RNPedia PNLE Nursing Practice 5 Test 1 Practice

Which combination of signs best indicates that a patient is experiencing severe pain?

Bradycardia, hypotension, calmness, flushed Normal vital signs with high pain score Hypoglycemia with diaphoresis Tachycardia, hypertension, anxiety, and pallor

Correct Answer:

Tachycardia, hypertension, anxiety, and pallor

Explanation:

Severe pain often triggers a sympathetic stress response, so the body increases heart rate and blood pressure, and the patient may appear anxious with pallor from vasoconstriction. This pattern—tachycardia, hypertension, anxiety, and pallor—best indicates significant pain among the given options. The other sets of signs don’t fit the usual pain response: bradycardia with hypotension and calmness isn’t typical of severe pain; normal vitals with a high pain score can occur but vitals don’t reliably track pain; and hypoglycemia with diaphoresis points to a metabolic issue rather than pain. Remember that patient self-report remains the primary measure of pain, but these autonomic signs can support the assessment when they align with the pain experience.

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