Pain Management Nursing Practice Exam

The observation indicating that a patient is experiencing severe pain post-nephrectomy is when the patient has a reduced attention span. Severe pain can significantly impact a patient's cognitive function and ability to focus, leading to distractions from their surroundings and difficulties in concentrating on tasks or conversations. Pain can release stress hormones that affect cognitive processes, making it challenging for the individual to engage in activities that require attention.

The other observations, while they may reflect discomfort, do not specifically correlate with indicators of severe pain in the same way. A motionless patient could indicate an attempt to minimize discomfort, but it does not necessarily indicate cognition or pain severity. If a patient frequently asks for pain relief medication, this can show both awareness of their discomfort and a proactive approach to managing it, but it does not inherently equate to severe pain. Talking incessantly may be a coping mechanism or a distraction from pain and does not effectively signal the level of pain the patient is experiencing.