BSN 425 Pain Management Exam (Edward
Carter) Shadow Health Scenario
Assessment Results | Turned In | 2026
Update with complete solutions.
1. A nurse is assessing a patient who reports pain. Which of the following is the
most reliable indicator of pain?
A. The patient's vital signs
B. The patient's self-report
C. The nurse's clinical judgment
D. Objective findings from an MRI
Answer: B
Rationale: Pain is a subjective experience. The patient's self-report is the single most
reliable indicator of pain. Vital signs can be misleading and often normalize with chronic
pain. Clinical judgment and imaging are adjuncts, not substitutes, for the patient's own
description.
,2. A patient rates their pain as a 7 on a 0-10 pain scale. The nurse's priority action
is to:
A. Reassess the pain in 4 hours.
B. Document the pain score and do nothing else.
C. Administer a prescribed PRN analgesic.
D. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
Answer: C
Rationale: A pain score of 7 indicates moderate to severe pain requiring intervention.
The nurse should administer an appropriately prescribed analgesic. Reassessment
should occur after administration, not in 4 hours. Notification is not the priority unless
the prescribed medication is ineffective or contraindicated.
3. Which physiologic response is commonly associated with acute pain?
A. Decreased heart rate
B. Decreased blood pressure
C. Pupillary constriction
D. Increased respiratory rate
Answer: D
Rationale: Acute pain activates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to tachycardia,
hypertension, tachypnea, diaphoresis, and pupillary dilation. This is the "fight-or-flight"
response.
4. A patient with chronic pain is most likely to exhibit which of the following?
A. Tachycardia
B. Diaphoresis
,C. Depression
D. Hypertension
Answer: C
Rationale: Chronic pain is often associated with psychological effects such as
depression, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. The physiologic signs of
sympathetic activation (tachycardia, hypertension, diaphoresis) tend to diminish over
time as the body adapts to the pain.
5. The nurse is using the PQRST mnemonic to assess a patient's pain. The "R" in
PQRST stands for:
A. Rate
B. Region
C. Radiates/Relief
D. Rationale
Answer: C
Rationale: PQRST stands for Provocation/Palliation, Quality, Region/Radiates, Severity,
and Timing. "R" refers to whether the pain radiates to another area and what factors
relieve the pain.
6. A patient describes their pain as "burning" and "shooting." This type of pain is
most suggestive of:
A. Somatic pain
B. Visceral pain
C. Neuropathic pain
D. Cutaneous pain
, Answer: C
Rationale: Neuropathic pain results from damage to the nervous system and is often
described as burning, shooting, tingling, or electric-shock-like. Somatic pain is aching or
throbbing, and visceral pain is cramping or deep and squeezing.
7. Which of the following is an example of visceral pain?
A. A deep, aching pain in the knee joint
B. A sharp, stabbing pain from a paper cut
C. A cramping pain in the lower abdomen from a bowel obstruction
D. A burning pain in the foot from diabetic neuropathy
Answer: C
Rationale: Visceral pain originates from internal organs (viscera) such as the intestines.
It is often described as cramping, squeezing, or deep aching. Joint pain is somatic, a
paper cut is cutaneous/somatic, and neuropathic pain is from nerve damage.
8. The nurse is teaching a patient about non-pharmacologic pain management.
Which technique stimulates the release of endorphins and involves the use of
needles?
A. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
B. Acupuncture
C. Massage therapy
D. Guided imagery
Answer: B
Rationale: Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the body.
It is thought to stimulate the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. TENS
Carter) Shadow Health Scenario
Assessment Results | Turned In | 2026
Update with complete solutions.
1. A nurse is assessing a patient who reports pain. Which of the following is the
most reliable indicator of pain?
A. The patient's vital signs
B. The patient's self-report
C. The nurse's clinical judgment
D. Objective findings from an MRI
Answer: B
Rationale: Pain is a subjective experience. The patient's self-report is the single most
reliable indicator of pain. Vital signs can be misleading and often normalize with chronic
pain. Clinical judgment and imaging are adjuncts, not substitutes, for the patient's own
description.
,2. A patient rates their pain as a 7 on a 0-10 pain scale. The nurse's priority action
is to:
A. Reassess the pain in 4 hours.
B. Document the pain score and do nothing else.
C. Administer a prescribed PRN analgesic.
D. Notify the healthcare provider immediately.
Answer: C
Rationale: A pain score of 7 indicates moderate to severe pain requiring intervention.
The nurse should administer an appropriately prescribed analgesic. Reassessment
should occur after administration, not in 4 hours. Notification is not the priority unless
the prescribed medication is ineffective or contraindicated.
3. Which physiologic response is commonly associated with acute pain?
A. Decreased heart rate
B. Decreased blood pressure
C. Pupillary constriction
D. Increased respiratory rate
Answer: D
Rationale: Acute pain activates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to tachycardia,
hypertension, tachypnea, diaphoresis, and pupillary dilation. This is the "fight-or-flight"
response.
4. A patient with chronic pain is most likely to exhibit which of the following?
A. Tachycardia
B. Diaphoresis
,C. Depression
D. Hypertension
Answer: C
Rationale: Chronic pain is often associated with psychological effects such as
depression, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. The physiologic signs of
sympathetic activation (tachycardia, hypertension, diaphoresis) tend to diminish over
time as the body adapts to the pain.
5. The nurse is using the PQRST mnemonic to assess a patient's pain. The "R" in
PQRST stands for:
A. Rate
B. Region
C. Radiates/Relief
D. Rationale
Answer: C
Rationale: PQRST stands for Provocation/Palliation, Quality, Region/Radiates, Severity,
and Timing. "R" refers to whether the pain radiates to another area and what factors
relieve the pain.
6. A patient describes their pain as "burning" and "shooting." This type of pain is
most suggestive of:
A. Somatic pain
B. Visceral pain
C. Neuropathic pain
D. Cutaneous pain
, Answer: C
Rationale: Neuropathic pain results from damage to the nervous system and is often
described as burning, shooting, tingling, or electric-shock-like. Somatic pain is aching or
throbbing, and visceral pain is cramping or deep and squeezing.
7. Which of the following is an example of visceral pain?
A. A deep, aching pain in the knee joint
B. A sharp, stabbing pain from a paper cut
C. A cramping pain in the lower abdomen from a bowel obstruction
D. A burning pain in the foot from diabetic neuropathy
Answer: C
Rationale: Visceral pain originates from internal organs (viscera) such as the intestines.
It is often described as cramping, squeezing, or deep aching. Joint pain is somatic, a
paper cut is cutaneous/somatic, and neuropathic pain is from nerve damage.
8. The nurse is teaching a patient about non-pharmacologic pain management.
Which technique stimulates the release of endorphins and involves the use of
needles?
A. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
B. Acupuncture
C. Massage therapy
D. Guided imagery
Answer: B
Rationale: Acupuncture involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the body.
It is thought to stimulate the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. TENS
