RN HESI
Pharmacology
V2 (2026) – Complete Exam Material
with Questions, Answers, and
Rationales
2026
, 1
RN HESI Pharmacology V2 (2026) –
Complete Exam Material with
Questions, Answers, and Rationales
What are the 5 rights of medication administration
- correct answer-
Right Patient
Right Drug
Right Route
Right Time
Right Dose
How do you safely prepare medication?
- correct answer-Have good lighting & work alone.
Check medication label 3 times (When you grab the
medication, Before dispensing medication, & When you replace
medication.)
Don't use anything without a label.
Bottles with bad labels need to be returned to the pharmacy.
Never transfer medication into another bottle.
Check expiration date.
Inspect & throw away decomposing medications.
How would you administer medication via IM?
- correct answer-Injecting at 90° using the Z-Track method.
How would you administer medication via IV?
- correct answer-Assess for allergies.
Assess the IV site for complications.
Clean the port closest to the IV site with alcohol swab.
Administer medication.
How would you administer medication via SubQ?
- correct answer-Injecting 45° (Skinny Patient) or 90° (Average
Patient) into the fatty tissue.
1
, 2
How would you administer medication via oral route?
- correct answer
-Assist the patient into an upright or side lying position.
Ask patient if they would like the medications in his/her hand or
in the cup.
Offer water.
Remain with the patient until each medication is swallowed.
Never leave the patient's bedside.
How would you instill ear medications?
- correct answer-
Warm the medication to prep it before entering the patient's
room.
Clean any ear drainage.
Place the patient on his/her unaffected side or have the patient
sit up with head titled to the unaffected side.
Straighten the ear canal by pulling up & back for adults or down
& back for children.
Administer the medication and allow the drops to fall on the
side of the canal. Avoid instilling in the middle of the canal or
the tympanic membrane.
Instruct patient to remain in this position for 5 minutes.
Gently press on the tragus to facilitate the medication to travel
towards the tympanic membrane.
If ordered loosely place a cotton ball into the ear canal.
If you have to administer drops in both ear wait 5 minutes
between each side.
How would you instill eye medications?
- correct answer-
Offer the patient a tissue.
Cleanse each eye from the inner area to the outer area.
If the patient does not have cervical spine injury instruct the
patient to tilt his/her head back.
Gently apply pressure with fingers at the edge of the lower
eyelid to expose the conjunctival sac.
Administer the medication & release the lower eyelid.
2
Pharmacology
V2 (2026) – Complete Exam Material
with Questions, Answers, and
Rationales
2026
, 1
RN HESI Pharmacology V2 (2026) –
Complete Exam Material with
Questions, Answers, and Rationales
What are the 5 rights of medication administration
- correct answer-
Right Patient
Right Drug
Right Route
Right Time
Right Dose
How do you safely prepare medication?
- correct answer-Have good lighting & work alone.
Check medication label 3 times (When you grab the
medication, Before dispensing medication, & When you replace
medication.)
Don't use anything without a label.
Bottles with bad labels need to be returned to the pharmacy.
Never transfer medication into another bottle.
Check expiration date.
Inspect & throw away decomposing medications.
How would you administer medication via IM?
- correct answer-Injecting at 90° using the Z-Track method.
How would you administer medication via IV?
- correct answer-Assess for allergies.
Assess the IV site for complications.
Clean the port closest to the IV site with alcohol swab.
Administer medication.
How would you administer medication via SubQ?
- correct answer-Injecting 45° (Skinny Patient) or 90° (Average
Patient) into the fatty tissue.
1
, 2
How would you administer medication via oral route?
- correct answer
-Assist the patient into an upright or side lying position.
Ask patient if they would like the medications in his/her hand or
in the cup.
Offer water.
Remain with the patient until each medication is swallowed.
Never leave the patient's bedside.
How would you instill ear medications?
- correct answer-
Warm the medication to prep it before entering the patient's
room.
Clean any ear drainage.
Place the patient on his/her unaffected side or have the patient
sit up with head titled to the unaffected side.
Straighten the ear canal by pulling up & back for adults or down
& back for children.
Administer the medication and allow the drops to fall on the
side of the canal. Avoid instilling in the middle of the canal or
the tympanic membrane.
Instruct patient to remain in this position for 5 minutes.
Gently press on the tragus to facilitate the medication to travel
towards the tympanic membrane.
If ordered loosely place a cotton ball into the ear canal.
If you have to administer drops in both ear wait 5 minutes
between each side.
How would you instill eye medications?
- correct answer-
Offer the patient a tissue.
Cleanse each eye from the inner area to the outer area.
If the patient does not have cervical spine injury instruct the
patient to tilt his/her head back.
Gently apply pressure with fingers at the edge of the lower
eyelid to expose the conjunctival sac.
Administer the medication & release the lower eyelid.
2
