lOMoARcPSD|26582732
EXAM 1 PRACTICE QUESTIONS -
CHAP 9 - Q & A & RATIONALE-1
med surg (jersey college nursing school)
question 1:
what is the primary purpose of pain as a survival mechanism?
answer: to guide individuals to avoid damage and learn to avoid future danger.
rationale:
pain functions as a protective mechanism that helps individuals avoid immediate harm and teaches them to avoid
potential dangers in the future. this adaptive feature is essential for survival and long-term safety.
question 2:
why are nurses considered the primary managers of pain in patients?
answer: because they are consistently at the patient’s bedside, with expertise in assessment, medication administration,
and patient education.
rationale:
nurses are uniquely positioned as key members of the health care team due to their constant presence at the bedside.
their expertise in pain assessment and management enables them to effectively support patients experiencing pain.
question 3:
what is the most reliable indicator of pain according to the clinical definition? answer: the
patient’s self-report.
rationale:
pain is a subjective experience, and the patient’s self-report is the gold standard for pain assessment. this aligns with
mccaffery’s definition of pain as “whatever the experiencing person says it is.”
question 4:
how does the american pain society define pain?
answer: as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.
rationale:
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the aps definition emphasizes the complexity of pain, acknowledging both its sensory and emotional components. this
definition also highlights its impact on psychosocial, emotional, and physical functioning.
question 5:
what characteristics make pain assessment a foundational skill for nurses?
answer: understanding the definition, effects, and types of pain. rationale:
comprehensive pain assessment requires a solid understanding of its definition, the ways it affects individuals, and the
different types of pain. these foundational concepts enable nurses to tailor interventions to the patient’s specific needs.
question 6:
what are some of the harmful effects of unrelieved pain?
answer: unrelieved pain can affect every system in the body and lead to long-term detrimental effects.
rationale:
chronic or unrelieved pain has the potential to cause physiological and psychological harm. it can impact the
cardiovascular, respiratory, and immune systems, among others, and may lead to long-lasting health consequences.
question 7:
why is pain considered undertreated despite advances in understanding and management? answer: due
to gaps in the use of analgesics, technology, and nonpharmacologic methods.
rationale:
although significant progress has been made in pain management, barriers such as inadequate access, poor provider
education, and systemic issues result in undertreatment across various types of pain.
question 8:
what does mccaffery’s definition of pain imply about the nurse’s role in pain assessment? answer: nurses
must prioritize the patient’s report as the standard for pain assessment.
rationale:
mccaffery’s definition underscores the subjective nature of pain, requiring nurses to trust and validate the patient’s
experience without bias or judgment.
question 9:
what is the primary reason individuals seek health care, according to the u.s. department of health & human services?
answer: pain.
rationale:
pain is one of the most common complaints and a significant driver for seeking medical attention, highlighting its
prevalence and the importance of effective pain management strategies.
question 10:
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, lOMoARcPSD|26582732
what role do nonpharmacologic pain management methods play in modern care?
answer: they complement pharmacologic treatments to provide holistic pain relief.
rationale:
nonpharmacologic interventions, such as physical therapy and cognitive-behavioral strategies, enhance the
effectiveness of traditional treatments and address pain from multiple angles.
question 11:
how is pain typically classified by duration?
answer: pain is classified as acute or chronic (persistent). rationale:
acute pain is associated with tissue damage and has a short duration, resolving with normal healing. chronic pain
persists over time and may be cancer or noncancer-related, potentially lasting throughout a person’s life.
question 12:
what are some examples of chronic noncancer pain?
answer: peripheral neuropathy from diabetes, back or neck pain after injury, and osteoarthritis pain.
rationale:
chronic noncancer pain can result from long-term conditions such as diabetes-related nerve damage, musculoskeletal
injuries, or joint degeneration, highlighting its diverse etiologies.
question 13:
what is breakthrough pain (btp), and in which condition is it commonly observed?
answer: a sudden, intense flare of pain experienced by patients with continuous chronic pain, often seen in cancer
patients. rationale:
btp is an acute exacerbation of pain occurring in patients with chronic pain conditions, particularly those undergoing
cancer treatment, adding complexity to pain management strategies.
question 14:
how can pain be classified by its inferred pathology?
answer: as nociceptive pain or neuropathic pain. rationale:
nociceptive pain arises from normal physiological processes in response to tissue injury, while neuropathic pain results
from abnormal sensory processing due to nervous system damage.
question 15:
what is the difference between nociceptive and neuropathic pain?
answer: nociceptive pain is normal pain transmission caused by tissue injury, whereas neuropathic pain is pathologic
and results from abnormal nervous system processing. rationale:
nociceptive pain reflects the body’s normal response to harmful stimuli, while neuropathic pain arises from damage or
dysfunction in the peripheral or central nervous system.
