BSN 315 HESI PHARMACOLOGY EXAM,
NIGHTINGALE COLLEGE, NEWEST 2025–2026,
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM PREP, 250 HESI-STYLE
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS, HIGH-YIELD TOPICS, FREQUENTLY
TESTED CONCEPTS, NGN-STYLE QUESTIONS
AND CLINICAL RATIONALES, COMPLETE EXAM
REVIEW GUIDE, DESIGNED FOR A+ EXAM
PREPARATION.
The nurse is assessing the effectiveness of high-dose aspirin therapy for an 88-year-old client with
arthritis. The client reports that she can't hear the nurse's questions because her ears are ringing. Which
action should the nurse implement?
a) Refer the client to an audiologist for evaluation of her hearing.
b) Advise the client that this is a common side effect of aspirin therapy.
c) Notify the healthcare provider of this finding immediately.
d) Ask the client to turn off her hearing aid during the exam.
c) Notify the healthcare provider of this finding immediately.
The nitrate isosorbide dinitrate is prescribed for a client with angina. Which instruction should the nurse
include in this client's discharge teaching plan?
a) Quit taking the medication if dizziness occurs.
b) Do not get up quickly. Always rise slowly.
c) Take the medication with food only.
d) Increase your intake of potassium-rich foods.
b) Do not get up quickly. Always rise slowly.
Which medications should the nurse caution the client about taking while receiving an opioid analgesic?
a) Antacids
b) Benzodiazepines
c) Antihypertensives
d) Oral antidiabetics
b) Benzodiazepines
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,A client who has been taking levodopa PO TID to control the symptoms of Parkinson's disease has a new
prescription for sustained-release levodopa/carbidopa PO BID. The client took his levodopa at 0800.
Which instruction should the nurse include in the teaching plan for this client?
a) "Take the first dose of levodopa-carbidopa today, as soon as your prescription is filled."
b) "Since you already took your levodopa, wait until tomorrow to take the levodopa-carbidopa."
c) "Take both drugs for the first week, then switch to only the levodopa-carbidopa."
d) "You can begin taking the levodopa-carbidopa this evening, but do not take any more levodopa."
d) "You can begin taking the levodopa-carbidopa this evening, but do not take any more levodopa."
An adult client is given a prescription for a scopolamine patch to prevent motion sickness while on a
cruise. Which information should the nurse provide to the client?
a) Apply the patch at least 4 hours prior to departure.
b) Change the patch every other day while on the cruise.
c) Place the patch on a hairless area at the base of the skull.
d) Drink no more than 2 alcoholic drinks during the cruise.
a) Apply the patch at least 4 hours prior to departure.
The nurse is assessing a client prior to administering the prescribed dose of atenolol PO. The client's
blood pressure is 120/68 mmHg, and the telemetry monitor shows sinus bradycardia with a rate of 58
beats/minute, and a P-R interval of 0.24. Based on this assessment, what intervention should the nurse
implement?
a) Lower the head of the bed and assess the client for orthostatic vital sign changes.
b) Give the medication as prescribed and continue to monitor the client.
c) Prepare to administer atropine sulfate IVP.
d) Hold the prescribed dose and contact the healthcare provider.
b) Give the medication as prescribed and continue to monitor the client.
When assessing an adolescent who recently overdosed on acetaminophen, it is most important for the
nurse to assess for pain in which area of the body?
a) Flank
b) Abdomen
c) Chest
d) Head
b) Abdomen
A client with heart failure is prescribed spironolactone. Which information is most important for the
nurse to provide to the client about diet modifications?
a) Do not add salt to foods during preparation.
b) Refrain from eating foods high in potassium.
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, c) Restrict fluid intake to 1000 ml per day.
d) Increase intake of milk and milk products.
b) Refrain from eating foods high in potassium.
Which method of medication administration provides the client with the greatest first-pass effect?
a) Oral
b) Sublingual
c) Intravenous
d) Subcutaneous
a) Oral
Which nursing diagnosis is important to include in the plan of care for a client receiving the angiotensin-
2 receptor antagonist irbesartan?
a) Fluid volume deficit
b) Risk for infection
c) Risk for injury
d) Impaired sleep patterns
c) Risk for injury
Upon admission to the emergency center, an adult client with acute status asthmaticus is prescribed this
series of medications. In which order should the nurse administer the prescribed medications? (Arrange
from first to last.)
a) Prednisone orally
b) Gentamicin IM
c) Albuterol puffs
d) Salmeterol
c) Albuterol puffs
d) Salmeterol
a) Prednisone orally
b) Gentamicin IM
A client asks the nurse if glipizide is an oral insulin. Which response should the nurse provide?
a) "Yes, it is an oral insulin and has the same actions and properties as intermediate insulin."
b) "Yes, it is an oral insulin and is distributed, metabolized, and excreted in the same manner as insulin."
c) "No, it is not an oral insulin and can be used only when some beta cell function is present."
d) "No, it is not an oral insulin, but it is effective for those who are resistant to injectable insulins."
c) "No, it is not an oral insulin and can be used only when some beta cell function is present."
The nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing anaphylaxis from an insect sting. Which prescription
should the nurse prepare to administer to this client?
