1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of pain assessment?
A. To provide a diagnosis
B. To measure the patient's emotional state
C. To guide treatment decisions
D. To evaluate the effectiveness of medications
Answer: C. To guide treatment decisions
Rationale: The primary purpose of ...
NCLEX-Style Questions on General Principles of Pain Assessment
1. Which of the following is the primary purpose of pain assessment?
A. To provide a diagnosis
B. To measure the patient's emotional state
C. To guide treatment decisions
D. To evaluate the effectiveness of medications
Answer: C. To guide treatment decisions
Rationale: The primary purpose of pain assessment is to guide treatment decisions, ensuring the
patient receives appropriate management for their pain.
2. When conducting a pain assessment, which question is most important to ask the
patient?
A. "How long have you been in pain?"
B. "What do you think is causing your pain?"
C. "On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your pain?"
D. "Are you taking any medications for your pain?"
Answer: C. "On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your pain?"
Rationale: Using a numerical scale helps quantify the pain level, providing a baseline for
treatment and follow-up.
3. A patient reports a pain level of 8/10 after surgery. What is the best initial nursing
intervention?
A. Offer a distraction technique
B. Administer prescribed analgesics
C. Reassess the pain level in one hour
D. Encourage deep breathing exercises
Answer: B. Administer prescribed analgesics
Rationale: The priority is to manage the patient’s pain effectively; administering analgesics is a
direct intervention.
4. Which of the following is considered a subjective measure of pain?
,A. Vital signs
B. Pain scale rating
C. Blood tests
D. X-ray results
Answer: B. Pain scale rating
Rationale: Pain is a personal experience and is best described subjectively by the patient
through their own assessments.
5. What is the best approach to assess a non-verbal patient’s pain level?
A. Assume they are not in pain
B. Observe physiological signs and behaviors
C. Ask the family about the patient's usual pain levels
D. Administer pain medication without assessment
Answer: B. Observe physiological signs and behaviors
Rationale: In non-verbal patients, behavioral and physiological cues are vital for assessing pain.
6. The nurse is assessing a patient with chronic pain. Which characteristic is most
consistent with chronic pain?
A. Sudden onset
B. Intensity increases with activity
C. Duration of more than six months
D. Typically responds well to analgesics
Answer: C. Duration of more than six months
Rationale: Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting longer than six months, unlike acute pain,
which has a sudden onset.
7. A patient expresses that their pain is a “10” and describes it as “sharp and stabbing.”
How should the nurse interpret this?
A. The patient is exaggerating their pain.
B. The patient is experiencing acute pain.
C. The patient requires immediate intervention.
D. The patient’s pain is not credible.
, Answer: C. The patient requires immediate intervention.
Rationale: A pain level of 10 indicates severe discomfort and necessitates prompt treatment.
8. What is the most appropriate method for a nurse to assess a child's pain?
A. Using a numerical scale
B. Using a faces pain scale
C. Observing the child's behavior
D. Relying on parental input
Answer: B. Using a faces pain scale
Rationale: The faces pain scale is effective for assessing pain in children, allowing them to
express their pain visually.
9. Which statement about pain assessment is true?
A. Pain cannot be measured objectively.
B. Pain is only physical, not emotional.
C. All patients experience pain in the same way.
D. Pain assessment should be conducted once per shift.
Answer: A. Pain cannot be measured objectively.
Rationale: Pain is subjective, and while some physiological indicators exist, the experience of
pain is personal.
10. When should a nurse reassess a patient’s pain after administering an analgesic?
A. After 15 minutes
B. After 30 minutes
C. After 1 hour
D. After 2 hours
Answer: B. After 30 minutes
Rationale: Reassessing pain 30 minutes after administration allows time for the medication to
take effect.
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