HESI PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM
WIT 155 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS ALREADY RATED A+
2026/2027
Which subcutaneous site has the fastest absorption rate?
abdomen
True or False:
Insulin requires verification from 2 people prior to administration due to it's high risk for
hypoglycemia.
True.
A nurse is about to administer aspart (Novolog) to a diabetic patient before breakfast.
Which is a priority nursing intervention prior to administering this insulin?
Ensure that meals will be ready within 30 minutes to avoid hypoglycemia.
Which type of insulin is given right before meals?
Rapid Acting:
aspart (Novolog)
Which type of insulin can be given before or immediately after meals?
Rapid Acting:
lispro (Humalog)
Which type of insulin is commonly given in the evening with a bedtime snack?
Long Acting:
glargine (Lantus)
What are the 5 rights of medication administration?
Right Patient
Right Drug
Right Route
Right Time
Right Dose
How do you safely prepare medication?
Have good lighting & work alone.
Check medication label 3 times (When you grab the medication, Before dispensing
medication, & When you replace medication.)
Don't use anything without a label.
Bottles with bad labels need to be returned to the pharmacy.
Never transfer medication into another bottle.
,Check expiration date.
Inspect & throw away decomposing medications.
How would you administer medication via IM?
Injecting at 90° using the Z-Track method.
How would you administer medication via IV?
Assess for allergies.
Assess the IV site for complications.
Clean the port closest to the IV site with alcohol swab.
Administer medication.
How would you administer medication via SubQ?
Injecting 45° (Skinny Patient) or 90° (Average Patient) into the fatty tissue.
How would you administer medication via oral route?
Assist the patient into an upright or side lying position.
Ask patient if they would like the medications in his/her hand or in the cup.
Offer water.
Remain with the patient until each medication is swallowed. Never leave the patient's
bedside.
How would you instill ear medications?
Warm the medication to prep it before entering the patient's room.
Clean any ear drainage.
Place the patient on his/her unaffected side or have the patient sit up with head titled to
the unaffected side.
Straighten the ear canal by pulling up & back for adults or down & back for children.
Administer the medication and allow the drops to fall on the side of the canal. Avoid
instilling in the middle of the canal or the tympanic membrane.
Instruct patient to remain in this position for 5 minutes.
Gently press on the tragus to facilitate the medication to travel towards the tympanic
membrane.
If ordered loosely place a cotton ball into the ear canal.
If you have to administer drops in both ear wait 5 minutes between each side.
How would you instill eye medications?
Offer the patient a tissue.
Cleanse each eye from the inner area to the outer area.
If the patient does not have cervical spine injury instruct the patient to tilt his/her head
back.
Gently apply pressure with fingers at the edge of the lower eyelid to expose the
conjunctival sac.
Administer the medication & release the lower eyelid.
Instruct patient to close eyes gently.
Apply gentle pressure on the inner canthus to prevent the medication from flowing into
the tear ducts.
Instruct patient not to rub eyes.
How would you apply a transdermal patch?
Wear gloves!
Remove the old patch & fold it close on itself.
Clean the old site to remove residue.
,Document date, time, & initials on the new patch.
Rotate site.
Clean the new site.
Apply the patch.
How would you apply an ointment medication?
Wear gloves!
Clean the area.
If the medication is not powder, never administer the ointment straight from the
container! Squeeze the ointment into a disposable cup.
Spread over the area as prescribed.
Observe for allergic reaction.
Name the 5 injection sites for subcutaneous.
Abdomen
Upper Arm
Back
Buttocks
Thighs
Name the 5 injection sites for intramuscular.
Dorsogluteal
Ventrogluteal
Rectus Femoris
Vastus Lateralis
Deltoid
Which IM injection site is used mainly on infants?
Rectus femoris.
Which IM injection site do you use for children and adults?
Ventrogluteal
Which IM injection site is used on infants, children, and patients with poorly developed
butt muscles?
Vastus lateralis.
Name the 4 injection sites for intradermal.
Inner Forearm
Upper Chest
Back
Upper Back Arm
Where should you place a transdermal patch?
Upper Arm & Back
Chest
Forearm
Butt
Stomach
What is the peak time for rapid acting insulin?
30-60 minutes
What is the peak time for regular insulin?
2-4 hours
What is the peak time for intermediate acting insulin?
, 4-12 hours
What is the peak time for long acting insulin?
8-10 hours
What are the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia?
Cool and clammy skin, confused, weakness, palpitations, irritable, and hunger.
Blood glucose: < 60 mg/dL
Numbness or tingling of lips or tongue
What are the signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia?
The 3 Ps: Polyphagia, polydipsia, polyuria, weakness, headache, and blurred vision.
Later signs include pruritus, dry mouth, confusion, fruity odor of the breath, abdominal
pain, or coma (DKA).
Blood glucose: > 200 mg/dL
Acetone breath
Which medication would a nurse anticipate to administer to a patient before
administering a blood transfusion?
diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
What are the allergic reactions to a blood transfusion?
What are isotonic IV fluids?
A solution used to replace or maintain fluid and electrolyte levels.
Examples: 0.9% NS, Lactated Ringers, and D5W
What are hypotonic IV fluids?
A solution with lower concentration of stuff on the outside of the cell causing the fluids to
move into the cell causing the cell to swell.
