Wilson & Giddens Chapters EXAM
QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS A+
GRADE
1. How do nurses assess a patient's pain?
a. By assessing physiologic changes of the patient
b. By understanding the sensory experience related to the amount of tissue damage
c. By the patient's medical diagnosis or surgical procedure
d. By asking the patient to rate the pain being experienced
d. By asking the patient to rate the pain being experienced
2. The nurse notes in the patient's history that the patient has persistent, malignant pain. What is
the meaning of this type of pain?
a. The pain has been present for at least 2 weeks.
b. The pain began after recent surgery and is associated with healing incisions. c. The pain has
been present for 6 or more months.
d. The pain has been present since surgery to remove cancer.
c. The pain has been present for 6 or more months.
3. A patient has had chronic back pain for several years. On assessment, the nurse notes that the
patient sits quietly in a chair, reads a book, talks with a companion, and does not appear to be in
pain. When questioned, the patient rates the pain as a 6 on a scale of 0 to 10. How does the nurse
interpret these data?
a. Many patients cannot be believed when they complain of severe pain lasting many months.
b. Patients may not have the same objective responses to chronic pain because of compensation
over time.
,c. The patient probably has already taken a very effective pain medication.
d. This patient is probably not having as much pain as reported initially, and more assessment is
required.
b. Patients may not have the same objective responses to chronic pain because of compensation
over time.
4. Which patient would be expected to experience acute pain?
a. A patient who had abdominal surgery 8 hours ago
b. A patient who has cancer and has been receiving treatment for 4 months
c. A patient who states that he or she has lived with severe pain for many years
d. A patient who has been treated unsuccessfully over the past year for back pain
a. A patient who had abdominal surgery 8 hours ago
5. Which patient has pain caused by abnormal processing of sensory input from the peripheral
nervous system?
a. The patient who has aching pain from muscle strain
b. The patient who has burning pain along the sciatic nerve
c. The patient who has cramping pain from a tumor in the colon
d. The patient who has throbbing pain from arthritis
b. The patient who has burning pain along the sciatic nerve
6. A patient reports "right shoulder pain that comes and goes" as the chief complaint. During the
physical examination, the patient asks why the upper right abdomen is being examined for
shoulder pain. What is the appropriate response from the nurse?
a. "A comprehensive examination is required to determine the cause of your pain."
b. "There may be associated problems that have not produced any symptoms yet that we want to
identify."
c. "Yes, this can be confusing, but if you will be patient I'm sure we can find something to help
, you."
d. "It does seem odd, but the gallbladder doesn't have pain receptors of its own, so the pain
shows up in the shoulder."
d. "It does seem odd, but the gallbladder doesn't have pain receptors of its own, so the pain
shows up in the shoulder."
Referred pain is pain felt at a site different from that of an injured or diseased organ. It
commonly occurs during visceral pain because many organs have no pain receptors; thus, when
afferent nerves enter the spinal cord, they stimulate sensory nerves from unaffected organs in the
same spinal cord segment as those neurons in areas where injury or disease is located. A focused
examination is indicated at this time, not a comprehensive examination. This patient's pain is due
to referred pain, not to associated problems that have not produced any symptoms of pain.
Option C reflects concern for the patient's pain, but does not address the patient's questions about
examining the abdomen.
7. A patient who had an amputation of his lower leg comes to the clinic with a complaint of pain.
He asks, "How I can be feeling pain in my foot—my foot is gone?" What is the appropriate
response from the nurse?
a. "After your amputation, pain perception increases."
b. "Amputating your leg caused abnormal processing of sensory input by the peripheral nervous
system."
c. "Stimulation of nerves from your leg sends impulses to the brain so that you feel pain even
though your leg is no longer there."
d. "When sensory nerves enter the spinal cord, they stimulate nerves from unaffected organs in
the same spinal cord segment as those neurons in areas where injury or disease is located."
c. "Stimulation of nerves from your leg sends impulses to the brain so that you feel pain even
though your leg is no longer there."
