Answer Guide HESI Pharmacology Practice Quiz
HESI Pharmacology Practice Quiz
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d0r4o4
1. A client with Paget's disease is started on D. Observe the client for signs of hypersen-
calcitonin 500 mcg subcutaneously daily. sitivity.
During the initial treatment, which is the Rationale:
priority nursing action? Calcitonin is given to a client with Paget's
A. Assess the injection site for inflamma- disease to lower serum calcium levels. The
tion. nurse's highest priority is to observe for
B. Evaluate the client's level of pain. signs of hypersensitivity, such as skin rash,
C. Monitor the client's alkaline phos- hives, or anaphylaxis. Upon initiation of
phatase levels. treatment, emergency equipment should be
D. Observe the client for signs of hypersen- readily available.
sitivity.
2. A client receives a new prescription for C. Renal artery stenosis.
an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) Rationale:
inhibitor. Which client history contraindi- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in-
cates its use? hibitors can cause severe renal insufficiency
A. Asthma. in clients with bilateral renal artery stenosis
B. Heart failure. or stenosis in the artery to a single remaining
C. Renal artery stenosis. kidney.
D. Coronary artery disease.
3. A client with chronic schizophrenia illness C. Tremors and muscle twitching.
is admitted after taking risperidone 10 Rationale:
mg/day for three months. The nurse im- For a client with chronic mental illness,
plements a daily assessment using the evidence-based pharmacological guidelines
"Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale" recommend first-line treatment using an
(AIMS). Which findings should the nurse atypical antipsychotic, such as risperidone,
report to the healthcare provider? which can cause extrapyramidal symptoms
A. Cogwheel rigidity. (EPS) at dosages above 10 mg/day. The
B. Drowsiness and dizziness. AIMS criteria measures tardive dyskinesia
C. Tremors and muscle twitching. movements, such as facial, oral, tongue,
teeth, and other akinesias of the trunk
1 4/16/2026
, Answer Guide HESI Pharmacology Practice Quiz
HESI Pharmacology Practice Quiz
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d0r4o4
D. Dry mouth, constipation, and blurred and extremity, such as tremors and muscle
vision. twitching, which should be reported.
4. A client receives a new prescription for D. Used to decrease substance use disor-
pentazocine, a mixed opioid agonist-an- der.
tagonist after an opioid agonist is discon- Rationale:
tinued. Which is the advantage for the Mixed agonist-antagonists bind as an ago-
client when the new prescription is imple- nist at the Kappa receptor and as antagonists
mented? or partial agonists on the mu receptor, which
A. Tolerance does not occur. decreases the likelihood of substance use
B. Less agitation is experienced. disorder more than opioid agonists that are
C. The analgesic ceiling is higher. pure mu agonists.
D. Used to decrease substance use disor-
der.
5. An emergency department triage nurse is C. She ran out of her medication 4 days ago.
interviewing a female client who has a his- Rationale:
tory of epilepsy with tonic-clonic seizures Abruptly stopping anticonvulsant medica-
controlled by phenytoin. Which informa- tions can precipitate seizures or the de-
tion is most significant in planning this velopment of status epilepticus. Immediate
client's care? seizure precautions and medication admin-
A. She has missed 2 menstrual periods. istration are necessary.
B. She has had no dental care for several
years.
C. She ran out of her medication 4 days
ago.
D. She has smoked 3 packs of cigarettes a
day for 10 years.
6. While reviewing the client's electronic B. Closed angle glaucoma.
medical record (EMR), the nurse assesses C. Chronic hypertension.
a client who is at risk for a possible interac- Rationale:
2 4/16/2026
, Answer Guide HESI Pharmacology Practice Quiz
HESI Pharmacology Practice Quiz
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d0r4o4
tion with an over-the-counter (OTC) decon- OTC decongestants can increase intra-ocular
gestant. Which client health history should pressure and should be avoided in clients
the nurse report to the healthcare provider with closed-angle glaucoma. Decongestants
concerning the OTC medication? (Select all can also increase the heart rate and elevate
that apply). blood pressure which can impact the client's
A. Type I diabetes mellitus (DM). management of chronic hypertension.
B. Closed angle glaucoma.
C. Chronic hypertension.
D. Rheumatoid arthritis.
E. Crohn's disease.
7. A client who is receiving chemotherapy is A. Headache.
prescribed ondansetron. Which side effect Rationale:
should the nurse include in the teaching Ondansetron, a serotonin antagonist, is
plan? the most effective antiemetic in suppress-
A. Headache. ing nausea and vomiting caused by can-
B. Dry mouth. cer chemotherapy-induced emesis or eme-
C. Impaired taste. togenic anticancer drugs. Common side ef-
D. Blurred vision. fects include headache, diarrhea, dizziness,
and fatigue.
8. The nurse should instruct a client to avoid C. Alcoholic beverages.
which product while taking carisoprodol Rationale:
for muscle spasms? Carisoprodol is a centrally-acting muscle re-
A. Aspirin products. laxant that can cause CNS depression and
B. Antacids. can have an additive effect when taken with
C. Alcoholic beverages. other CNS depressants, such as alcohol.
D. Dairy products.
9. An older client is taking warfarin sodium A. INR of 2 to 3.
PO 2.5 mg twice a day. Which laboratory Rationale:
value should the nurse identify as a thera- Recommended INR ranges for clients on
3 4/16/2026
HESI Pharmacology Practice Quiz
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d0r4o4
1. A client with Paget's disease is started on D. Observe the client for signs of hypersen-
calcitonin 500 mcg subcutaneously daily. sitivity.
