Pharmacology Practice HESI Exam ] ] ] ]
(2026) Questions with 100% Correct An
] ] ] ]] ]
swers ]
The ]nurse ]is ]caring ]for ]a ]client ]who ]has ]taken ]atenolol ]for ]2 ]years. ]The ]healthcare ]provider ]recen
tly ]changed ]the ]medication ]to ]enalapril ]to ]manage ]the ]client's ]blood ]pressure. ]Which ]instruction
]should ]the ]nurse ]provide ]the ]client ]regarding ]the ]new ]medication? ]- ]correct ]answer: ]A. ]Take ]the
]medication ]at ]bedtime.
B. ]Report ]presence ]of ]increased ]bruising.
C. ]Check ]pulse ]before ]taking ]medication.
D. ]Rise ]slowly ]when ]getting ]out ]of ]bed ]or ]chair. ]Correct
The ]client's ]new ]medication ]is ]an ]angiotensin-converting ]enzyme ]
(ACE) ]inhibitor, ]which ]has ]the ]side ]effect ]of ]orthostatic ]hypotension. ]Instructing ]the ]client ]to ]rise
]slowly ]from ]a ]sitting ]or ]lying ]down ]position ]is ]important ]to ]teach ]the ]client ]to ]avoid ]dizziness ]an
d ]potentially ]falling.
A ]female ]client ]calls ]the ]clinic ]and ]talks ]with ]the ]nurse ]to ]inquire ]about ]a ]possible ]reaction ]after ]
taking ]amoxicillin ]for ]5 ]days. ]She ]reports ]having ]vaginal ]discomfort, ]itching, ]and ]a ]white ]discharg
e. ]The ]nurse ]should ]discuss ]which ]action ]with ]the ]client? ]- ]correct ]answer: ]Discontinue ]the ]antib
iotic ]because ]original ]symptoms ]have ]subsided.
Continue ]taking ]medication ]until ]finished ]until ]the ]symptoms ]subside.
Consult ]with ]healthcare ]provider ]about ]another ]treatment ]for ]this ]effect. ]Correct
Use ]an ]over-the-counter ](OTC) ]vaginal ]wash ]to ]flush ]out ]the ]secretions.
,A ]superinfection ]with ]normal ]flora ]yeast ]may ]occur ]during ]antibiotic ]therapy. ]If ]suspected, ]the ]n
ew ]onset ]of ]findings ]should ]be ]reported ]to ]the ]healthcare ]provider ]for ]another ]prescribed ]treat
ment ]to ]treat ]the ]superinfection.
The ]nurse ]is ]making ]early ]morning ]rounds ]on ]a ]group ]of ]clients ]when ]a ]client ]begins ]exhibiting ]s
ymptoms ]of ]an ]acute ]asthma ]attack. ]The ]nurse ]administers ]a ]PRN ]prescription ]for ]a ]Beta ]2 ]recep
tor ]agonist ]agent. ]Which ]client ]response ]should ]the ]nurse ]expect? ]- ]correct ]answer: ]Tachycardia.
Increased ]blood ]pressure.
Rapid ]resolution ]of ]wheezing. ]Correct
Improved ]pulse ]oximetry ]values. ]Correct
Reduce ]fever ]airway ]inflammation. ]
Beta ]2 ]receptor ]agonist ]agents ]should ]provide ]immediate ]return ]of ]airflow ]and ]resolve ]wheezin
g ]and ]improve ]oxygenation.
A ]client ]prescribed ]atenolol ]has ]a ]blood ]pressure ]of ]120/68 ]mmHg, ]displaying ]a ]sinus ]bradycardi
a ]with ]a ]rate ]of ]58 ]beats/minute, ]and ]a ]P-
R ]interval ]of ]0.24. ]Which ]action ]should ]the ]nurse ]take? ]- ]correct ]answer: ]Lower ]the ]head ]of ]the ]
bed ]and ]assess ]the ]client ]for ]orthostatic ]vital ]sign ]changes.
Give ]the ]medication ]as ]prescribed ]and ]continue ]to ]monitor ]the ]client. ]Correct
]
Prepare ]to ]administer ]atropine ]sulfate ]IV ]push.
]
Hold ]the ]prescribed ]dose ]and ]contact ]the ]healthcare ]provider. ]
]
,Since ]the ]client's ]blood ]pressure ]is ]within ]normal ]limits, ]and ]the ]pulse ]is ]above ]50
]beats/min ]with ]a ]first ]degree ]block, ]the ]medication ]can ]be ]administered. ]Atenolol ]is ]a ]beta-
blocker ]that ]slows ]the ]heart ]rate ]and ]lowers ]the ]blood ]pressure; ]this ]drug ]is ]generally ]held ]if ]the
]heart ]rate ]is ]less ]than ]50 ]beats/min ]or ]the ]client ]exhibits ]dizziness ]related ]to ]hypotension.
