High-Yield HESI Pharmacology Study Guide
Workman: Understanding Pharmacology - Book-Organized Sherpath Review
Chapters 1, 2, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 27
How to use this guide
Study the orange HESI safety boxes first; they contain the highest-risk medication concepts.
For each chapter, focus on what to assess before giving the drug, what to monitor afterward, and what patient statement
shows unsafe understanding.
When HESI asks “first,” think ABCs, vital signs, allergies, labs, contraindications, and patient safety before teaching or
documentation.
This is an original condensed study guide based on the uploaded Sherpath/Workman chapter content. It is not a replacement
for the textbook.
High-Yield HESI Pharmacology Study Guide - Workman Understanding Pharmacology / Sherpath-style review
,Chapters Covered
Chapter 1 - Drug therapy: roles, regulations, actions, and responses
Chapter 2 - Safely preparing and giving drugs
Chapter 10 - General antiinflammatory drugs
Chapter 12 - Drugs that affect urine output
Chapter 13 - Drug therapy for hypertension
Chapter 14 - Drug therapy for heart failure
Chapter 15 - Drug therapy for dysrhythmias
Chapter 16 - Drug therapy for high blood lipids
Chapter 17 - Drugs that affect blood clotting
Chapter 18 - Drug therapy for asthma and other respiratory problems
Chapter 19 - Drug therapy for gastrointestinal problems
Chapter 20 - Drug therapy for gastric ulcers, reflux, and inflammatory bowel disease
Chapter 23 - Drug therapy for seizures
Chapter 24 - Drug therapy for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases
Chapter 27 - Drug therapy for eye problems
High-Yield HESI Pharmacology Study Guide - Workman Understanding Pharmacology / Sherpath-style review
, Master HESI Pharmacology Safety Rules
Rule HESI meaning
Know why the patient is receiving the drug. Never give an unfamiliar medication without checking purpose,
action, safe dose, route, contraindications, and monitoring
needs.
Assess before giving. Check allergies, vitals, pain, labs, pregnancy status when
relevant, renal/liver function, and patient-specific risks.
High-alert meds require extra caution. Insulin, heparin/anticoagulants, opioids, potassium,
concentrated electrolytes, chemotherapy, and sedatives often
need independent checks.
Hold and clarify unsafe orders. Question unclear, incomplete, contraindicated, unusually
high/low, duplicate, or allergy-conflicting prescriptions.
Teach red flags. Patient must know what to report immediately: bleeding, allergic
reaction, severe rash, trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting,
severe diarrhea, vision/hearing changes.
Evaluate after administration. Reassess therapeutic effect and adverse effects; document
objective findings and patient response.
Priority word What HESI is usually testing
First / priority / immediate Prevent death or harm. Assess ABCs, vital signs, allergy, drug
compatibility, and life-threatening adverse reactions.
Needs further teaching Choose the unsafe patient statement.
Best response Therapeutic communication plus patient safety.
Most concerning Unexpected, acute, unstable, or severe adverse effect.
Discharge teaching Can the patient/caregiver state dose timing, major precautions,
and when to call the provider?
High-Yield HESI Pharmacology Study Guide - Workman Understanding Pharmacology / Sherpath-style review
Workman: Understanding Pharmacology - Book-Organized Sherpath Review
Chapters 1, 2, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 27
How to use this guide
Study the orange HESI safety boxes first; they contain the highest-risk medication concepts.
For each chapter, focus on what to assess before giving the drug, what to monitor afterward, and what patient statement
shows unsafe understanding.
When HESI asks “first,” think ABCs, vital signs, allergies, labs, contraindications, and patient safety before teaching or
documentation.
This is an original condensed study guide based on the uploaded Sherpath/Workman chapter content. It is not a replacement
for the textbook.
High-Yield HESI Pharmacology Study Guide - Workman Understanding Pharmacology / Sherpath-style review
,Chapters Covered
Chapter 1 - Drug therapy: roles, regulations, actions, and responses
Chapter 2 - Safely preparing and giving drugs
Chapter 10 - General antiinflammatory drugs
Chapter 12 - Drugs that affect urine output
Chapter 13 - Drug therapy for hypertension
Chapter 14 - Drug therapy for heart failure
Chapter 15 - Drug therapy for dysrhythmias
Chapter 16 - Drug therapy for high blood lipids
Chapter 17 - Drugs that affect blood clotting
Chapter 18 - Drug therapy for asthma and other respiratory problems
Chapter 19 - Drug therapy for gastrointestinal problems
Chapter 20 - Drug therapy for gastric ulcers, reflux, and inflammatory bowel disease
Chapter 23 - Drug therapy for seizures
Chapter 24 - Drug therapy for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases
Chapter 27 - Drug therapy for eye problems
High-Yield HESI Pharmacology Study Guide - Workman Understanding Pharmacology / Sherpath-style review
, Master HESI Pharmacology Safety Rules
Rule HESI meaning
Know why the patient is receiving the drug. Never give an unfamiliar medication without checking purpose,
action, safe dose, route, contraindications, and monitoring
needs.
Assess before giving. Check allergies, vitals, pain, labs, pregnancy status when
relevant, renal/liver function, and patient-specific risks.
High-alert meds require extra caution. Insulin, heparin/anticoagulants, opioids, potassium,
concentrated electrolytes, chemotherapy, and sedatives often
need independent checks.
Hold and clarify unsafe orders. Question unclear, incomplete, contraindicated, unusually
high/low, duplicate, or allergy-conflicting prescriptions.
Teach red flags. Patient must know what to report immediately: bleeding, allergic
reaction, severe rash, trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting,
severe diarrhea, vision/hearing changes.
Evaluate after administration. Reassess therapeutic effect and adverse effects; document
objective findings and patient response.
Priority word What HESI is usually testing
First / priority / immediate Prevent death or harm. Assess ABCs, vital signs, allergy, drug
compatibility, and life-threatening adverse reactions.
Needs further teaching Choose the unsafe patient statement.
Best response Therapeutic communication plus patient safety.
Most concerning Unexpected, acute, unstable, or severe adverse effect.
Discharge teaching Can the patient/caregiver state dose timing, major precautions,
and when to call the provider?
High-Yield HESI Pharmacology Study Guide - Workman Understanding Pharmacology / Sherpath-style review
