PHARMACOLOGY HESI V2 STUDY GUIDE
2026 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
STEP BY STEP SOLUTIONS
◉ A nurse is providing teaching for a client who is withdrawing from
alcohol and has a new prescription for propranolol. Which of the
following is appropriate for the nurse to include in the teaching?
A. Increases the risk for seizure activity
B. Provides a form of aversion therapy
C. Decreases cravings
D. Results in mild hypertension
Answer: ANS: C
Propranolol is an adjunct medication used during detoxification to
decrease the client's craving for alcohol.
Seizure activity is a potential effect of alcohol withdrawal, however,
propranolol does not increase this risk. Disulfiram, rather than
propranolol, provides a form of aversion therapy. Propranolol is an
antihypertensive medication that can result in hypotension rather
than hypertension.
◉ A charge nurse is planning a staff education session to discuss
medications appropriate for the use during the care of a client
,experiencing alcohol detoxification. Which of the following should
the charge nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
A. Lorazepam
B. Diazepam
C. Disulfiram
D. Naltrexone
E. Acamprosate
Answer: ANS: A, B
Lorazepam and diazepam are benzodiazepines used during alcohol
detoxification to decrease anxiety and reduce the risk for seizures.
Disulfiram and naltrexone are administered to assist the client in
maintaining abstinence from alcohol following detoxification.
Acamprosate decreases unpleasant effects, such as anxiety or
restlessness, resulting from abstinence.
◉ A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new
prescription for clonidine to assist with maintenance of abstinence
from opioids. The nurse should instruct the client to watch for which
of the following adverse effects?
A. Diarrhea
B. Dry mouth
C. Insomnia
D. Hypertension
,Answer: ANS: B
Dry mouth is a common adverse effect associated with clonidine use.
Constipation, sedation, and more like hypotension, are common
adverse effects associated with clonidine use.
◉ A nurse is teaching a female client who has tobacco use disorder
about nicotine replacement therapy. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates understanding of the teaching?
A. "I should avoid eating right before I chew a piece of nicotine gum."
B. "I will need to stop using the nicotine gum after 1 year."
C. "I know that nicotine gum is a safe alternative to smoking if I
become pregnant."
D. "I must chew the nicotine gum quickly for about 15 minutes."
Answer: ANS: A
The client should avoid eating or drinking 15 min prior to and while
chewing the nicotine gum.
The client should not use nicotine gum for longer than 6 months.
The client should chew the nicotine gum slowly and intermittently
over 30 minutes.
◉ A nurse is preparing discharge instructions for a client who has a
new diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. The client is prescribed
, neostigmine. Which of the following information should the nurse
include in the discharge instructions? (Select all that apply.)
A. Wear a medical alert bracelet.
B. Initially start with a high dose of medication then decrease the
dosage.
C. Take the medication at the same time each day.
D. Monitor for manifestations of urinary urgency.
E. Modify medication dose based on response.
Answer: ANS: A, C, D, E
The nurse should recommend that the client wear a medical alert
bracelet when prescribed neostigmine because episodes of difficulty
swallowing and muscle weakness may occur until the dose is
regulated. Neostigmine increases the urge to void. The nurse should
teach the client to modify the medication dosage according to
individualized response to improve muscle weakness.
◉ A nurse is providing information about pramipexole to a client
who has early Parkinson disease. Which of the following possible
adverse side effects should the nurse include in the information?
A. Hallucinations
B. Memory loss
C. Diarrhea
D. Discoloration of urine
Answer: ANS: A
2026 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
STEP BY STEP SOLUTIONS
◉ A nurse is providing teaching for a client who is withdrawing from
alcohol and has a new prescription for propranolol. Which of the
following is appropriate for the nurse to include in the teaching?
A. Increases the risk for seizure activity
B. Provides a form of aversion therapy
C. Decreases cravings
D. Results in mild hypertension
Answer: ANS: C
Propranolol is an adjunct medication used during detoxification to
decrease the client's craving for alcohol.
Seizure activity is a potential effect of alcohol withdrawal, however,
propranolol does not increase this risk. Disulfiram, rather than
propranolol, provides a form of aversion therapy. Propranolol is an
antihypertensive medication that can result in hypotension rather
than hypertension.
◉ A charge nurse is planning a staff education session to discuss
medications appropriate for the use during the care of a client
,experiencing alcohol detoxification. Which of the following should
the charge nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
A. Lorazepam
B. Diazepam
C. Disulfiram
D. Naltrexone
E. Acamprosate
Answer: ANS: A, B
Lorazepam and diazepam are benzodiazepines used during alcohol
detoxification to decrease anxiety and reduce the risk for seizures.
Disulfiram and naltrexone are administered to assist the client in
maintaining abstinence from alcohol following detoxification.
Acamprosate decreases unpleasant effects, such as anxiety or
restlessness, resulting from abstinence.
◉ A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new
prescription for clonidine to assist with maintenance of abstinence
from opioids. The nurse should instruct the client to watch for which
of the following adverse effects?
A. Diarrhea
B. Dry mouth
C. Insomnia
D. Hypertension
,Answer: ANS: B
Dry mouth is a common adverse effect associated with clonidine use.
Constipation, sedation, and more like hypotension, are common
adverse effects associated with clonidine use.
◉ A nurse is teaching a female client who has tobacco use disorder
about nicotine replacement therapy. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates understanding of the teaching?
A. "I should avoid eating right before I chew a piece of nicotine gum."
B. "I will need to stop using the nicotine gum after 1 year."
C. "I know that nicotine gum is a safe alternative to smoking if I
become pregnant."
D. "I must chew the nicotine gum quickly for about 15 minutes."
Answer: ANS: A
The client should avoid eating or drinking 15 min prior to and while
chewing the nicotine gum.
The client should not use nicotine gum for longer than 6 months.
The client should chew the nicotine gum slowly and intermittently
over 30 minutes.
◉ A nurse is preparing discharge instructions for a client who has a
new diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. The client is prescribed
, neostigmine. Which of the following information should the nurse
include in the discharge instructions? (Select all that apply.)
A. Wear a medical alert bracelet.
B. Initially start with a high dose of medication then decrease the
dosage.
C. Take the medication at the same time each day.
D. Monitor for manifestations of urinary urgency.
E. Modify medication dose based on response.
Answer: ANS: A, C, D, E
The nurse should recommend that the client wear a medical alert
bracelet when prescribed neostigmine because episodes of difficulty
swallowing and muscle weakness may occur until the dose is
regulated. Neostigmine increases the urge to void. The nurse should
teach the client to modify the medication dosage according to
individualized response to improve muscle weakness.
◉ A nurse is providing information about pramipexole to a client
who has early Parkinson disease. Which of the following possible
adverse side effects should the nurse include in the information?
A. Hallucinations
B. Memory loss
C. Diarrhea
D. Discoloration of urine
Answer: ANS: A
