HESI PHARM 2026 CUMULATIVE EXAM
WITH ANSWERS
The nurse is caring for a patient taking cimetidine (Tagamet) orally. Which should the
nurse consider about administering this drug?
A) Administer the drug with the first bit of food
B) Administer the drug immediately after meals
C) Administer the drug 30 minutes after meals
D) Administer the drug 30 minutes before meals
D) Administer the drug 30 minutes before meals
The nurse is discharging a patient with a new patient for ranitidine (Zantac). Which
information would be important to include in the discharge teaching?
A) Thrombolytic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) may occur
B) Aspirin may be taken with this medication
C) The patient may experience iron deficiency anemia
D) The patient may experience restlessness
A) Thrombolytic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) may occur
A patient is prescribed sucralfate (Carafate) and asks the nurse what the purpose of taking
,this medication is. Which is the nurse's best response?
A) The medication helps reduce bacteria levels in the stomach
B) The medication helps neutralize gastric acid in the stomach
C) The medication is used to protect the gastrointestinal mucosa
D) The medication can reduce the patient's constipation
C) The medication is used to protect the gastrointestinal mucosa
The nurse is creating a class for older adults in the community. Which information about
laxative use in older adults would be important to include?
A) Laxative are not effective in older adults
B) All laxative are exactly the same
C) Over-the-counter laxatives are misused
D) Laxatives can cause potassium retention
D) Laxatives can cause potassium retention
The nurse is caring for a patient with a new order for an oral laxative. Which is a
contraindication in administering an oral laxative?
A) Cardiac problems
B) Abdominal pain of unknown origin
C) Several hemorrhoids
D) Chronic constipation
B) Abdominal pain of unknown origin
,The nurse is studying antacids that contain magnesium and calcium for the pharmacology
exam. The student nurse remembers that these antacids should be used with caution in
patients with which condition?
A) Hypertension
B) Renal failure
C) Heart failure
D) Peptic ulcer disease
D) Peptic ulcer disease
A patient asks the nurse how to best prevent constipation. Which class of laxative would
the nurse recommend to this patient?
A) Stimulant laxatives
B) Bulk-forming laxatives
C) Amollient laxatives
D) Hyperosomatic laxatives
A) Stimulant laxatives
The nurse is caring for patient with short term persistent diarrhea. Which class of
medication would the nurse anticipate giving?
A) Lubricants
B) Probiotics
C) Adsorbents
, D) Anticholinergics
B) Probiotics
The nurse is creating community education about over-the-counter (OTC) antacids.
Which information about calcium antacids would be important to include?
A) They cause decreased gastric acid production
B) Long-term use may result in kidney stones
C) Long-term use may result in fluid retention
D) They may cause severe bouts of diarrhea
A) They cause decreased gastric acid production
The nurse is administering an aluminum-based antacid to a patient. Which side effect of
this drug should the student consider?
A) Rebound hyperacidity
B) Acute constipation
C) Chronic indigestion
D) Dumping syndrome
A) Rebound hyperacidity
The nurse is caring for a patient who has been taking bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-
Bismol) at home for several weeks, During the morning assessment, the nurse notices the patient has
blue gums while doing the oral assessment. Which action would the nurse
take?
WITH ANSWERS
The nurse is caring for a patient taking cimetidine (Tagamet) orally. Which should the
nurse consider about administering this drug?
A) Administer the drug with the first bit of food
B) Administer the drug immediately after meals
C) Administer the drug 30 minutes after meals
D) Administer the drug 30 minutes before meals
D) Administer the drug 30 minutes before meals
The nurse is discharging a patient with a new patient for ranitidine (Zantac). Which
information would be important to include in the discharge teaching?
A) Thrombolytic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) may occur
B) Aspirin may be taken with this medication
C) The patient may experience iron deficiency anemia
D) The patient may experience restlessness
A) Thrombolytic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) may occur
A patient is prescribed sucralfate (Carafate) and asks the nurse what the purpose of taking
,this medication is. Which is the nurse's best response?
A) The medication helps reduce bacteria levels in the stomach
B) The medication helps neutralize gastric acid in the stomach
C) The medication is used to protect the gastrointestinal mucosa
D) The medication can reduce the patient's constipation
C) The medication is used to protect the gastrointestinal mucosa
The nurse is creating a class for older adults in the community. Which information about
laxative use in older adults would be important to include?
A) Laxative are not effective in older adults
B) All laxative are exactly the same
C) Over-the-counter laxatives are misused
D) Laxatives can cause potassium retention
D) Laxatives can cause potassium retention
The nurse is caring for a patient with a new order for an oral laxative. Which is a
contraindication in administering an oral laxative?
A) Cardiac problems
B) Abdominal pain of unknown origin
C) Several hemorrhoids
D) Chronic constipation
B) Abdominal pain of unknown origin
,The nurse is studying antacids that contain magnesium and calcium for the pharmacology
exam. The student nurse remembers that these antacids should be used with caution in
patients with which condition?
A) Hypertension
B) Renal failure
C) Heart failure
D) Peptic ulcer disease
D) Peptic ulcer disease
A patient asks the nurse how to best prevent constipation. Which class of laxative would
the nurse recommend to this patient?
A) Stimulant laxatives
B) Bulk-forming laxatives
C) Amollient laxatives
D) Hyperosomatic laxatives
A) Stimulant laxatives
The nurse is caring for patient with short term persistent diarrhea. Which class of
medication would the nurse anticipate giving?
A) Lubricants
B) Probiotics
C) Adsorbents
, D) Anticholinergics
B) Probiotics
The nurse is creating community education about over-the-counter (OTC) antacids.
Which information about calcium antacids would be important to include?
A) They cause decreased gastric acid production
B) Long-term use may result in kidney stones
C) Long-term use may result in fluid retention
D) They may cause severe bouts of diarrhea
A) They cause decreased gastric acid production
The nurse is administering an aluminum-based antacid to a patient. Which side effect of
this drug should the student consider?
A) Rebound hyperacidity
B) Acute constipation
C) Chronic indigestion
D) Dumping syndrome
A) Rebound hyperacidity
The nurse is caring for a patient who has been taking bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-
Bismol) at home for several weeks, During the morning assessment, the nurse notices the patient has
blue gums while doing the oral assessment. Which action would the nurse
take?
