ABPANC Pain Management & Comfort Care Flashcards
6 cards from real ABPANC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 ABPANC Pain Management & Comfort Care flashcards as text
Which pain assessment tool is most appropriate for a non-verbal PACU patient who cannot self-report pain?
Answer: Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) or CPOT
The Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) and Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) are validated for non-verbal or sedated patients who cannot self-report.
A patient in PACU rates pain 8/10 and has received the maximum ordered IV opioid dose. What is the appropriate next nursing action?
Answer: Notify the anesthesia provider or surgeon to request additional analgesic orders
When pain exceeds the available ordered analgesics, the provider must be contacted for additional orders to ensure adequate pain management.
What is multimodal analgesia in the perioperative setting?
Answer: Combining multiple analgesic agents and techniques targeting different pain pathways to reduce opioid use
Multimodal analgesia combines agents such as NSAIDs, acetaminophen, local anesthetics, and opioids to achieve better pain control with lower opioid requirements.
Which non-pharmacologic intervention is appropriate in the PACU to help manage post-operative pain?
Answer: Positioning for comfort, applying ice to surgical sites as ordered, and providing distraction
Non-pharmacologic measures including positioning, ice application, and distraction complement pharmacologic pain management in the PACU.
Ketorolac (Toradol) is ordered for a post-operative patient in the PACU. Which patient finding is a contraindication to its administration?
Answer: A history of peptic ulcer disease and current renal impairment
Ketorolac is an NSAID contraindicated in patients with peptic ulcer disease and renal impairment due to risks of GI bleeding and nephrotoxicity.
What does PACU nursing documentation of pain management include?
Answer: Pain assessments, interventions, reassessments after interventions, and patient response
Complete pain management documentation requires initial assessment, intervention given, reassessment timing, and patient's response to determine effectiveness.