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EVOLVE PHARMACOLOGY HESI
PRACTICE EXAM| ACTUAL QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
Which instruction should the practical nurse (PN) reinforce with a client who is
taking disulfiram (Antabuse)?
A) Cigarette smoking cessation program should be started.
B) Avoid using any over-the-counter substances containing alcohol.
C) This drug is similar to alcohol but without euphoric effects.
D) Small amounts of mouthwash or cough medicine can be used. - correct-answer
-B) Avoid using any over-the-counter substances containing alcohol.
Feedback:
The use of disulfiram (Antabuse) with over-the-counter (OTC) products that
contain alcohol causes severe adverse reactions, such as severe nausea, vomiting,
chest pain, hyperventilation, tachycardia, seizures, and cardiovascular collapse,
and should be avoided (B). Although a smoking cessation program is always a
good health recommendation (A), it is not a priority with Antabuse. (C) is
inaccurate. Small amounts, as little as 7 ml, of mouthwash or cough syrup that
contains alcohol can precipitate a disulfiram reaction and should not be used (D).
Which prescription should the practical nurse administer for a client who is
experiencing an acute episode of bronchial asthma?
A) Nedocromil (Tilade).
B) Albuterol (Proventil).
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C) Zafirlukast (Accolate).
D) Triamcinolone (Azmacort). - correct-answer -B) Albuterol (Proventil).
Feedback:
Albuterol (Proventil) (B), an adrenergic agonist, is the first line of treatment for
acute episodes of bronchial asthma. (A, C, and D) are maintenance medications
used in the prevention of asthmatic episodes and are routinely taken every day,
not during an acute episode.
The practical nurse (PN) should recommend that oral contraceptives be avoided
in which group of women?
A) Women who smoke.
B) Multigravidous women.
C) Monogamous women.
D) Women with an intrauterine device. - correct-answer -A) Women who smoke.
Feedback:
Oral contraceptives pose an increased risk of thromboembolism for women who
smoke (A), and this risk is not increased in (B, C, and D).
A client with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is having symptoms of reflux
despite taking omeprazole (Prilosec) 20 mg daily. What action should the practical
nurse (PN) implement?
A) Notify the healthcare provider about the symptoms.
B) Obtain vital signs every 30 minutes until symptoms are alleviated.
C) Instruct the client to stop taking the medication.
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D) Tell the client to take an antacid in addition to the omeprazole. - correct-
answer -A) Notify the healthcare provider about the symptoms.
Feedback:
Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, acts to reduce gastric acid secretion. If
once daily dosing fails to control the client's symptoms, the healthcare provider
should be notified (A) for dose adjustment. (B) will not help to reduce the client's
symptoms. Unless the client shows symptoms of a hypersensitivity to the
medication, the client should not stop the medication (C). (D) should not
suggested without a prescription from the healthcare provider.
The practical nurse (PN) administers isoproterenol (Isuprel) to a client with heart
block. The PN should evaluate the client for which physiological response?
A) Thirst and dry mucous membranes.
B) Decrease in gastric motility.
C) Increased heart rate.
D) Bronchoconstriction. - correct-answer -C) Increased heart rate.
Feedback:
Isoproterenol (Isuprel) acts on beta 1 receptors in the heart, causing an increased
cardiac reactivity in AV heart block and an increase in the client's heart rate (C). (A
and B) are anticholinergic responses and are not typical with adrenergic agents,
such as isoproterenol. By activating beta 2 receptors found in the smooth muscle
of bronchioles, isoproterenol causes bronchodilation, not (D).
The practical nurse (PN) should emphasize the importance of monitoring for
which side effect(s) in a client who takes a daily antilipemic agent?
A) Photosensitivity.
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B) Liver dysfunction.
C) Upper respiratory infections (URI).
D) Water soluble vitamin deficiencies. - correct-answer -B) Liver dysfunction.
Feedback:
Antilipemic agents (lipid-regulating agents) are metabolized by the liver and
require regular monitoring of liver function studies for hepatic dysfunction (B).
Photosensitivity (A), URI (C), and vitamin deficiencies (D) are not side-effects of
antilipemics.
A client with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is prescribed amphetamine
(Adderall). Which side effect should the practical nurse (PN) explain is commonly
experienced?
A) Difficulty sleeping.
B) Increased fatigue.
C) Improved appetite.
D) Decreased heart rate. - correct-answer -A) Difficulty sleeping.
Feedback:
Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant, which often causes the client to
experience difficulty sleeping (A). Due to central nervous stimulation, Adderall
causes an increase in energy, a decrease in appetite, and an increase in heart rate,
not (B, C, and D).
An older client who takes risperidone (Risperdal), an antipsychotic, is complaining
of constipation. Which dietary changes should the practical nurse (PN)
recommend?
