NU 126 EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE 163 QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS 2025/2026
C. Client's self-report - CORRECT ANSWER A new nurse asks the precepting nurse
"What is the best way to assess a client's pain?" Which response by the nurse is
best?
A. Numeric pain scale
B. Behavioral assessment
C. Client's self-report
D. Objective observation
A. "Being able to sleep doesn't mean pain doesn't exist." - CORRECT ANSWER A
new nurse reports to the nurse preceptor that a client requested pain medication,
and when the nurse brought it, the client was sound asleep. The nurse states the
client cannot possibly sleep with the severe pain the client described. Which
response by the experienced nurse is best?
A. "Being able to sleep doesn't mean pain doesn't exist."
B. "Have you ever experienced any type of pain?"
C. "The client should be assessed for drug addiction."
D. "You're right; I would put the medication back."
,B. "Discuss acceptable pain control after your operation with the surgeon." -
CORRECT ANSWER The nurse in the outpatient surgery clinic is discussing an
upcoming surgical procedure with a client. Which information provided by the
nurse is most appropriate for the client's long-term outcome?
A. "At least you know that the pain after surgery will diminish quickly."
B. "Discuss acceptable pain control after your operation with the surgeon."
C. "Opioids often cause nausea but you won't have to take them for long."
D. "The nursing staff will give you pain medication when you ask them for it."
C. FACES Pain Scale-Revised - CORRECT ANSWER A nurse is assessing pain on a
confused older client who has difficulty with verbal expression. Which pain
assessment tool would the nurse choose for this assessment?
A. Numeric rating scale
B. Verbal Descriptor Scale
C. FACES Pain Scale-Revised
D. Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale
D. "What pain rating would be acceptable to you?" - CORRECT ANSWER The nurse
is assessing a client's pain and has elicited information on the location, quality,
intensity, effect on functioning, aggravating and relieving factors, and onset and
duration. Which question by the nurse would be best to ask the client for
completing a comprehensive pain assessment?
A. "Are you worried about addiction to pain pills?"
,B. "Do you attach any spiritual meaning to pain?"
C. "How high would you say your pain tolerance is?"
D. "What pain rating would be acceptable to you?"
D. Sit down, ask one question at a time, and allow the client to answer. - CORRECT
ANSWER A nurse is assessing pain in an older adult. Which action by the nurse is
best?
A. Ask only "yes-or-no" questions so the client doesn't get too tired.
B. Give the client a picture of the pain scale and come back later.
C. Question the client about new pain only, not normal pain from aging.
D. Sit down, ask one question at a time, and allow the client to answer.
A. "Help me understand how pain is affecting you right now." - CORRECT ANSWER
The nurse receives a hand-off report. One client is described as a drug seeker who
is obsessed with even tiny changes in physical condition and is "on the light
constantly" asking for more pain medication. When assessing this client's pain,
which statement or question by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. "Help me understand how pain is affecting you right now."
B. "I wish I could do more; is there anything I can get for you?"
C. "You cannot have more pain medication for 3 hours."
D. "Why do you think the medication is not helping your pain?"
, B. Client with new-onset abdominal pain, rated as an 8 on a 0-10 scale. - CORRECT
ANSWER A nurse on the medical-surgical unit has received a hand-off report.
Which client would the nurse see first?
A. Client being discharged later on a complicated analgesia regimen.
B. Client with new-onset abdominal pain, rated as an 8 on a 0-10 scale.
C. Postoperative client who received oral opioid analgesia 45 minutes ago.
D. Client who has returned from physical therapy and is resting in the recliner.
A. Assess physiologic indicators and vital signs. - CORRECT ANSWER A nurse uses
the Checklist of Nonverbal Pain Indicators to assess pain in a nonverbal client with
advanced dementia but no other medical history except well-controlled
hypertension and high cholesterol. The client scores a zero. Which action by the
nurse is best?
A. Assess physiologic indicators and vital signs.
B. Do not give pain medication as no pain is indicated.
C. Document the findings and continue to monitor.
D. Try a small dose of analgesic medication for pain.
D. "Pain is so complex it takes different approaches to control it." - CORRECT
ANSWER A nurse asks why several clients are getting more than one type of pain
medication instead of very high doses of one medication. Which response by the
charge nurse is best?
