Pain Management Nursing Practice Exam

How do infants typically respond to painful stimuli?

1. Infants cannot be assessed for pain.

2. Infants respond behaviorally and physiologically to painful stimuli.

3. Infants cannot tolerate analgesics owing to an underdeveloped metabolism.

4. Infants have a decreased sensitivity to pain compared to older children.

The correct answer is: Infants respond behaviorally and physiologically to painful stimuli.

Infants respond behaviorally and physiologically to painful stimuli, which is why this answer is the most accurate. Research shows that infants exhibit distinct signs of pain, such as crying, facial grimacing, alterations in breathing patterns, and changes in vital signs like heart rate and blood pressure in response to noxious stimuli. These behavioral and physiological responses are crucial for recognizing pain in infants, as they cannot verbally express their discomfort. In contrast to the assertion that infants cannot be assessed for pain, standardized tools have been developed to effectively evaluate pain in this population, taking into account their range of behavioral and physiological reactions. Furthermore, while it is true that an infant's metabolism is still developing, it does not make them completely intolerant to analgesics. Instead, medications may need to be carefully dosed based on weight and individual responses. Lastly, the claim that infants have a decreased sensitivity to pain compared to older children is inaccurate, as evidence suggests that infants may actually experience pain as intensely as, if not more than, older children and adults, leading to the necessity for appropriate pain management strategies.