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NIGHTINGALE COLLEGE, NEWEST 2025–2026,
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM PREP, 250 HESI-STYLE
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS, HIGH-YIELD TOPICS, FREQUENTLY
TESTED CONCEPTS, NGN-STYLE QUESTIONS
AND CLINICAL RATIONALES, COMPLETE EXAM
REVIEW GUIDE, DESIGNED FOR A+ EXAM
PREPARATION.
The nurse is assessing the effectiveness of high-dose aspirin therapy for an 88-year-old client with
arthritis. The client reports that she can't hear the nurse's questions because her ears are ringing. Which
action should the nurse implement?
a) Refer the client to an audiologist for evaluation of her hearing.
b) Advise the client that this is a common side effect of aspirin therapy.
c) Notify the healthcare provider of this finding immediately.
d) Ask the client to turn off her hearing aid during the exam.
c) Notify the healthcare provider of this finding immediately.
The nitrate isosorbide dinitrate is prescribed for a client with angina. Which instruction should the nurse
include in this client's discharge teaching plan?
a) Quit taking the medication if dizziness occurs.
b) Do not get up quickly. Always rise slowly.
c) Take the medication with food only.
d) Increase your intake of potassium-rich foods.
b) Do not get up quickly. Always rise slowly.
Which medications should the nurse caution the client about taking while receiving an opioid analgesic?
a) Antacids
b) Benzodiazepines
c) Antihypertensives
d) Oral antidiabetics
b) Benzodiazepines
1|Page
,A client who has been taking levodopa PO TID to control the symptoms of Parkinson's disease has a new
prescription for sustained-release levodopa/carbidopa PO BID. The client took his levodopa at 0800.
Which instruction should the nurse include in the teaching plan for this client?
a) "Take the first dose of levodopa-carbidopa today, as soon as your prescription is filled."
b) "Since you already took your levodopa, wait until tomorrow to take the levodopa-carbidopa."
c) "Take both drugs for the first week, then switch to only the levodopa-carbidopa."
d) "You can begin taking the levodopa-carbidopa this evening, but do not take any more levodopa."
d) "You can begin taking the levodopa-carbidopa this evening, but do not take any more levodopa."
An adult client is given a prescription for a scopolamine patch to prevent motion sickness while on a
cruise. Which information should the nurse provide to the client?
a) Apply the patch at least 4 hours prior to departure.
b) Change the patch every other day while on the cruise.
c) Place the patch on a hairless area at the base of the skull.
d) Drink no more than 2 alcoholic drinks during the cruise.
a) Apply the patch at least 4 hours prior to departure.
The nurse is assessing a client prior to administering the prescribed dose of atenolol PO. The client's
blood pressure is 120/68 mmHg, and the telemetry monitor shows sinus bradycardia with a rate of 58
beats/minute, and a P-R interval of 0.24. Based on this assessment, what intervention should the nurse
implement?
a) Lower the head of the bed and assess the client for orthostatic vital sign changes.
b) Give the medication as prescribed and continue to monitor the client.
c) Prepare to administer atropine sulfate IVP.
d) Hold the prescribed dose and contact the healthcare provider.
b) Give the medication as prescribed and continue to monitor the client.
When assessing an adolescent who recently overdosed on acetaminophen, it is most important for the
nurse to assess for pain in which area of the body?
a) Flank
b) Abdomen
c) Chest
d) Head
b) Abdomen
A client with heart failure is prescribed spironolactone. Which information is most important for the
nurse to provide to the client about diet modifications?
a) Do not add salt to foods during preparation.
b) Refrain from eating foods high in potassium.
2|Page
, c) Restrict fluid intake to 1000 ml per day.
d) Increase intake of milk and milk products.
b) Refrain from eating foods high in potassium.
Which method of medication administration provides the client with the greatest first-pass effect?
a) Oral
b) Sublingual
c) Intravenous
d) Subcutaneous
a) Oral
Which nursing diagnosis is important to include in the plan of care for a client receiving the angiotensin-
2 receptor antagonist irbesartan?
a) Fluid volume deficit
b) Risk for infection
c) Risk for injury
d) Impaired sleep patterns
c) Risk for injury
Upon admission to the emergency center, an adult client with acute status asthmaticus is prescribed this
series of medications. In which order should the nurse administer the prescribed medications? (Arrange
from first to last.)
a) Prednisone orally
b) Gentamicin IM
c) Albuterol puffs
d) Salmeterol
c) Albuterol puffs
d) Salmeterol
a) Prednisone orally
b) Gentamicin IM
A client asks the nurse if glipizide is an oral insulin. Which response should the nurse provide?
a) "Yes, it is an oral insulin and has the same actions and properties as intermediate insulin."
b) "Yes, it is an oral insulin and is distributed, metabolized, and excreted in the same manner as insulin."
c) "No, it is not an oral insulin and can be used only when some beta cell function is present."
d) "No, it is not an oral insulin, but it is effective for those who are resistant to injectable insulins."
c) "No, it is not an oral insulin and can be used only when some beta cell function is present."
The nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing anaphylaxis from an insect sting. Which prescription
should the nurse prepare to administer to this client?
3|Page
