BSN 445: PAIN MANAGEMENT: TEST QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
1) Which intervention would be implemented to prevent postoperative nausea and
vomiting?
− Consumption of regular food in the post anesthesia care unit
− Antiemetic administration
− Initiation of nasogastric decompression
− Use of oral immunonutrition supplements -- Correct Answer ✔✔
Antiemetic administration
All surgical patients should be considered for prophylactic antiemetic therapy to
decrease the rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting.
2) The nurse is caring for a postoperative critically ill patient who has a history of
diabetes mellitus. Which blood glucose result indicates adequate control of
glucose postoperatively?
− 70 mg/dL
− 140 mg/dL
− 210 mg/dL
− 280 mg/dL -- Correct Answer ✔✔ 140 mg/dL
A postoperative patient should have a glucose between 140 and 180 mg/dL.
,3) Which food or drink would the nurse provide for a patient with a history of type
1 diabetes mellitus who is experiencing nausea and vomiting?
− 1 cup regular gelatin
− ½ cup regular ginger ale
− 1 cup custard
− ½ cup orange juice -- Correct Answer ✔✔ ½ cup orange juice
The patient should receive an easily digestible food or beverage with 15 g of
carbohydrates every 15 to 20 minutes. One-half cup of orange juice provides 15 g
of carbohydrates.
4) Which number of grams of carbohydrates would a patient with diabetes be
encouraged to consume at each meal?
− 15
− 30
− 45
− 90 -- Correct Answer ✔✔ 45
A patient should consume between 3 to 5 carbohydrate foods at each meal, with
each containing 15 g of carbohydrates.
5) Which laboratory value would the nurse expect to find in a patient with
cardiovascular disease?
− Increased serum lipids
− Decreased total cholesterol
− Decreased triglycerides
− Increased high-density lipoproteins -- Correct Answer ✔✔ Increased
serum lipids
Patients with cardiovascular disease would have increased serum lipid levels.
6) Which medication can impair appetite in a patient with cardiovascular disease?
− Metoprolol
− Quinidine
− Atorvastatin
, − Lisinopril -- Correct Answer ✔✔ Quinidine
Quinidine is an antidysrhythmic that impairs appetite and can lead to weight loss.
7) Which finding would the nurse expect to see in a patient with elevated plasma
levels of homocysteine?
− Damage to the endothelial vessels
− Decreased thrombus formation
− Breakdown of smooth muscle in vessel walls
− Increased levels of folic acid -- Correct Answer ✔✔ Damage to the
endothelial vessels
Homocysteine causes damage to the endothelial vessels, increasing the risk of
myocardial infarction.
8) Which nursing intervention would the nurse implement when caring for a patient
on mechanical ventilation who is receiving continuous enteral nutrition?
− Deflate the endotracheal cuff during feedings.
− Keep the head of bed elevated at 25 degrees.
− Check tube placement every 12 hours.
− Monitor for abdominal distention. -- Correct Answer ✔✔ Monitor for
abdominal distention.
Abdominal distention indicates nutritional intolerance and increases the risk of
aspiration.
9) To prevent increases in carbon dioxide, the nurse would carefully monitor intake
of which nutritional element?
− Protein
− Lipids
− Calcium
− Zinc -- Correct Answer ✔✔ Lipids
Carbon dioxide is a metabolic byproduct of carbohydrates and lipids, so the
nurse should carefully monitor lipid intake.
, 10) Which amount of fluid would the nurse anticipate administering over a 24-hour
period to a 60 kg patient with right-sided heart failure and pulmonary
dysfunction?
− 2400 mL
− 3000 mL
− 3600 mL
− 4200 mL -- Correct Answer ✔✔ 2400 mL
Patients with right-sided heart failure should not receive more than 40 mL/kg per
day of fluid. The amount of 40 mL/kg/day would equal 2400 mL for a 60-kg
patient.
11) Which serum electrolyte level would the nurse assess more frequently in a
patient receiving corticosteroids for a closed head injury?
− Calcium
− Magnesium
− Potassium
− Glucose -- Correct Answer ✔✔ Glucose
Corticosteroid use increases glucose levels and can cause hyperglycemia.
12) Which fluid would the nurse provide for a patient with residual dysphagia after an
acute ischemic stroke?
− Apple juice
− Water
− Fruit nectar
− Orange juice -- Correct Answer ✔✔ Fruit nectar
Fruit nectars are better tolerated than thinner liquids in patients with dysphagia.
This reduces the risk of aspiration.
13) Which nutritional complication would the nurse monitor for when caring for a
patient with an acute spinal cord injury?
