Animals hide pain, and technicians spend more time with patients than anyone else on the team. Spotting pain early and knowing how multimodal plans work is a large part of good nursing.
3 sample Pain Management & Analgesia questions
Try each one before opening the answer. These come straight from the VetTech Pro question bank.
Question 1. What are the four stages of nociception in order?
Answer: A. Transduction, transmission, modulation, perception
Transduction converts the noxious stimulus into an electrical signal, transmission carries it to the spinal cord and brain, modulation amplifies or dampens it in the dorsal horn, and perception is conscious awareness. Multimodal analgesia works by targeting several of these points at once.
Question 2. What is the rationale for multimodal analgesia?
AIt is cheaper than single-agent therapy because generic agents can be used throughout
BIt reduces the number of injections needed, because combined drugs last much longer
CIt shortens anesthetic recovery, because each drug reverses the side effects of the others
DDrugs acting at different sites give better analgesia at lower doses with fewer side effects
Show answer and rationale
Answer: D. Drugs acting at different sites give better analgesia at lower doses with fewer side effects
Pain is generated and amplified at several anatomical points, so blocking only one leaves the others active. Synergy between classes also means each can be used below the dose where its side effects dominate.
Question 3. Why is atropine used topically in a painful eye with uveitis?
AIt is used only to dilate the pupil for fundic examination
BIt relieves painful ciliary muscle spasm and helps prevent synechiae
CIt provides direct local anesthesia of the cornea and conjunctiva
DIt reduces corneal sensation by blocking trigeminal nerve endings
Show answer and rationale
Answer: B. It relieves painful ciliary muscle spasm and helps prevent synechiae
Ciliary spasm is a major component of uveitis pain, and cycloplegia relieves it. It is contraindicated in glaucoma, since pupil dilation can further obstruct aqueous outflow.
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