The ]nurse ]is ]preparing ]the ]0900 ]dose ]of ]losartan ](Cozaar), ]an ]angiotensin ]II ]receptor ]blocker ]
(ARB), ]for ]a ]client ]with ]hypertension ]and ]heart ]failure. ]The ]nurse ]reviews ]the ]client's ]laboratory ]
results ]and ]notes ]that ]the ]client's ]serum ]potassium ]level ]is ]5.9
]mEq/L. ]Which ]action ]should ]the ]nurse ]take ]first? ]- ]correct ]answer: ]Withhold ]the ]scheduled ]dose
. ]Correct
Check ]the ]client's ]apical ]pulse.
]
Notify ]the ]healthcare ]provider.
]
Repeat ]the ]serum ]potassium ]level.
]
The ]nurse ]should ]first ]withhold ]the ]scheduled ]dose ]of ]Cozaar ]because ]the ]client ]is ]hyperkalemic ]
(normal ]range ]3.5 ]to ]5
]mEq/l). ]Although ]hypokalemia ]is ]usually ]associated ]with ]diuretic ]therapy ]in ]heart ]failure, ]hyperk
alemia ]is ]associated ]with ]several ]heart ]failure ]medications, ]including ]ARBs. ]Because ]hyperkalemi
a ]may ]lead ]to ]cardiac ]dysrhythmias, ]the ]nurse ]should ]check ]the ]apical ]pulse ]for ]rate ]and ]rhythm,
]and ]blood ]pressure.
Awarded ]1.0 ]points ]out ]of ]1.0 ]possible
Upon ]admission ]to ]the ]emergency ]center, ]an ]adult ]client ]with ]acute ]status ]asthmaticus ]is ]prescri
bed ]this ]series ]of ]medications. ]In ]which ]order ]should ]the ]nurse ]administer ]the ]prescribed ]medic
ations? ](Arrange ]from ]first ]to ]last.) ]- ]correct ]answer: ]Albuterol ](Proventil) ]puffs.
Salmeterol ](Serevent ]Diskus).
, Prednisone ](Deltasone) ]orally.
Gentamicin ](Garamycin) ]IM.
Status ]asthmaticus ]is ]potentially ]a ]life-
threatening ]respiratory ]event, ]so ]albuterol, ]a ]beta2 ]adrenergic ]agonist ]and ]short ]acting ]broncho
dilator, ]should ]be ]administered ]by ]inhalation ]first ]to ]provide ]rapid ]and ]deep ]topical ]penetration ]
to ]relieve ]bronchospasms, ]dilate ]the ]bronchioles, ]and ]increase ]oxygenation. ]In ]stepwise ]manage
ment ]of ]persistent ]asthma, ]a ]long-action ]bronchodilator, ]such ]as ]salmeterol ]
(Serevent ]Diskus), ]with ]a ]12-
hour ]duration ]of ]action ]should ]be ]given ]next. ]Prednisone, ]an ]oral ]corticosteroid, ]provides ]prolon
ged ]anti-inflammatory ]effects ]and ]should ]be ]given ]after ]the ]client's ]respiratory ]distress ]begins ]to
]resolves. ]Gentamicin, ]an ]antibiotic, ]is ]given ]deep ]IM, ]which ]can ]be ]painful, ]and ]may ]require ]rep
ositioning ]the ]client, ]so ]should ]be ]last ]in ]the ]sequence.
An ]adult ]client ]is ]given ]a ]prescription ]for ]a ]scopolamine ]patch ]
(Transderm ]Scop) ]to ]prevent ]motion ]sickness ]while ]on ]a ]cruise. ]Which ]information ]should ]the ]n
urse ]provide ]to ]the ]client? ]- ]correct ]answer: ]Apply ]the ]patch ]at ]least ]4 ]hours ]prior ]to ]departure. ]
Correct
Change ]the ]patch ]every ]other ]day ]while ]on ]the ]cruise.
Place ]the ]patch ]on ]a ]hairless ]area ]at ]the ]base ]of ]the ]skull.
Drink ]no ]more ]than ]2 ]alcoholic ]drinks ]during ]the ]cruise. ]
Scopolamine, ]an ]anticholinergic ]agent, ]is ]used ]to ]prevent ]motion ]sickness ]and ]has ]a ]peak ]onset ]i
n ]6 ]hours, ]so ]the ]client ]should ]be ]instructed ]to ]apply ]the ]patch ]at ]least ]4 ]hours ]before ]departure
]on ]the ]cruise ]ship. ]The ]duration ]of ]the ]transdermal ]patch ]is ]72 ]hours. ]Scolopamine ]blocks ]musc
arinic ]receptors ]in ]the ]inner ]ear ]and ]to ]the ]vomiting ]center, ]so ]the ]best ]application ]site ]of ]the ]pa
(2026) Questions with 100% Correct An
] ] ] ]] ]
swers ]
The ]nurse ]is ]caring ]for ]a ]client ]who ]has ]taken ]atenolol ]for ]2 ]years. ]The ]healthcare ]provider ]recen
tly ]changed ]the ]medication ]to ]enalapril ]to ]manage ]the ]client's ]blood ]pressure. ]Which ]instruction
]should ]the ]nurse ]provide ]the ]client ]regarding ]the ]new ]medication? ]- ]correct ]answer: ]A. ]Take ]the
]medication ]at ]bedtime.
