HESI Case Study – Pain Exam
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
An adult female, mother of two, visits the pain clinic of the regional medical center
in her community. She arrives at the pain management clinic with complaints of
back pain rated 6 out of 10. She tells the nurse "the pain is so bad at times, that I
am unable to take care of my children."
Which information obtained by the nurse is most likely to influence the client's
perception of her pain?
A: the client's younger child is an infant who feeds every 3 hours
B: client's 4-year old enjoys being 'big brother' to his baby sister
C: client was a first grade teacher before having children but now stays home
D: Client's parents live in the same neighborhood and often help with children -
ANSWER-A: the client's younger child is an infant who feeds every 3 hours
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,Client's younger child is an infant who feeds every 3 hours.
R: Feeding an infant every 3 hours interrupts sleep and results in fatigue. Fatigue
often heightens the perception of pain and impairs coping skills.Cooper, K.,
Gosnell, K. (2019). Adult Health Nursing. (8th edition). St. Louis, Missouri.
Elsevier. Pg. 659.
Clients 4-year-old enjoys being the "big brother" to his baby sister.
R: This is a normal healthy response by the child and is unlikely to significantly
impact the client's pain perception.
Client was a first grade teacher before having children but now stays home.
R: Other information is more likely to impact pain perception. No indication from
client that job status is effecting her in anyway.
Client's parents live in the same neighborhood and often help with the children.
R: Part of health history - Client has support system in place, which would be
positive influence with pain.
To assess the quality of the client's pain, the nurse would ask which question?
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,A: on a scale of 0-10, how would you rate your pain?
B: how would you describe the pain you are experiencing?
C: what actions do you take to relieve the pain?
D: when did your pain begin? - ANSWER-B: how would you describe the pain you
are experiencing?
On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your pain?"
R: This question elicits information about the intensity of the pain.
"How would you describe the pain you are experiencing?"
R: The quality of pain experienced is typically a "descriptive term such as
'shooting'....."Giddons, J. (2021). Concepts for Nursing Practice. (3rd edition). St.
Louis, Missouri. Elsevier. Pg. 275.
"What actions do you take to relieve the pain?"
R: This question elicits information about the relief measures related to the pain.
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, "When did your pain begin?"
R: This question elicits information about the onset of the pain.
Which behavior does the client exhibit, that the nurse documents as objective signs
of acute pain?
A: states pain level of 5 out of 10
B: complains of shortness of breath
C: difficulty concentrating
D: frequent grimacing - ANSWER-D: frequent grimacing
States pain level of 5 out of 10.
R: Statements of pain indicate self-reported data.
Complains of shortness of breath.
R: This indicates self-reported data.
©️COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 4
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
An adult female, mother of two, visits the pain clinic of the regional medical center
in her community. She arrives at the pain management clinic with complaints of
back pain rated 6 out of 10. She tells the nurse "the pain is so bad at times, that I
am unable to take care of my children."
Which information obtained by the nurse is most likely to influence the client's
perception of her pain?
A: the client's younger child is an infant who feeds every 3 hours
B: client's 4-year old enjoys being 'big brother' to his baby sister
C: client was a first grade teacher before having children but now stays home
D: Client's parents live in the same neighborhood and often help with children -
ANSWER-A: the client's younger child is an infant who feeds every 3 hours
©️COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 1
,Client's younger child is an infant who feeds every 3 hours.
R: Feeding an infant every 3 hours interrupts sleep and results in fatigue. Fatigue
often heightens the perception of pain and impairs coping skills.Cooper, K.,
Gosnell, K. (2019). Adult Health Nursing. (8th edition). St. Louis, Missouri.
Elsevier. Pg. 659.
Clients 4-year-old enjoys being the "big brother" to his baby sister.
R: This is a normal healthy response by the child and is unlikely to significantly
impact the client's pain perception.
Client was a first grade teacher before having children but now stays home.
R: Other information is more likely to impact pain perception. No indication from
client that job status is effecting her in anyway.
Client's parents live in the same neighborhood and often help with the children.
R: Part of health history - Client has support system in place, which would be
positive influence with pain.
To assess the quality of the client's pain, the nurse would ask which question?
©️COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2
,A: on a scale of 0-10, how would you rate your pain?
B: how would you describe the pain you are experiencing?
C: what actions do you take to relieve the pain?
D: when did your pain begin? - ANSWER-B: how would you describe the pain you
are experiencing?
On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your pain?"
R: This question elicits information about the intensity of the pain.
"How would you describe the pain you are experiencing?"
R: The quality of pain experienced is typically a "descriptive term such as
'shooting'....."Giddons, J. (2021). Concepts for Nursing Practice. (3rd edition). St.
Louis, Missouri. Elsevier. Pg. 275.
"What actions do you take to relieve the pain?"
R: This question elicits information about the relief measures related to the pain.
©️COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 3
, "When did your pain begin?"
R: This question elicits information about the onset of the pain.
Which behavior does the client exhibit, that the nurse documents as objective signs
of acute pain?
A: states pain level of 5 out of 10
B: complains of shortness of breath
C: difficulty concentrating
D: frequent grimacing - ANSWER-D: frequent grimacing
States pain level of 5 out of 10.
R: Statements of pain indicate self-reported data.
Complains of shortness of breath.
R: This indicates self-reported data.
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