− Decreased need for nutrients
− Delayed gastric emptying
− Hypoglycemia
ANSWERS
1) Which intervention would be implemented to prevent postoperative nausea and
vomiting?
− Consumption of regular food in the post anesthesia care unit
− Antiemetic administration
− Initiation of nasogastric decompression
− Use of oral immunonutrition supplements -- Correct Answer ✔✔
Antiemetic administration
All surgical patients should be considered for prophylactic antiemetic therapy to
decrease the rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting.
2) The nurse is caring for a postoperative critically ill patient who has a history of
diabetes mellitus. Which blood glucose result indicates adequate control of
glucose postoperatively?
− 70 mg/dL
− 140 mg/dL
− 210 mg/dL
− 280 mg/dL -- Correct Answer ✔✔ 140 mg/dL
A postoperative patient should have a glucose between 140 and 180 mg/dL.
,3) Which food or drink would the nurse provide for a patient with a history of type
1 diabetes mellitus who is experiencing nausea and vomiting?
− 1 cup regular gelatin
− ½ cup regular ginger ale
− 1 cup custard
− ½ cup orange juice -- Correct Answer ✔✔ ½ cup orange juice
The patient should receive an easily digestible food or beverage with 15 g of
carbohydrates every 15 to 20 minutes. One-half cup of orange juice provides 15 g
of carbohydrates.
4) Which number of grams of carbohydrates would a patient with diabetes be
encouraged to consume at each meal?
− 15
− 30
− 45
− 90 -- Correct Answer ✔✔ 45
A patient should consume between 3 to 5 carbohydrate foods at each meal, with
each containing 15 g of carbohydrates.
5) Which laboratory value would the nurse expect to find in a patient with
cardiovascular disease?
− Increased serum lipids
− Decreased total cholesterol
− Decreased triglycerides
− Increased high-density lipoproteins -- Correct Answer ✔✔ Increased
serum lipids
Patients with cardiovascular disease would have increased serum lipid levels.
6) Which medication can impair appetite in a patient with cardiovascular disease?
− Metoprolol
− Quinidine
− Atorvastatin
, − Lisinopril -- Correct Answer ✔✔ Quinidine
Quinidine is an antidysrhythmic that impairs appetite and can lead to weight loss.
7) Which finding would the nurse expect to see in a patient with elevated plasma
levels of homocysteine?
− Damage to the endothelial vessels
− Decreased thrombus formation
− Breakdown of smooth muscle in vessel walls
− Increased levels of folic acid -- Correct Answer ✔✔ Damage to the
endothelial vessels
Homocysteine causes damage to the endothelial vessels, increasing the risk of
myocardial infarction.
8) Which nursing intervention would the nurse implement when caring for a patient
on mechanical ventilation who is receiving continuous enteral nutrition?
− Deflate the endotracheal cuff during feedings.
− Keep the head of bed elevated at 25 degrees.
− Check tube placement every 12 hours.
− Monitor for abdominal distention. -- Correct Answer ✔✔ Monitor for
abdominal distention.
Abdominal distention indicates nutritional intolerance and increases the risk of
aspiration.
9) To prevent increases in carbon dioxide, the nurse would carefully monitor intake
of which nutritional element?
− Protein
− Lipids
− Calcium
− Zinc -- Correct Answer ✔✔ Lipids
Carbon dioxide is a metabolic byproduct of carbohydrates and lipids, so the
nurse should carefully monitor lipid intake.
, 10) Which amount of fluid would the nurse anticipate administering over a 24-hour
period to a 60 kg patient with right-sided heart failure and pulmonary
dysfunction?
− 2400 mL
− 3000 mL
− 3600 mL
− 4200 mL -- Correct Answer ✔✔ 2400 mL
Patients with right-sided heart failure should not receive more than 40 mL/kg per
day of fluid. The amount of 40 mL/kg/day would equal 2400 mL for a 60-kg
patient.
11) Which serum electrolyte level would the nurse assess more frequently in a
patient receiving corticosteroids for a closed head injury?
− Calcium
− Magnesium
− Potassium
− Glucose -- Correct Answer ✔✔ Glucose
Corticosteroid use increases glucose levels and can cause hyperglycemia.
12) Which fluid would the nurse provide for a patient with residual dysphagia after an
acute ischemic stroke?
− Apple juice
− Water
− Fruit nectar
− Orange juice -- Correct Answer ✔✔ Fruit nectar
Fruit nectars are better tolerated than thinner liquids in patients with dysphagia.
This reduces the risk of aspiration.
13) Which nutritional complication would the nurse monitor for when caring for a
patient with an acute spinal cord injury?
− Decreased need for nutrients
− Delayed gastric emptying
− Hypoglycemia