B. ]Report ]presence ]of ]increased ]bruising.
C. ]Check ]pulse ]before ]taking ]medication.
D. ]Rise ]slowly ]when ]getting ]out ]of ]bed ]or ]chair. ]Correct
The ]client's ]new ]medication ]is ]an ]angiotensin-converting ]enzyme ]
(ACE) ]inhibitor, ]which ]has ]the ]side ]effect ]of ]orthostatic ]hypotension. ]Instructing ]the ]client ]to ]rise
]slowly ]from ]a ]sitting ]or ]lying ]down ]position ]is ]important ]to ]teach ]the ]client ]to ]avoid ]dizziness ]an
d ]potentially ]falling.
A ]female ]client ]calls ]the ]clinic ]and ]talks ]with ]the ]nurse ]to ]inquire ]about ]a ]possible ]reaction ]after ]
taking ]amoxicillin ]for ]5 ]days. ]She ]reports ]having ]vaginal ]discomfort, ]itching, ]and ]a ]white ]discharg
e. ]The ]nurse ]should ]discuss ]which ]action ]with ]the ]client? ]- ]correct ]answer: ]Discontinue ]the ]antib
iotic ]because ]original ]symptoms ]have ]subsided.
Continue ]taking ]medication ]until ]finished ]until ]the ]symptoms ]subside.
Consult ]with ]healthcare ]provider ]about ]another ]treatment ]for ]this ]effect. ]Correct
Use ]an ]over-the-counter ](OTC) ]vaginal ]wash ]to ]flush ]out ]the ]secretions.
,A ]superinfection ]with ]normal ]flora ]yeast ]may ]occur ]during ]antibiotic ]therapy. ]If ]suspected, ]the ]n
ew ]onset ]of ]findings ]should ]be ]reported ]to ]the ]healthcare ]provider ]for ]another ]prescribed ]treat
ment ]to ]treat ]the ]superinfection.
The ]nurse ]is ]making ]early ]morning ]rounds ]on ]a ]group ]of ]clients ]when ]a ]client ]begins ]exhibiting ]s
ymptoms ]of ]an ]acute ]asthma ]attack. ]The ]nurse ]administers ]a ]PRN ]prescription ]for ]a ]Beta ]2 ]recep
tor ]agonist ]agent. ]Which ]client ]response ]should ]the ]nurse ]expect? ]- ]correct ]answer: ]Tachycardia.
Increased ]blood ]pressure.
Rapid ]resolution ]of ]wheezing. ]Correct
Improved ]pulse ]oximetry ]values. ]Correct
Reduce ]fever ]airway ]inflammation. ]
Beta ]2 ]receptor ]agonist ]agents ]should ]provide ]immediate ]return ]of ]airflow ]and ]resolve ]wheezin
g ]and ]improve ]oxygenation.
A ]client ]prescribed ]atenolol ]has ]a ]blood ]pressure ]of ]120/68 ]mmHg, ]displaying ]a ]sinus ]bradycardi
a ]with ]a ]rate ]of ]58 ]beats/minute, ]and ]a ]P-
R ]interval ]of ]0.24. ]Which ]action ]should ]the ]nurse ]take? ]- ]correct ]answer: ]Lower ]the ]head ]of ]the ]
bed ]and ]assess ]the ]client ]for ]orthostatic ]vital ]sign ]changes.
Give ]the ]medication ]as ]prescribed ]and ]continue ]to ]monitor ]the ]client. ]Correct
]
Prepare ]to ]administer ]atropine ]sulfate ]IV ]push.
]
Hold ]the ]prescribed ]dose ]and ]contact ]the ]healthcare ]provider. ]
]
,Since ]the ]client's ]blood ]pressure ]is ]within ]normal ]limits, ]and ]the ]pulse ]is ]above ]50
]beats/min ]with ]a ]first ]degree ]block, ]the ]medication ]can ]be ]administered. ]Atenolol ]is ]a ]beta-
blocker ]that ]slows ]the ]heart ]rate ]and ]lowers ]the ]blood ]pressure; ]this ]drug ]is ]generally ]held ]if ]the
]heart ]rate ]is ]less ]than ]50 ]beats/min ]or ]the ]client ]exhibits ]dizziness ]related ]to ]hypotension.
