Acute pain - Answers pain that is limited in duration and is associated with a specific cause. Las less than
6 months. Rapid onset varies in intensity and duration.
Adjuvant - Answers Medication with independent or additive analgesic properties when administered
with opioids. Not classified as an analgesic.
Analgesics - Answers Medications used to relieve pain.
Breakthrough pain - Answers Severe pain that erupts while a patient is already medicated with a long-
acting painkiller.
Chronic pain - Answers Constant or intermittent pain ongoing for longer than six months, attributed to a
specific cause or injury.
Neuropathic pain - Answers Pain caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system,
typically described as 'burning' or 'like pins and needles.'
pain - Answers an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential
tissue damage.
-Most common reason for seeking health care.
- 5th vital sign
Tolerance - Answers Reduced response to pain medication when the same dose has been given
repeatedly, requiring a higher dose to achieve the same level of response.
physical dependence - Answers withdrawal symptoms that occur when chronic pain medication is
suddenly reduced or stopped because of physiological adaptations that occur from chronic exposure to
medication.
Referred pain - Answers Pain perceived at a location other than the site of the painful stimulus.
example of referred pain - Answers pain from retained gas in colon can cause pain to be perceived in the
shoulder
Somatic pain - Answers type of nociceptive pain that is also referred to as skin pain, tissue pain, joint or
muscle pain.
Visceral pain - Answers Pain originating from body organs.
Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) - Answers Pain management method allowing hospitalized patients
to self-administer opioid medications using a programmed pump according to their discomfort level.
addiction - Answers behavioral pattern characterized by need to take drug for psychic effects
,dependence - Answers occurs with tolerance, physical symptoms occur when opioid is discontinued
T/F addiction is characterized by several symptoms, such as the inability to consistently abstain from
substances, impaired behavioral control, cravings, diminished recognition of significant problems with
one's behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response. - Answers True
T/F when using a PCA pump to control pain, the client controls the route and frequency and dosage of
the medication administered. Family members are not allowed to push the button. - Answers false
rationale: The client controls frequency of IV analgesia. Client DOES NOT choose dosage, the family
members are not allowed to push the button, and the route of the medication is chosen by medication.
pain is what the client state it is. - Answers true
pain management poses special challenges for older clients. due to liver and renal changes, medication
clearance is prolonged which can lead to toxicity. - Answers true
T/F delaying giving a client pain medication will increase the chance of breakthrough pain and increase
the clients pain tolerance. - Answers false
rationale: delays in giving analgesics increase the chance of breakthrough pain and the subsequent
anticipation of pain. it will NOT increase the tolerance.
T/F naltrexone is used to reverse the symptoms of an opioid narcotic - Answers false
Rationale: nalaxone (narcan) opiate antagonist
Thermal nociceptors - Answers Activated by heat or cold.
Mechanical nociceptors - Answers Activated by excess pressure or a break to the skin.
Chemical nociceptors - Answers Activated by spices used in cooking such as capsaicin.
FLACC scale - Answers Measurement used to assess pain for children between 2 months and 7 years, or
individuals unable to verbally communicate their pain.
FACES scale - Answers Visual tool for assessing pain, especially for children and others unable to quantify
pain severity on scale of 0-10.
chronic pain - Answers pain experience with osteoarthritis
acute pain - Answers pain experienced with post-operatively total knee amputation (TKA)
, neuropathic pain - Answers pain experienced with degenerative disc disease
acute pain - Answers pain experience with physical therapy after arthroplasty
list 3 nursing interventions to enhance pain relief - Answers 1. offer analgesics on schedule and before
complaints of pain
2. control breakthrough pain by offering medication before the client complains of pain
3. offer IV analgesic medication in conjunction with oral medication to help with breakthrough pain
4. teach client to monitor side-effects to promote self-care and safety to better self medicte
what are comprehensive pain assessment questions the nurse must ask to understand and adequately
rate patients pain - Answers location= where is the pain, is it radiating?
intensity= level of pain and educate on use of pain scale to identify pain of 0-10 (FACES/FLACC)
quality= description (shooting, sharp, electric, hot, superficial such as itchy, cold, numb, sensitive and
tingling or deep pain such as aching, heavy, dull, cramp, throbbing)
onset =when did it start?
pattern= does it occur at a particular time?
contributing symptoms= does anything trigger it?
effects of pain= what happens when the pain occurs (affect ADLs?)
comfort= functional pain goal that is effective for them (massage, apply heat or cold)
Classification of Gabapentin (neurontin) (anticonvulsant) - Answers adjuvant drugs
Intended use of gabapentin - Answers developed for an indication other than pain but with analgesic
properties for some painful conditions
side effects of gabapentin (3) - Answers - drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness (cyclobenzaprine)
- drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, stomach upset, n/v or blurred vision, confusion
(methocarbamol)