You are teaching a new NP student about the stepped approach to pain management. If interventions to resolve the cause of pain (e.g., rest, ice, compression, and elevation) are insufficient, pain medications are given based on the severity of pain. Which progression correctly follows evidence-based guidelines?

A 38-year-old man recently diagnosed with mild GERD asks what foods he should avoid to reduce his symptoms. Which of the following should you include in your teaching as a food that relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter and may aggravate GERD symptoms?

When initiating buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, timing of the first dose is critical. When should treatment begin?

A 45-year-old patient presents with acute low back pain after lifting a heavy box. The provider prescribes cyclobenzaprine. During follow-up, the patient states they feel “a little better but still sore” and requests a refill after 3 weeks of use. What is the most appropriate response?

A 67-year-old patient with rheumatoid arthritis has been on 10 mg of prednisone daily for the past 6 months. At today’s visit, they report back pain and have a slight stooped posture. What long-term complication should the clinician suspect and evaluate for?

A 34-year-old pregnant woman presents with mild, non-bloody diarrhea after returning from a camping trip. She asks whether she can take over-the-counter loperamide (Imodium) to manage her symptoms. What is the most accurate advice to give her about this medication?

A 62-year-old patient taking aspirin daily for cardiovascular protection calls the clinic complaining of a “ringing in the ears” that started yesterday and has not improved. What should the clinician suspect as the most likely cause?

A patient with GERD and delayed gastric emptying is prescribed metoclopramide. He asks how this medication will help his symptoms. Which explanation best describes metoclopramide’s mechanism of action in GERD management?

Contracts are legally enforceable agreements.

Courts can create quasi contracts where they did not exist before.