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, lOMoARcPSD|26582732
question 16:
which types of pain can occur simultaneously in patients with cancer?
answer: chronic pain and acute pain (such as breakthrough pain or pain from repetitive procedures).
rationale:
cancer patients often experience continuous chronic pain due to disease progression and acute pain from treatments or
periodic pain flares, necessitating multimodal pain management.
question 17:
what are the subcategories of chronic pain, and how do they differ?
answer: cancer-related and noncancer-related chronic pain. rationale:
chronic pain may stem from cancer, often associated with tumor growth or treatment, or from noncancer causes, such
as musculoskeletal injuries or degenerative conditions.
question 18:
what are the characteristics of nociceptive pain?
answer: nociceptive pain involves the normal functioning of physiologic systems, leading to the perception of tissue
injury as painful.
rationale:
this type of pain, often referred to as “normal” pain, results from the activation of nociceptors in response to noxious
stimuli and serves a protective role.
question 19:
what are the causes of neuropathic pain?
answer: damage to the peripheral or central nervous system, or both.
rationale:
neuropathic pain results from abnormal sensory input processing due to nerve damage, distinguishing it from
nociceptive pain, which involves normal physiological responses.
question 20:
why is it sometimes difficult to categorize pain distinctly?
answer: because certain conditions, like cancer, can produce both acute and chronic pain simultaneously.
rationale:
pain categorizations often overlap, as patients may experience a combination of pain types (e.g., acute pain from
procedures and chronic pain from disease progression).
question 21:
what are the common causes of acute pain?
answer: surgery, trauma, burns, or venipuncture. rationale:
acute pain is associated with tissue damage from specific events such as surgical procedures, injuries, or invasive
interventions. it typically resolves with normal healing.
Downloaded by NELSON KIIRU ()
EXAM 1 PRACTICE QUESTIONS -
CHAP 9 - Q & A & RATIONALE-1
med surg (jersey college nursing school)
question 1:
what is the primary purpose of pain as a survival mechanism?
answer: to guide individuals to avoid damage and learn to avoid future danger.
rationale:
pain functions as a protective mechanism that helps individuals avoid immediate harm and teaches them to avoid
potential dangers in the future. this adaptive feature is essential for survival and long-term safety.
question 2:
why are nurses considered the primary managers of pain in patients?
answer: because they are consistently at the patient’s bedside, with expertise in assessment, medication administration,
and patient education.
rationale:
nurses are uniquely positioned as key members of the health care team due to their constant presence at the bedside.
their expertise in pain assessment and management enables them to effectively support patients experiencing pain.
question 3:
what is the most reliable indicator of pain according to the clinical definition? answer: the
patient’s self-report.
rationale:
pain is a subjective experience, and the patient’s self-report is the gold standard for pain assessment. this aligns with
mccaffery’s definition of pain as “whatever the experiencing person says it is.”
question 4:
how does the american pain society define pain?
answer: as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.
rationale:
Downloaded by NELSON KIIRU ()
, lOMoARcPSD|26582732
the aps definition emphasizes the complexity of pain, acknowledging both its sensory and emotional components. this
definition also highlights its impact on psychosocial, emotional, and physical functioning.
question 5:
what characteristics make pain assessment a foundational skill for nurses?
answer: understanding the definition, effects, and types of pain. rationale:
comprehensive pain assessment requires a solid understanding of its definition, the ways it affects individuals, and the
different types of pain. these foundational concepts enable nurses to tailor interventions to the patient’s specific needs.
question 6:
what are some of the harmful effects of unrelieved pain?
answer: unrelieved pain can affect every system in the body and lead to long-term detrimental effects.
rationale:
chronic or unrelieved pain has the potential to cause physiological and psychological harm. it can impact the
cardiovascular, respiratory, and immune systems, among others, and may lead to long-lasting health consequences.
question 7:
why is pain considered undertreated despite advances in understanding and management? answer: due
to gaps in the use of analgesics, technology, and nonpharmacologic methods.
