CNA Pain Management and Comfort Measures 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is pain officially considered in modern healthcare settings?
- A normal part of aging that requires no treatment
- The fifth vital sign (Correct answer)
- Only relevant for post-surgical patients
- A subjective symptom that cannot be measured
Correct answer: The fifth vital sign
Pain is recognized as the fifth vital sign, meaning it must be assessed and documented alongside temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure.
Question 2: Which pain assessment tool uses facial expressions to help patients communicate their pain level?
- Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
- Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
- Wong-Baker FACES Scale (Correct answer)
- McGill Pain Questionnaire
Correct answer: Wong-Baker FACES Scale
The Wong-Baker FACES Scale uses a series of faces ranging from smiling to crying to help patients, especially children or those with communication difficulties, indicate their pain level.
Question 3: When a resident reports pain to a CNA, what is the CNA's first priority?
- Administer the nearest available pain medication
- Report the pain to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Tell the resident to rest until the pain goes away
- Encourage the resident to tolerate the discomfort
Correct answer: Report the pain to the nurse
CNAs are not authorized to administer medications; their first responsibility is to promptly report the resident's pain to the nurse so appropriate interventions can be ordered.
Question 4: Which of the following is a non-pharmacological comfort measure a CNA can use to help manage a resident's pain?
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
- Repositioning the resident (Correct answer)
- Morphine
Correct answer: Repositioning the resident
Repositioning is a non-pharmacological intervention within a CNA's scope of practice that can relieve pressure points and reduce discomfort without medication.
Question 5: A resident rates their pain as 8 out of 10 on a numeric scale. How should the CNA classify this pain level?
- Mild pain
- Moderate pain
- Severe pain (Correct answer)
- No pain
Correct answer: Severe pain
On a 0–10 numeric scale, scores of 7–10 are classified as severe pain and require prompt nursing notification and intervention.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes acute pain?
- Pain that persists for longer than 6 months
- Pain that is sudden in onset and typically resolves as healing occurs (Correct answer)
- Pain associated exclusively with cancer
- Pain that cannot be effectively treated
Correct answer: Pain that is sudden in onset and typically resolves as healing occurs
Acute pain has a sudden onset, is usually related to a specific injury or illness, and typically resolves as the underlying cause heals.
Question 7: When should a CNA document a resident's reported pain?
- Only when pain medication is administered
- At the end of the shift in a summary
- Promptly after assessing and reporting it to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Only when the pain is rated 7 or above
Correct answer: Promptly after assessing and reporting it to the nurse
Accurate and timely documentation of pain reports ensures continuity of care and provides a legal record of assessment and communication to the nurse.
CNA Pain Management and Comfort Measures 1
What is pain officially considered in modern healthcare settings?