The ]nurse ]is ]preparing ]the ]0900 ]dose ]of ]losartan ](Cozaar), ]an ]angiotensin ]II ]receptor ]blocker ]
(ARB), ]for ]a ]client ]with ]hypertension ]and ]heart ]failure. ]The ]nurse ]reviews ]the ]client's ]laboratory ]
results ]and ]notes ]that ]the ]client's ]serum ]potassium ]level ]is ]5.9
]mEq/L. ]Which ]action ]should ]the ]nurse ]take ]first? ]- ]correct ]answer: ]Withhold ]the ]scheduled ]dose
. ]Correct
Check ]the ]client's ]apical ]pulse.
]
Notify ]the ]healthcare ]provider.
]
Repeat ]the ]serum ]potassium ]level.
]
The ]nurse ]should ]first ]withhold ]the ]scheduled ]dose ]of ]Cozaar ]because ]the ]client ]is ]hyperkalemic ]
(normal ]range ]3.5 ]to ]5
]mEq/l). ]Although ]hypokalemia ]is ]usually ]associated ]with ]diuretic ]therapy ]in ]heart ]failure, ]hyperk
alemia ]is ]associated ]with ]several ]heart ]failure ]medications, ]including ]ARBs. ]Because ]hyperkalemi
a ]may ]lead ]to ]cardiac ]dysrhythmias, ]the ]nurse ]should ]check ]the ]apical ]pulse ]for ]rate ]and ]rhythm,
]and ]blood ]pressure.
Awarded ]1.0 ]points ]out ]of ]1.0 ]possible
Upon ]admission ]to ]the ]emergency ]center, ]an ]adult ]client ]with ]acute ]status ]asthmaticus ]is ]prescri
bed ]this ]series ]of ]medications. ]In ]which ]order ]should ]the ]nurse ]administer ]the ]prescribed ]medic
ations? ](Arrange ]from ]first ]to ]last.) ]- ]correct ]answer: ]Albuterol ](Proventil) ]puffs.
Salmeterol ](Serevent ]Diskus).
, Prednisone ](Deltasone) ]orally.
Gentamicin ](Garamycin) ]IM.
Status ]asthmaticus ]is ]potentially ]a ]life-
threatening ]respiratory ]event, ]so ]albuterol, ]a ]beta2 ]adrenergic ]agonist ]and ]short ]acting ]broncho
dilator, ]should ]be ]administered ]by ]inhalation ]first ]to ]provide ]rapid ]and ]deep ]topical ]penetration ]
to ]relieve ]bronchospasms, ]dilate ]the ]bronchioles, ]and ]increase ]oxygenation. ]In ]stepwise ]manage
ment ]of ]persistent ]asthma, ]a ]long-action ]bronchodilator, ]such ]as ]salmeterol ]
(Serevent ]Diskus), ]with ]a ]12-
hour ]duration ]of ]action ]should ]be ]given ]next. ]Prednisone, ]an ]oral ]corticosteroid, ]provides ]prolon
ged ]anti-inflammatory ]effects ]and ]should ]be ]given ]after ]the ]client's ]respiratory ]distress ]begins ]to
]resolves. ]Gentamicin, ]an ]antibiotic, ]is ]given ]deep ]IM, ]which ]can ]be ]painful, ]and ]may ]require ]rep
ositioning ]the ]client, ]so ]should ]be ]last ]in ]the ]sequence.
An ]adult ]client ]is ]given ]a ]prescription ]for ]a ]scopolamine ]patch ]
(Transderm ]Scop) ]to ]prevent ]motion ]sickness ]while ]on ]a ]cruise. ]Which ]information ]should ]the ]n
urse ]provide ]to ]the ]client? ]- ]correct ]answer: ]Apply ]the ]patch ]at ]least ]4 ]hours ]prior ]to ]departure. ]
Correct
Change ]the ]patch ]every ]other ]day ]while ]on ]the ]cruise.
Place ]the ]patch ]on ]a ]hairless ]area ]at ]the ]base ]of ]the ]skull.
Drink ]no ]more ]than ]2 ]alcoholic ]drinks ]during ]the ]cruise. ]
Scopolamine, ]an ]anticholinergic ]agent, ]is ]used ]to ]prevent ]motion ]sickness ]and ]has ]a ]peak ]onset ]i
n ]6 ]hours, ]so ]the ]client ]should ]be ]instructed ]to ]apply ]the ]patch ]at ]least ]4 ]hours ]before ]departure
]on ]the ]cruise ]ship. ]The ]duration ]of ]the ]transdermal ]patch ]is ]72 ]hours. ]Scolopamine ]blocks ]musc
arinic ]receptors ]in ]the ]inner ]ear ]and ]to ]the ]vomiting ]center, ]so ]the ]best ]application ]site ]of ]the ]pa
