PHARMACOLOGY HESI V2 PRACTICE TEST
2026 TESTED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
◉ A nurse working in an emergency department is caring for a client
who has benzodiazepine toxicity due to an overdose. Which of the
following is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer flumazenil.
B. Identify the client's level of orientation.
C. Infuse IV fluids.
D. Prepare the client for gastric lavage.
Answer: ANS: B
When taking the nursing process approach to client care, the initial
step is assessment. Therefore, identifying the client's level of
orientation is the priority actin.
Administering flumazenil, infusing IV fluids, and gastric lavage are
appropriate actions. However, it is not the priority when taking the
nursing process approach to client care.
****ing stupid
,◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is to begin taking escitalopram
for treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates understanding of the use of this
medication?
A. "I will take the medication at bedtime."
B. "I will need to follow a low-sodium diet while taking this
medication."
C. "I need to discontinue this medication slowly."
D. "I probably won't desire intimacy during the first days of
treatment."
Answer: ANS: C
When discontinuing escitalopram, the client should taper the
medication slowly according to a prescribed tapered dosing
schedule to reduce the risk of withdrawal syndrome.
The client should take escitalopram in the morning to minimize
sleep disturbances. The client is at risk for hyponatremia while
taking escitalopram. Sexual dysfunction, including decreased libido,
is a late adverse effect that is possible after 5-6 weeks of treatment
with escitalopram.
◉ A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new
prescription to start buspirone in place of diazepam. The client has a
history of panic disorder and cirrhosis of the liver. The client asks
why his provider is making the medication change. Which of the
following statements is an appropriate response by the nurse?
,A. "Diazepam can cause seizures as an adverse effect."
B. "Diazepam is not indicated for the treatment of panic disorder."
C. "Buspirone is a safe medication for clients who have liver
dysfunction."
D. "Buspirone has less risk for dependency than other treatment
options."
Answer: ANS: D
Buspirone is preferable to diazepam for long-term use due to the
decreased risk for dependency.
Diazepam is indicated for the treatment of seizure activity and does
not cause seizures as an adverse effect. Both buspirone and
diazepam are indicated for the treatment of panic disorder.
Buspirone must be used cautiously in clients with liver dysfunction.
◉ A nurse working in a mental health clinic is caring for a client who
has OCD and recently started a new prescription for buspirone. The
client tells the nurse that the medication has not helped him sleep
and that he is still having obsessive compulsions. Which of the
following statements is an appropriate response by the nurse?
A. "It may take several weeks before you feel like the medication is
helping."
B. "Take the medication just before bedtime to promote sleep."
C. "You should take the medication on an as-needed basis when you
experience obsessive urges."
, D. "Your provider may need to increase your prescription due to
developing tolerance."
Answer: ANS: A
Buspirone may take 3 to 6 weeks before the client reaches full
therapeutic benefit.
Buspirone does not have any sedative effects and therefore will not
promote sleep. Buspirone should be taken on a regular basis rather
than an as-needed basis. Buspirone does not cause tolerance.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who takes paroxetine to treat
posttraumatic stress disorder. The client states that he grinds his
teeth during the night, which causes jaw pain. The nurse should
identify which of the following as possible measures to manage the
client's bruxism? (Select all that apply.)
A. Concurrent administration of buspirone
B Administration of a different SSRI
C. Use of a mouth guard
D. Changing to a different class of antianxiety medication
E. Increasing the dose of paroxetine
Answer: ANS: A, C, D
Concurrent administration of a low dose of buspirone is an effective
measure to manage the adverse effects of paroxetine. Using a mouth
guard during sleep can decrease the risk for oral damage resulting
from bruxism. Changing to a different class of antianxiety
2026 TESTED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
◉ A nurse working in an emergency department is caring for a client
who has benzodiazepine toxicity due to an overdose. Which of the
following is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer flumazenil.
B. Identify the client's level of orientation.
C. Infuse IV fluids.
D. Prepare the client for gastric lavage.
Answer: ANS: B
When taking the nursing process approach to client care, the initial
step is assessment. Therefore, identifying the client's level of
orientation is the priority actin.
Administering flumazenil, infusing IV fluids, and gastric lavage are
appropriate actions. However, it is not the priority when taking the
nursing process approach to client care.
****ing stupid
,◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is to begin taking escitalopram
for treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates understanding of the use of this
medication?
A. "I will take the medication at bedtime."
B. "I will need to follow a low-sodium diet while taking this
medication."
C. "I need to discontinue this medication slowly."
D. "I probably won't desire intimacy during the first days of
treatment."
Answer: ANS: C
When discontinuing escitalopram, the client should taper the
medication slowly according to a prescribed tapered dosing
schedule to reduce the risk of withdrawal syndrome.
The client should take escitalopram in the morning to minimize
sleep disturbances. The client is at risk for hyponatremia while
taking escitalopram. Sexual dysfunction, including decreased libido,
is a late adverse effect that is possible after 5-6 weeks of treatment
with escitalopram.
◉ A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new
prescription to start buspirone in place of diazepam. The client has a
history of panic disorder and cirrhosis of the liver. The client asks
why his provider is making the medication change. Which of the
following statements is an appropriate response by the nurse?
,A. "Diazepam can cause seizures as an adverse effect."
B. "Diazepam is not indicated for the treatment of panic disorder."
C. "Buspirone is a safe medication for clients who have liver
dysfunction."
D. "Buspirone has less risk for dependency than other treatment
options."
Answer: ANS: D
Buspirone is preferable to diazepam for long-term use due to the
decreased risk for dependency.
Diazepam is indicated for the treatment of seizure activity and does
not cause seizures as an adverse effect. Both buspirone and
diazepam are indicated for the treatment of panic disorder.
Buspirone must be used cautiously in clients with liver dysfunction.
◉ A nurse working in a mental health clinic is caring for a client who
has OCD and recently started a new prescription for buspirone. The
client tells the nurse that the medication has not helped him sleep
and that he is still having obsessive compulsions. Which of the
following statements is an appropriate response by the nurse?
A. "It may take several weeks before you feel like the medication is
helping."
B. "Take the medication just before bedtime to promote sleep."
C. "You should take the medication on an as-needed basis when you
experience obsessive urges."
, D. "Your provider may need to increase your prescription due to
developing tolerance."
Answer: ANS: A
Buspirone may take 3 to 6 weeks before the client reaches full
therapeutic benefit.
Buspirone does not have any sedative effects and therefore will not
promote sleep. Buspirone should be taken on a regular basis rather
than an as-needed basis. Buspirone does not cause tolerance.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who takes paroxetine to treat
posttraumatic stress disorder. The client states that he grinds his
teeth during the night, which causes jaw pain. The nurse should
identify which of the following as possible measures to manage the
client's bruxism? (Select all that apply.)
A. Concurrent administration of buspirone
B Administration of a different SSRI
C. Use of a mouth guard
D. Changing to a different class of antianxiety medication
E. Increasing the dose of paroxetine
Answer: ANS: A, C, D
Concurrent administration of a low dose of buspirone is an effective
measure to manage the adverse effects of paroxetine. Using a mouth
guard during sleep can decrease the risk for oral damage resulting
from bruxism. Changing to a different class of antianxiety