rationale:
although significant progress has been made in pain management, barriers such as inadequate access, poor provider
education, and systemic issues result in undertreatment across various types of pain.
question 8:
what does mccaffery’s definition of pain imply about the nurse’s role in pain assessment? answer: nurses
must prioritize the patient’s report as the standard for pain assessment.
rationale:
mccaffery’s definition underscores the subjective nature of pain, requiring nurses to trust and validate the patient’s
experience without bias or judgment.
question 9:
what is the primary reason individuals seek health care, according to the u.s. department of health & human services?
answer: pain.
rationale:
pain is one of the most common complaints and a significant driver for seeking medical attention, highlighting its
prevalence and the importance of effective pain management strategies.
question 10:
Downloaded by NELSON KIIRU ()
, lOMoARcPSD|26582732
what role do nonpharmacologic pain management methods play in modern care?
answer: they complement pharmacologic treatments to provide holistic pain relief.
rationale:
nonpharmacologic interventions, such as physical therapy and cognitive-behavioral strategies, enhance the
effectiveness of traditional treatments and address pain from multiple angles.
question 11:
how is pain typically classified by duration?
answer: pain is classified as acute or chronic (persistent). rationale:
acute pain is associated with tissue damage and has a short duration, resolving with normal healing. chronic pain
persists over time and may be cancer or noncancer-related, potentially lasting throughout a person’s life.
question 12:
what are some examples of chronic noncancer pain?
answer: peripheral neuropathy from diabetes, back or neck pain after injury, and osteoarthritis pain.
rationale:
chronic noncancer pain can result from long-term conditions such as diabetes-related nerve damage, musculoskeletal
injuries, or joint degeneration, highlighting its diverse etiologies.
question 13:
what is breakthrough pain (btp), and in which condition is it commonly observed?
answer: a sudden, intense flare of pain experienced by patients with continuous chronic pain, often seen in cancer
patients. rationale:
btp is an acute exacerbation of pain occurring in patients with chronic pain conditions, particularly those undergoing
cancer treatment, adding complexity to pain management strategies.
question 14:
how can pain be classified by its inferred pathology?
answer: as nociceptive pain or neuropathic pain. rationale:
nociceptive pain arises from normal physiological processes in response to tissue injury, while neuropathic pain results
from abnormal sensory processing due to nervous system damage.
question 15:
what is the difference between nociceptive and neuropathic pain?
answer: nociceptive pain is normal pain transmission caused by tissue injury, whereas neuropathic pain is pathologic
and results from abnormal nervous system processing. rationale:
nociceptive pain reflects the body’s normal response to harmful stimuli, while neuropathic pain arises from damage or
dysfunction in the peripheral or central nervous system.
Downloaded by NELSON KIIRU ()
, lOMoARcPSD|26582732
question 16:
which types of pain can occur simultaneously in patients with cancer?
answer: chronic pain and acute pain (such as breakthrough pain or pain from repetitive procedures).
rationale:
cancer patients often experience continuous chronic pain due to disease progression and acute pain from treatments or
periodic pain flares, necessitating multimodal pain management.
question 17:
what are the subcategories of chronic pain, and how do they differ?
answer: cancer-related and noncancer-related chronic pain. rationale:
chronic pain may stem from cancer, often associated with tumor growth or treatment, or from noncancer causes, such
as musculoskeletal injuries or degenerative conditions.
question 18:
what are the characteristics of nociceptive pain?
answer: nociceptive pain involves the normal functioning of physiologic systems, leading to the perception of tissue
injury as painful.
rationale:
this type of pain, often referred to as “normal” pain, results from the activation of nociceptors in response to noxious
stimuli and serves a protective role.
question 19:
what are the causes of neuropathic pain?
answer: damage to the peripheral or central nervous system, or both.
rationale:
neuropathic pain results from abnormal sensory input processing due to nerve damage, distinguishing it from
nociceptive pain, which involves normal physiological responses.
question 20:
why is it sometimes difficult to categorize pain distinctly?
answer: because certain conditions, like cancer, can produce both acute and chronic pain simultaneously.
rationale:
pain categorizations often overlap, as patients may experience a combination of pain types (e.g., acute pain from
procedures and chronic pain from disease progression).
question 21:
what are the common causes of acute pain?
answer: surgery, trauma, burns, or venipuncture. rationale:
acute pain is associated with tissue damage from specific events such as surgical procedures, injuries, or invasive
interventions. it typically resolves with normal healing.
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