pain
if cardiac pain is felt in the left arm or shoulder, what type is it - ANS ✔✔referred pain
if patient feels pain in an amputated limb, what type is it - ANS ✔✔phantom pain
if patient has phantom pain, what should nurse do - ANS ✔✔acknowledge it as real
if patient with chronic pain is labeled as drug-seeking, what should nurse remember - ANS ✔✔chronic
pain should still be assessed and treated seriously
if pain medication cannot be given yet, what should nurse do - ANS ✔✔provide therapeutic action like
repositioning or back rub
if nurse can reposition patient while waiting for pain meds, what should nurse do - ANS ✔✔reposition or
provide another therapeutic action
if question asks what pain response avoids being passive, what is best - ANS ✔✔do something helpful
now
if patient fears addiction and avoids reporting pain, what should nurse recognize - ANS ✔✔common
misconception about pain medication
if patient takes morphine, what side effect should nurse anticipate - ANS ✔✔constipation
, if teaching about opioid constipation, what should nurse include - ANS ✔✔fluids fiber stool softener or
laxative if appropriate or ordered
if patient uses distraction for pain, how does it help - ANS ✔✔shifts attention away from pain
if pca pump is used, what must nurse verify - ANS ✔✔settings according to safety policy
if pain is ongoing and predictable, what medication schedule may be better - ANS ✔✔scheduled pain
medication
if pain is intermittent, what medication schedule may fit - ANS ✔✔prn pain medication
if pain stimulus becomes a nerve impulse, what pain process is this - ANS ✔✔transduction
if pain impulse travels to spinal cord and brain, what process is this - ANS ✔✔transmission
if brain becomes aware of pain, what process is this - ANS ✔✔perception
if body blocks or modifies pain signals, what process is this - ANS ✔✔modulation
if rubbing or massage helps reduce pain signals, what theory explains this - ANS ✔✔gate control theory
if patient has morning jaw pain from grinding teeth, what is this - ANS ✔✔bruxism
if question asks for natural sleep chemical, what is it - ANS ✔✔melatonin
if question asks for body biologic clock, what is it - ANS ✔✔circadian rhythm
if patient has repeated interrupted breathing during sleep, what is it - ANS ✔✔sleep apnea
if patient with sleep apnea uses cpap, what does cpap do - ANS ✔✔keeps airway open with positive
pressure
if question says cpap simply gives oxygen, what is wrong - ANS ✔✔cpap keeps airway open with positive
pressure
if patient cannot sleep in hospital, what should nurse try first - ANS ✔✔quiet calm environment
if sleep medication is an option but noise is high, what should nurse prioritize - ANS ✔✔reduce noise
and promote calm environment
if older adult asks why sleep is lighter, what should nurse know - ANS ✔✔older adults have less total
sleep lighter sleep more awakenings and less deep sleep
if question asks whether older adults get more deep sleep, what is answer - ANS ✔✔no they usually get
less deep sleep
if patient sleepwalks, what is priority - ANS ✔✔safety and injury prevention
QUESTIONS, CASE STUDIES, ANSWERS & EXAM REVIEW
if patient rates pain 8 out of 10, what is being assessed - ANS ✔✔pain intensity
if patient reports pain, who is the best source of information - ANS ✔✔the patient
if pain question asks whether to believe the patient, what should nurse do - ANS ✔✔believe and assess
the patient
if patient has pain after surgery that warns of tissue injury, what type is it - ANS ✔✔acute pain
if pain lasts beyond expected healing, what type is it - ANS ✔✔chronic pain
if chronic pain patient reports pain, should nurse take it seriously - ANS ✔✔yes chronic pain should still
be treated seriously
if severe pain continues despite strong treatment, what type is it - ANS ✔✔intractable pain
if pain comes from muscles bones joints ligaments or tendons, what type is it - ANS ✔✔somatic pain
if cardiac pain is felt in the left arm or shoulder, what type is it - ANS ✔✔referred pain
if patient feels pain in an amputated limb, what type is it - ANS ✔✔phantom pain
if patient has phantom pain, what should nurse do - ANS ✔✔acknowledge it as real
if patient with chronic pain is labeled as drug-seeking, what should nurse remember - ANS ✔✔chronic
pain should still be assessed and treated seriously
if pain medication cannot be given yet, what should nurse do - ANS ✔✔provide therapeutic action like
repositioning or back rub
if nurse can reposition patient while waiting for pain meds, what should nurse do - ANS ✔✔reposition or
provide another therapeutic action
if question asks what pain response avoids being passive, what is best - ANS ✔✔do something helpful
now
if patient fears addiction and avoids reporting pain, what should nurse recognize - ANS ✔✔common
misconception about pain medication
if patient takes morphine, what side effect should nurse anticipate - ANS ✔✔constipation
, if teaching about opioid constipation, what should nurse include - ANS ✔✔fluids fiber stool softener or
laxative if appropriate or ordered
if patient uses distraction for pain, how does it help - ANS ✔✔shifts attention away from pain
if pca pump is used, what must nurse verify - ANS ✔✔settings according to safety policy
if pain is ongoing and predictable, what medication schedule may be better - ANS ✔✔scheduled pain
medication
if pain is intermittent, what medication schedule may fit - ANS ✔✔prn pain medication
if pain stimulus becomes a nerve impulse, what pain process is this - ANS ✔✔transduction
if pain impulse travels to spinal cord and brain, what process is this - ANS ✔✔transmission
if brain becomes aware of pain, what process is this - ANS ✔✔perception
if body blocks or modifies pain signals, what process is this - ANS ✔✔modulation
if rubbing or massage helps reduce pain signals, what theory explains this - ANS ✔✔gate control theory
if patient has morning jaw pain from grinding teeth, what is this - ANS ✔✔bruxism
if question asks for natural sleep chemical, what is it - ANS ✔✔melatonin
if question asks for body biologic clock, what is it - ANS ✔✔circadian rhythm
if patient has repeated interrupted breathing during sleep, what is it - ANS ✔✔sleep apnea
if patient with sleep apnea uses cpap, what does cpap do - ANS ✔✔keeps airway open with positive
pressure
if question says cpap simply gives oxygen, what is wrong - ANS ✔✔cpap keeps airway open with positive
pressure
if patient cannot sleep in hospital, what should nurse try first - ANS ✔✔quiet calm environment
if sleep medication is an option but noise is high, what should nurse prioritize - ANS ✔✔reduce noise
and promote calm environment
if older adult asks why sleep is lighter, what should nurse know - ANS ✔✔older adults have less total
sleep lighter sleep more awakenings and less deep sleep
if question asks whether older adults get more deep sleep, what is answer - ANS ✔✔no they usually get
less deep sleep
if patient sleepwalks, what is priority - ANS ✔✔safety and injury prevention
