ABPANC ABPANC Pain Management & Comfort Care

Question 1

Which pain assessment tool is most appropriate for a non-verbal PACU patient who cannot self-report pain?

Accepted Answer

Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) or CPOT

Answer

Numeric Rating Scale (NRS 0–10)

Answer

Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

Answer

Wong-Baker FACES scale

Question 2

A patient in PACU rates pain 8/10 and has received the maximum ordered IV opioid dose. What is the appropriate next nursing action?

Accepted Answer

Notify the anesthesia provider or surgeon to request additional analgesic orders

Answer

Reassess pain in 2 hours and document only

Answer

Administer an additional opioid dose beyond the ordered maximum

Answer

Apply ice packs and reposition the patient as sole interventions

Question 3

What is multimodal analgesia in the perioperative setting?

Accepted Answer

Combining multiple analgesic agents and techniques targeting different pain pathways to reduce opioid use

Answer

Using the highest dose of a single opioid for maximum pain control

Answer

Administering analgesics via multiple routes simultaneously without dose adjustment

Answer

Providing pain relief exclusively through non-pharmacologic means

Question 4

Which non-pharmacologic intervention is appropriate in the PACU to help manage post-operative pain?

Accepted Answer

Positioning for comfort, applying ice to surgical sites as ordered, and providing distraction

Answer

Encouraging ambulation immediately after all surgeries

Answer

Withholding all pharmacologic analgesics to assess true pain levels

Answer

Placing the patient in complete isolation to reduce stimulation

Question 5

Ketorolac (Toradol) is ordered for a post-operative patient in the PACU. Which patient finding is a contraindication to its administration?

Accepted Answer

A history of peptic ulcer disease and current renal impairment

Answer

Mild post-operative nausea

Answer

Pain rating of 5/10

Answer

Post-operative temperature of 37.8°C

Question 6

What does PACU nursing documentation of pain management include?

Accepted Answer

Pain assessments, interventions, reassessments after interventions, and patient response

Answer

Only the final pain score at discharge

Answer

Surgical operative notes and anesthesia record only

Answer

Pain scores without interventions documented