Nurses’ and Nursing Students’ Knowledge and Attitudes regarding Pediatric Pain
Table 3
Top 5 questions answered incorrectly by hospital nurses.
Item content (correct answer)
% incorrect
The recommended route of administration of opioid analgesics to children with continuous or persistent pain is: (oral)
98.2
Patient A: Andres is 14 years old and this is his first day after abdominal surgery. As you enter his room, he smiles at you and continues talking and joking with his visitor. Your assessment reveals the following information: BP = 120/80; HR = 80; = 18; on a scale of 0 to 10 (0 = no pain/discomfort, 10 = worst pain/discomfort), he rates his pain as 8. On the patient’s record you must mark his pain on the scale below. Circle the number that represents your assessment of Andrew’s pain: (8).
96.4
Narcotic/opioid addiction is defined as psychological dependence accompanied by overwhelming concern with obtaining and using narcotics for psychic effect, not for medical reasons. It may occur with or without the physiological changes of tolerance to analgesia and physical dependence (withdrawal). Using this definition, how likely is it that opioid addiction will occur as a result if treating pain with opioid analgesics? (<1%)
95.5
Your assessment, above, is made 2 hours after he received morphine 2 mg IV. Half-hourly pain ratings after the injection ranged from 6 to 8, and he had no clinically significant respiratory depression, sedation, or other side effects. He has identified 2 as an acceptable level of pain relief. His physician’s order for analgesia is “morphine IV 1–3 mg q 1 h PRN pain relief”. Check the action you will take at this time: (Administer morphine 3 mg IV now).
94.6
Observable changes in vital signs must be relied upon to verify a patient’s statement that he has severe pain. (False)
