A nurse is assessing a patient who started to have severe pain 3 days ago. When the nurse asks the patient to describe the pain, the patient states, “The pain feels like it is my stomach. It is a burning pain, and it spreads out in a circle around the spot where it hurts the most.” Which type of pain does the nurse document the patient is having at this time?
Visceral pain
Chronic pain
Idiopathic pain
Superficial pain
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason: Visceral pain arises from internal organs, like the stomach, and is often described as burning, diffuse, or radiating, as the patient reports. It results from organ distension, inflammation, or ischemia, matching the described gastric, circular pain pattern.
Choice B reason: Chronic pain persists beyond 3 months and is not defined by location or quality. The patient’s 3-day pain is acute, not chronic, and the description aligns with visceral pain, not a chronic condition.
Choice C reason: Idiopathic pain has no identifiable cause. The patient’s pain, localized to the stomach with a burning, radiating quality, suggests a visceral origin (e.g., gastritis), making idiopathic an incorrect classification.
Choice D reason: Superficial pain originates from skin or mucous membranes, described as sharp or localized. The patient’s deep, burning, and radiating gastric pain is characteristic of visceral pain, not superficial pain.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Pain of 4/10 indicates a need for analgesia, and ibuprofen is appropriate for mild to moderate pain. This does not warrant holding the medication, as it aligns with the drug’s therapeutic purpose.
Choice B reason: Respiratory depression from opioids is unrelated to ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). While concerning, it does not contraindicate ibuprofen administration, though it requires separate intervention for opioid toxicity.
Choice C reason: A bowel movement 2 days ago suggests mild constipation, not a contraindication for ibuprofen. While NSAIDs can cause gastrointestinal irritation, this finding alone does not justify holding the medication without further symptoms.
Choice D reason: A history of gastric ulcer is a contraindication for ibuprofen, an NSAID that inhibits prostaglandins, reducing gastric mucosal protection. This increases the risk of ulcer reactivation or bleeding, necessitating withholding the medication.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Incontinence is a common UTI symptom but not specific to older adults. It results from bladder irritation or detrusor muscle spasms, affecting all ages. Older adults may have baseline incontinence, making it less diagnostic for UTI compared to acute cognitive changes.
Choice B reason: Low back pain may occur in UTIs, particularly with kidney involvement (pyelonephritis), but it’s not specific to older adults. It reflects inflammation or infection spread, common across age groups, and is less distinctive than cognitive changes in elderly UTI presentations.
Choice C reason: Confusion is a hallmark UTI symptom in older adults due to their increased susceptibility to delirium triggered by infection. The inflammatory response and systemic effects disrupt cerebral function, causing acute cognitive changes, making it a specific and critical finding in this population.
Choice D reason: Urinary retention can occur in UTIs due to bladder inflammation but is not specific to older adults. It’s more common in men with prostate issues or patients with neurogenic bladder, making it less distinctive than confusion for elderly UTI presentations.
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