CNA Pain Management and Comfort Measures 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which position is commonly used to reduce lower back pain and promote comfort in a bed-bound resident?
- Prone with arms overhead
- Supine with legs fully extended
- Semi-Fowler's with knees slightly elevated (Correct answer)
- Trendelenburg with head lowered
Correct answer: Semi-Fowler's with knees slightly elevated
Semi-Fowler's position with slight knee elevation reduces pressure on the lumbar spine and promotes comfort.
Question 2: A CNA notices a resident is guarding their abdomen and wincing during a bath. The most appropriate action is to:
- Finish the bath quickly and document afterward
- Stop the bath, ensure comfort, and report to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Ask the resident if they have a history of stomach problems
- Apply a warm compress to the abdomen without consulting the nurse
Correct answer: Stop the bath, ensure comfort, and report to the nurse
Guarding and wincing are signs of pain; the CNA should stop the activity, ensure comfort, and immediately report to the nurse.
Question 3: Music therapy as a comfort measure works primarily by:
- Curing the underlying cause of pain
- Distracting the resident and promoting relaxation (Correct answer)
- Replacing the need for pain medications
- Stimulating nerve endings to block pain signals
Correct answer: Distracting the resident and promoting relaxation
Music therapy promotes relaxation and distraction, which can reduce the perception of pain without treating its cause.
Question 4: When documenting a resident's pain, the CNA should record:
- Only the pain rating number
- Location, intensity, character, and what relieves or worsens the pain (Correct answer)
- The CNA's personal opinion about whether the pain is real
- Only the time the pain was first reported
Correct answer: Location, intensity, character, and what relieves or worsens the pain
Thorough pain documentation includes location, intensity, quality, and aggravating or relieving factors to support the care team's assessment.
Question 5: A resident with arthritis requests a massage to their hands. The CNA should:
- Refuse because massage requires a therapist's license
- Perform a gentle hand massage if allowed by the care plan (Correct answer)
- Apply firm pressure to break up joint deposits
- Massage only if the physician is present
Correct answer: Perform a gentle hand massage if allowed by the care plan
Gentle massage is within the CNA's scope when permitted by the care plan and can provide significant comfort for arthritis pain.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes 'chronic pain' as it applies to long-term care residents?
- Pain that lasts less than six hours after a procedure
- Persistent pain lasting three months or longer (Correct answer)
- Pain that only occurs during physical therapy sessions
- Acute pain that resolves completely with rest
Correct answer: Persistent pain lasting three months or longer
Chronic pain is defined as pain persisting for three months or longer and is common in long-term care residents with conditions like arthritis or neuropathy.
Question 7: A resident refuses to report pain because they 'don't want to bother anyone.' The CNA should:
- Respect the decision and avoid asking about pain in the future
- Reassure the resident that reporting pain is important and helps the care team provide better care (Correct answer)
- Tell the resident their pain is probably not serious
- Document that the resident has no pain complaints
Correct answer: Reassure the resident that reporting pain is important and helps the care team provide better care
Reassuring the resident that pain reporting is valued and important encourages communication and supports effective pain management.
CNA Pain Management and Comfort Measures 5
Which position is commonly used to reduce lower back pain and promote comfort in a bed-bound resident?