EVOLVE PHARMACOLOGY HESI
PRACTICE EXAM| ACTUAL QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
Which instruction should the practical nurse (PN) reinforce with a client who is
taking disulfiram (Antabuse)?
A) Cigarette smoking cessation program should be started.
B) Avoid using any over-the-counter substances containing alcohol.
C) This drug is similar to alcohol but without euphoric effects.
D) Small amounts of mouthwash or cough medicine can be used. - correct-answer
-B) Avoid using any over-the-counter substances containing alcohol.
Feedback:
The use of disulfiram (Antabuse) with over-the-counter (OTC) products that
contain alcohol causes severe adverse reactions, such as severe nausea, vomiting,
chest pain, hyperventilation, tachycardia, seizures, and cardiovascular collapse,
and should be avoided (B). Although a smoking cessation program is always a
good health recommendation (A), it is not a priority with Antabuse. (C) is
inaccurate. Small amounts, as little as 7 ml, of mouthwash or cough syrup that
contains alcohol can precipitate a disulfiram reaction and should not be used (D).
Which prescription should the practical nurse administer for a client who is
experiencing an acute episode of bronchial asthma?
A) Nedocromil (Tilade).
B) Albuterol (Proventil).
,2|Page
C) Zafirlukast (Accolate).
D) Triamcinolone (Azmacort). - correct-answer -B) Albuterol (Proventil).
Feedback:
Albuterol (Proventil) (B), an adrenergic agonist, is the first line of treatment for
acute episodes of bronchial asthma. (A, C, and D) are maintenance medications
used in the prevention of asthmatic episodes and are routinely taken every day,
not during an acute episode.
The practical nurse (PN) should recommend that oral contraceptives be avoided
in which group of women?
A) Women who smoke.
B) Multigravidous women.
C) Monogamous women.
D) Women with an intrauterine device. - correct-answer -A) Women who smoke.
Feedback:
Oral contraceptives pose an increased risk of thromboembolism for women who
smoke (A), and this risk is not increased in (B, C, and D).
A client with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is having symptoms of reflux
despite taking omeprazole (Prilosec) 20 mg daily. What action should the practical
nurse (PN) implement?
A) Notify the healthcare provider about the symptoms.
B) Obtain vital signs every 30 minutes until symptoms are alleviated.
C) Instruct the client to stop taking the medication.
,3|Page
D) Tell the client to take an antacid in addition to the omeprazole. - correct-
answer -A) Notify the healthcare provider about the symptoms.
Feedback:
Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, acts to reduce gastric acid secretion. If
once daily dosing fails to control the client's symptoms, the healthcare provider
should be notified (A) for dose adjustment. (B) will not help to reduce the client's
symptoms. Unless the client shows symptoms of a hypersensitivity to the
medication, the client should not stop the medication (C). (D) should not
suggested without a prescription from the healthcare provider.
The practical nurse (PN) administers isoproterenol (Isuprel) to a client with heart
block. The PN should evaluate the client for which physiological response?
A) Thirst and dry mucous membranes.
B) Decrease in gastric motility.
C) Increased heart rate.
D) Bronchoconstriction. - correct-answer -C) Increased heart rate.
Feedback:
Isoproterenol (Isuprel) acts on beta 1 receptors in the heart, causing an increased
cardiac reactivity in AV heart block and an increase in the client's heart rate (C). (A
and B) are anticholinergic responses and are not typical with adrenergic agents,
such as isoproterenol. By activating beta 2 receptors found in the smooth muscle
of bronchioles, isoproterenol causes bronchodilation, not (D).
The practical nurse (PN) should emphasize the importance of monitoring for
which side effect(s) in a client who takes a daily antilipemic agent?
A) Photosensitivity.
, 4|Page
B) Liver dysfunction.
C) Upper respiratory infections (URI).
D) Water soluble vitamin deficiencies. - correct-answer -B) Liver dysfunction.
Feedback:
Antilipemic agents (lipid-regulating agents) are metabolized by the liver and
require regular monitoring of liver function studies for hepatic dysfunction (B).
Photosensitivity (A), URI (C), and vitamin deficiencies (D) are not side-effects of
antilipemics.
A client with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is prescribed amphetamine
(Adderall). Which side effect should the practical nurse (PN) explain is commonly
experienced?
A) Difficulty sleeping.
B) Increased fatigue.
C) Improved appetite.
D) Decreased heart rate. - correct-answer -A) Difficulty sleeping.
Feedback:
Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant, which often causes the client to
experience difficulty sleeping (A). Due to central nervous stimulation, Adderall
causes an increase in energy, a decrease in appetite, and an increase in heart rate,
not (B, C, and D).
An older client who takes risperidone (Risperdal), an antipsychotic, is complaining
of constipation. Which dietary changes should the practical nurse (PN)
recommend?