8. A patient who had extensive surgery asks the nurse for pain medication for a pain of 9 on a
scale of 0 to 10. The nurse completes an assessment of this patient's pain and agrees to give pain
medication. When the nurse returns to the patient with the ordered intravenous pain medication,
she notices the patient's eyes are closed and he appears to be sleeping. What is the nurse's
QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS A+
GRADE
1. How do nurses assess a patient's pain?
a. By assessing physiologic changes of the patient
b. By understanding the sensory experience related to the amount of tissue damage
c. By the patient's medical diagnosis or surgical procedure
d. By asking the patient to rate the pain being experienced
d. By asking the patient to rate the pain being experienced
2. The nurse notes in the patient's history that the patient has persistent, malignant pain. What is
the meaning of this type of pain?
a. The pain has been present for at least 2 weeks.
b. The pain began after recent surgery and is associated with healing incisions. c. The pain has
been present for 6 or more months.
d. The pain has been present since surgery to remove cancer.
c. The pain has been present for 6 or more months.
3. A patient has had chronic back pain for several years. On assessment, the nurse notes that the
patient sits quietly in a chair, reads a book, talks with a companion, and does not appear to be in
pain. When questioned, the patient rates the pain as a 6 on a scale of 0 to 10. How does the nurse
interpret these data?
a. Many patients cannot be believed when they complain of severe pain lasting many months.
b. Patients may not have the same objective responses to chronic pain because of compensation
over time.
,c. The patient probably has already taken a very effective pain medication.
d. This patient is probably not having as much pain as reported initially, and more assessment is
required.
b. Patients may not have the same objective responses to chronic pain because of compensation
over time.
4. Which patient would be expected to experience acute pain?
a. A patient who had abdominal surgery 8 hours ago
b. A patient who has cancer and has been receiving treatment for 4 months
c. A patient who states that he or she has lived with severe pain for many years
d. A patient who has been treated unsuccessfully over the past year for back pain
a. A patient who had abdominal surgery 8 hours ago
5. Which patient has pain caused by abnormal processing of sensory input from the peripheral
nervous system?
a. The patient who has aching pain from muscle strain
b. The patient who has burning pain along the sciatic nerve
c. The patient who has cramping pain from a tumor in the colon
d. The patient who has throbbing pain from arthritis
b. The patient who has burning pain along the sciatic nerve
6. A patient reports "right shoulder pain that comes and goes" as the chief complaint. During the
physical examination, the patient asks why the upper right abdomen is being examined for
shoulder pain. What is the appropriate response from the nurse?
a. "A comprehensive examination is required to determine the cause of your pain."
b. "There may be associated problems that have not produced any symptoms yet that we want to
identify."
c. "Yes, this can be confusing, but if you will be patient I'm sure we can find something to help
, you."
d. "It does seem odd, but the gallbladder doesn't have pain receptors of its own, so the pain
shows up in the shoulder."
d. "It does seem odd, but the gallbladder doesn't have pain receptors of its own, so the pain
shows up in the shoulder."
Referred pain is pain felt at a site different from that of an injured or diseased organ. It
commonly occurs during visceral pain because many organs have no pain receptors; thus, when
afferent nerves enter the spinal cord, they stimulate sensory nerves from unaffected organs in the
same spinal cord segment as those neurons in areas where injury or disease is located. A focused
examination is indicated at this time, not a comprehensive examination. This patient's pain is due
to referred pain, not to associated problems that have not produced any symptoms of pain.
Option C reflects concern for the patient's pain, but does not address the patient's questions about
examining the abdomen.
7. A patient who had an amputation of his lower leg comes to the clinic with a complaint of pain.
He asks, "How I can be feeling pain in my foot—my foot is gone?" What is the appropriate
response from the nurse?
a. "After your amputation, pain perception increases."
b. "Amputating your leg caused abnormal processing of sensory input by the peripheral nervous
system."
c. "Stimulation of nerves from your leg sends impulses to the brain so that you feel pain even
though your leg is no longer there."
d. "When sensory nerves enter the spinal cord, they stimulate nerves from unaffected organs in
the same spinal cord segment as those neurons in areas where injury or disease is located."
c. "Stimulation of nerves from your leg sends impulses to the brain so that you feel pain even
though your leg is no longer there."
8. A patient who had extensive surgery asks the nurse for pain medication for a pain of 9 on a
scale of 0 to 10. The nurse completes an assessment of this patient's pain and agrees to give pain
medication. When the nurse returns to the patient with the ordered intravenous pain medication,
she notices the patient's eyes are closed and he appears to be sleeping. What is the nurse's
