PCC Final Exam – Class Review Questions, 2026 –
Comprehensive Law & Ethics Study Material
A nurse asks a patient, "what does the pain feel like?" What characteristic of pain is the nurse
assessing?
a. intensity
b. quality
c. periodicity
d. duration - ANS✔✔ b. quality
Which nursing intervention is most important for the patient receiving an opioid pain
medication after surgery?
a. give the medication before the pain becomes too severe
b. encourage coughing and deep breathing to keep the lungs expanded
c. assess for signs and symptoms of tolerance to the opioid medication
d. monitor for a respiratory rate of less than 10 breaths/minute - ANS✔✔ d. monitor for a
respiratory rate of less than 10 breaths/minute
A patient on a medical unit tells a nurse, "my heart hurts." What is the nurse's most appropriate
response?
a. alert the rapid response team
b. obtain the patient's vitals
c. say, "your heart hurts"
d. state, "please be more specific about how it hurts" - ANS✔✔ d. state, "please be more
specific about how it hurts"
, A nurse is assessing the presence of pain in a variety of patients. Which patient condition may
cause phantom pain?
a. acute appendicitis
b. above the knee amputation
c. spinal surgery
d. myocardial infarction - ANS✔✔ b. above the knee amputation
What is most important for the nurse to teach the patient using patient-controlled analgesia
(PCA) to control pain?
a. an extra dose of medication is delivered when the button is pressed
b. pressing the button too soon for pain medication could give extra doses
c. pain medication should be administered before the pain becomes intense
d. use deep breathing exercises to enhance the effect of the PCA - ANS✔✔ c. pain medication
should be administered before the pain becomes intense
Which nursing intervention is most important when providing nursing care to a patient
experiencing pain?
a. use a distraction technique
b. teach muscle relaxation exercises
c. encourage breathing exercises
d. validate the presence of pain - ANS✔✔ d. validate the presence of pain
A nurse is caring for a patient who is reporting pain the jaw from cardiac insufficiency. What
type of pain is this?
a. cutaneous
b. radiating
c. referred
d. visceral - ANS✔✔ c. referred
Comprehensive Law & Ethics Study Material
A nurse asks a patient, "what does the pain feel like?" What characteristic of pain is the nurse
assessing?
a. intensity
b. quality
c. periodicity
d. duration - ANS✔✔ b. quality
Which nursing intervention is most important for the patient receiving an opioid pain
medication after surgery?
a. give the medication before the pain becomes too severe
b. encourage coughing and deep breathing to keep the lungs expanded
c. assess for signs and symptoms of tolerance to the opioid medication
d. monitor for a respiratory rate of less than 10 breaths/minute - ANS✔✔ d. monitor for a
respiratory rate of less than 10 breaths/minute
A patient on a medical unit tells a nurse, "my heart hurts." What is the nurse's most appropriate
response?
a. alert the rapid response team
b. obtain the patient's vitals
c. say, "your heart hurts"
d. state, "please be more specific about how it hurts" - ANS✔✔ d. state, "please be more
specific about how it hurts"
, A nurse is assessing the presence of pain in a variety of patients. Which patient condition may
cause phantom pain?
a. acute appendicitis
b. above the knee amputation
c. spinal surgery
d. myocardial infarction - ANS✔✔ b. above the knee amputation
What is most important for the nurse to teach the patient using patient-controlled analgesia
(PCA) to control pain?
a. an extra dose of medication is delivered when the button is pressed
b. pressing the button too soon for pain medication could give extra doses
c. pain medication should be administered before the pain becomes intense
d. use deep breathing exercises to enhance the effect of the PCA - ANS✔✔ c. pain medication
should be administered before the pain becomes intense
Which nursing intervention is most important when providing nursing care to a patient
experiencing pain?
a. use a distraction technique
b. teach muscle relaxation exercises
c. encourage breathing exercises
d. validate the presence of pain - ANS✔✔ d. validate the presence of pain
A nurse is caring for a patient who is reporting pain the jaw from cardiac insufficiency. What
type of pain is this?
a. cutaneous
b. radiating
c. referred
d. visceral - ANS✔✔ c. referred