A. "A multimodal approach is the preferred method of control."
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS 2025/2026
C. Client's self-report - CORRECT ANSWER A new nurse asks the precepting nurse
"What is the best way to assess a client's pain?" Which response by the nurse is
best?
A. Numeric pain scale
B. Behavioral assessment
C. Client's self-report
D. Objective observation
A. "Being able to sleep doesn't mean pain doesn't exist." - CORRECT ANSWER A
new nurse reports to the nurse preceptor that a client requested pain medication,
and when the nurse brought it, the client was sound asleep. The nurse states the
client cannot possibly sleep with the severe pain the client described. Which
response by the experienced nurse is best?
A. "Being able to sleep doesn't mean pain doesn't exist."
B. "Have you ever experienced any type of pain?"
C. "The client should be assessed for drug addiction."
D. "You're right; I would put the medication back."
,B. "Discuss acceptable pain control after your operation with the surgeon." -
CORRECT ANSWER The nurse in the outpatient surgery clinic is discussing an
upcoming surgical procedure with a client. Which information provided by the
nurse is most appropriate for the client's long-term outcome?
A. "At least you know that the pain after surgery will diminish quickly."
B. "Discuss acceptable pain control after your operation with the surgeon."
C. "Opioids often cause nausea but you won't have to take them for long."
D. "The nursing staff will give you pain medication when you ask them for it."
C. FACES Pain Scale-Revised - CORRECT ANSWER A nurse is assessing pain on a
confused older client who has difficulty with verbal expression. Which pain
assessment tool would the nurse choose for this assessment?
A. Numeric rating scale
B. Verbal Descriptor Scale
C. FACES Pain Scale-Revised
D. Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale
D. "What pain rating would be acceptable to you?" - CORRECT ANSWER The nurse
is assessing a client's pain and has elicited information on the location, quality,
intensity, effect on functioning, aggravating and relieving factors, and onset and
duration. Which question by the nurse would be best to ask the client for
completing a comprehensive pain assessment?
A. "Are you worried about addiction to pain pills?"
,B. "Do you attach any spiritual meaning to pain?"
C. "How high would you say your pain tolerance is?"
D. "What pain rating would be acceptable to you?"
D. Sit down, ask one question at a time, and allow the client to answer. - CORRECT
ANSWER A nurse is assessing pain in an older adult. Which action by the nurse is
best?
A. Ask only "yes-or-no" questions so the client doesn't get too tired.
B. Give the client a picture of the pain scale and come back later.
C. Question the client about new pain only, not normal pain from aging.
D. Sit down, ask one question at a time, and allow the client to answer.
A. "Help me understand how pain is affecting you right now." - CORRECT ANSWER
The nurse receives a hand-off report. One client is described as a drug seeker who
is obsessed with even tiny changes in physical condition and is "on the light
constantly" asking for more pain medication. When assessing this client's pain,
which statement or question by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. "Help me understand how pain is affecting you right now."
B. "I wish I could do more; is there anything I can get for you?"
C. "You cannot have more pain medication for 3 hours."
D. "Why do you think the medication is not helping your pain?"
, B. Client with new-onset abdominal pain, rated as an 8 on a 0-10 scale. - CORRECT
ANSWER A nurse on the medical-surgical unit has received a hand-off report.
Which client would the nurse see first?
A. Client being discharged later on a complicated analgesia regimen.
B. Client with new-onset abdominal pain, rated as an 8 on a 0-10 scale.
C. Postoperative client who received oral opioid analgesia 45 minutes ago.
D. Client who has returned from physical therapy and is resting in the recliner.
A. Assess physiologic indicators and vital signs. - CORRECT ANSWER A nurse uses
the Checklist of Nonverbal Pain Indicators to assess pain in a nonverbal client with
advanced dementia but no other medical history except well-controlled
hypertension and high cholesterol. The client scores a zero. Which action by the
nurse is best?
A. Assess physiologic indicators and vital signs.
B. Do not give pain medication as no pain is indicated.
C. Document the findings and continue to monitor.
D. Try a small dose of analgesic medication for pain.
D. "Pain is so complex it takes different approaches to control it." - CORRECT
ANSWER A nurse asks why several clients are getting more than one type of pain
medication instead of very high doses of one medication. Which response by the
charge nurse is best?
A. "A multimodal approach is the preferred method of control."
