Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Practice Exam

As a nursing assistant, you may be the first to notice that one of your patients has pain. Sometimes signs of pain can be non-verbal. A nonverbal sign of pain would be:

1. Yelling loudly

2. Facial grimacing

3. Jumping up and down

4. Clapping hands

The correct answer is: Facial grimacing

Facial grimacing is indeed a non-verbal sign of pain. It is an important indicator that can help nursing assistants and other healthcare providers assess a patient's discomfort without relying on verbal communication. When a person is in pain, their facial expressions might include tightening of the facial muscles, furrowing of the brow, or a grimace, all of which signal distress. This can be particularly valuable in cases where patients cannot express their pain verbally, such as those who are nonverbal or in altered mental states. Yelling loudly and jumping up and down are verbal and physical expressions, respectively, that might indicate discomfort but are not subtle or non-verbal signs. Clapping hands tends to signify positive emotions or excitement rather than pain, making it an inappropriate choice for identifying pain signals. Recognizing non-verbal cues like facial grimacing is critical for effectively managing patient care and ensuring that they receive appropriate interventions for their pain.