During the initial treatment, which is the Rationale:
priority nursing action? Calcitonin is given to a client with Paget's
A. Assess the injection site for inflamma- disease to lower serum calcium levels. The
tion. nurse's highest priority is to observe for
B. Evaluate the client's level of pain. signs of hypersensitivity, such as skin rash,
C. Monitor the client's alkaline phos- hives, or anaphylaxis. Upon initiation of
phatase levels. treatment, emergency equipment should be
D. Observe the client for signs of hypersen- readily available.
sitivity.
2. A client receives a new prescription for C. Renal artery stenosis.
an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) Rationale:
inhibitor. Which client history contraindi- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in-
cates its use? hibitors can cause severe renal insufficiency
A. Asthma. in clients with bilateral renal artery stenosis
B. Heart failure. or stenosis in the artery to a single remaining
C. Renal artery stenosis. kidney.
D. Coronary artery disease.
3. A client with chronic schizophrenia illness C. Tremors and muscle twitching.
is admitted after taking risperidone 10 Rationale:
mg/day for three months. The nurse im- For a client with chronic mental illness,
plements a daily assessment using the evidence-based pharmacological guidelines
"Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale" recommend first-line treatment using an
(AIMS). Which findings should the nurse atypical antipsychotic, such as risperidone,
report to the healthcare provider? which can cause extrapyramidal symptoms
A. Cogwheel rigidity. (EPS) at dosages above 10 mg/day. The
B. Drowsiness and dizziness. AIMS criteria measures tardive dyskinesia
C. Tremors and muscle twitching. movements, such as facial, oral, tongue,
teeth, and other akinesias of the trunk
1 4/16/2026
, Answer Guide HESI Pharmacology Practice Quiz
HESI Pharmacology Practice Quiz
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d0r4o4
D. Dry mouth, constipation, and blurred and extremity, such as tremors and muscle
vision. twitching, which should be reported.
4. A client receives a new prescription for D. Used to decrease substance use disor-
pentazocine, a mixed opioid agonist-an- der.
tagonist after an opioid agonist is discon- Rationale:
tinued. Which is the advantage for the Mixed agonist-antagonists bind as an ago-
client when the new prescription is imple- nist at the Kappa receptor and as antagonists
mented? or partial agonists on the mu receptor, which
A. Tolerance does not occur. decreases the likelihood of substance use
B. Less agitation is experienced. disorder more than opioid agonists that are
C. The analgesic ceiling is higher. pure mu agonists.
D. Used to decrease substance use disor-
der.
5. An emergency department triage nurse is C. She ran out of her medication 4 days ago.
interviewing a female client who has a his- Rationale:
tory of epilepsy with tonic-clonic seizures Abruptly stopping anticonvulsant medica-
controlled by phenytoin. Which informa- tions can precipitate seizures or the de-
tion is most significant in planning this velopment of status epilepticus. Immediate
client's care? seizure precautions and medication admin-
A. She has missed 2 menstrual periods. istration are necessary.
B. She has had no dental care for several
years.
C. She ran out of her medication 4 days
ago.
D. She has smoked 3 packs of cigarettes a
day for 10 years.
6. While reviewing the client's electronic B. Closed angle glaucoma.
medical record (EMR), the nurse assesses C. Chronic hypertension.
a client who is at risk for a possible interac- Rationale:
2 4/16/2026
, Answer Guide HESI Pharmacology Practice Quiz
HESI Pharmacology Practice Quiz
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d0r4o4
tion with an over-the-counter (OTC) decon- OTC decongestants can increase intra-ocular
gestant. Which client health history should pressure and should be avoided in clients
the nurse report to the healthcare provider with closed-angle glaucoma. Decongestants
concerning the OTC medication? (Select all can also increase the heart rate and elevate
that apply). blood pressure which can impact the client's
A. Type I diabetes mellitus (DM). management of chronic hypertension.
B. Closed angle glaucoma.
C. Chronic hypertension.
D. Rheumatoid arthritis.
E. Crohn's disease.
7. A client who is receiving chemotherapy is A. Headache.
prescribed ondansetron. Which side effect Rationale:
should the nurse include in the teaching Ondansetron, a serotonin antagonist, is
plan? the most effective antiemetic in suppress-
A. Headache. ing nausea and vomiting caused by can-
B. Dry mouth. cer chemotherapy-induced emesis or eme-
C. Impaired taste. togenic anticancer drugs. Common side ef-
D. Blurred vision. fects include headache, diarrhea, dizziness,
and fatigue.
8. The nurse should instruct a client to avoid C. Alcoholic beverages.
which product while taking carisoprodol Rationale:
for muscle spasms? Carisoprodol is a centrally-acting muscle re-
A. Aspirin products. laxant that can cause CNS depression and
B. Antacids. can have an additive effect when taken with
C. Alcoholic beverages. other CNS depressants, such as alcohol.
D. Dairy products.
9. An older client is taking warfarin sodium A. INR of 2 to 3.
PO 2.5 mg twice a day. Which laboratory Rationale:
value should the nurse identify as a thera- Recommended INR ranges for clients on
3 4/16/2026