This type of solution is used to rehydrate the patient.
0.45% NS, 0.25% NS, 2.5% Dextrose
What are hypertonic IV fluids?
A solution with higher concentration of stuff on the outside of the cell causing the fluids
to leave the cell and causing the cell to shrink.
This type of solutions is used to reduce swelling.
D5 0.5% NS, D10W
How would you safely administer narcotics?
Ask about allergies.
Obtain baseline vitals.
Assess respiratory functions.
Ask about any constipation issues.
Needs 2 people to verify and waste.
What is the antidote for overdose of opioids?
WIT 155 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS ALREADY RATED A+
2026/2027
Which subcutaneous site has the fastest absorption rate?
abdomen
True or False:
Insulin requires verification from 2 people prior to administration due to it's high risk for
hypoglycemia.
True.
A nurse is about to administer aspart (Novolog) to a diabetic patient before breakfast.
Which is a priority nursing intervention prior to administering this insulin?
Ensure that meals will be ready within 30 minutes to avoid hypoglycemia.
Which type of insulin is given right before meals?
Rapid Acting:
aspart (Novolog)
Which type of insulin can be given before or immediately after meals?
Rapid Acting:
lispro (Humalog)
Which type of insulin is commonly given in the evening with a bedtime snack?
Long Acting:
glargine (Lantus)
What are the 5 rights of medication administration?
Right Patient
Right Drug
Right Route
Right Time
Right Dose
How do you safely prepare medication?
Have good lighting & work alone.
Check medication label 3 times (When you grab the medication, Before dispensing
medication, & When you replace medication.)
Don't use anything without a label.
Bottles with bad labels need to be returned to the pharmacy.
Never transfer medication into another bottle.
,Check expiration date.
Inspect & throw away decomposing medications.
How would you administer medication via IM?
Injecting at 90° using the Z-Track method.
How would you administer medication via IV?
Assess for allergies.
Assess the IV site for complications.
Clean the port closest to the IV site with alcohol swab.
Administer medication.
How would you administer medication via SubQ?
Injecting 45° (Skinny Patient) or 90° (Average Patient) into the fatty tissue.
How would you administer medication via oral route?
Assist the patient into an upright or side lying position.
Ask patient if they would like the medications in his/her hand or in the cup.
Offer water.
Remain with the patient until each medication is swallowed. Never leave the patient's
bedside.
How would you instill ear medications?
Warm the medication to prep it before entering the patient's room.
Clean any ear drainage.
Place the patient on his/her unaffected side or have the patient sit up with head titled to
the unaffected side.
Straighten the ear canal by pulling up & back for adults or down & back for children.
Administer the medication and allow the drops to fall on the side of the canal. Avoid
instilling in the middle of the canal or the tympanic membrane.
Instruct patient to remain in this position for 5 minutes.
Gently press on the tragus to facilitate the medication to travel towards the tympanic
membrane.
If ordered loosely place a cotton ball into the ear canal.
If you have to administer drops in both ear wait 5 minutes between each side.
How would you instill eye medications?
Offer the patient a tissue.
Cleanse each eye from the inner area to the outer area.
If the patient does not have cervical spine injury instruct the patient to tilt his/her head
back.
Gently apply pressure with fingers at the edge of the lower eyelid to expose the
conjunctival sac.
Administer the medication & release the lower eyelid.
Instruct patient to close eyes gently.
Apply gentle pressure on the inner canthus to prevent the medication from flowing into
the tear ducts.
Instruct patient not to rub eyes.
How would you apply a transdermal patch?
Wear gloves!
Remove the old patch & fold it close on itself.
Clean the old site to remove residue.
,Document date, time, & initials on the new patch.
Rotate site.
Clean the new site.
Apply the patch.
How would you apply an ointment medication?
Wear gloves!
Clean the area.
If the medication is not powder, never administer the ointment straight from the
container! Squeeze the ointment into a disposable cup.
Spread over the area as prescribed.
Observe for allergic reaction.
Name the 5 injection sites for subcutaneous.
Abdomen
Upper Arm
Back
Buttocks
Thighs
Name the 5 injection sites for intramuscular.
Dorsogluteal
Ventrogluteal
Rectus Femoris
Vastus Lateralis
Deltoid
Which IM injection site is used mainly on infants?
Rectus femoris.
Which IM injection site do you use for children and adults?
Ventrogluteal
Which IM injection site is used on infants, children, and patients with poorly developed
butt muscles?
Vastus lateralis.
Name the 4 injection sites for intradermal.
Inner Forearm
Upper Chest
Back
Upper Back Arm
Where should you place a transdermal patch?
Upper Arm & Back
Chest
Forearm
Butt
Stomach
What is the peak time for rapid acting insulin?
30-60 minutes
What is the peak time for regular insulin?
2-4 hours
What is the peak time for intermediate acting insulin?
, 4-12 hours
What is the peak time for long acting insulin?
8-10 hours
What are the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia?
Cool and clammy skin, confused, weakness, palpitations, irritable, and hunger.
Blood glucose: < 60 mg/dL
Numbness or tingling of lips or tongue
What are the signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia?
The 3 Ps: Polyphagia, polydipsia, polyuria, weakness, headache, and blurred vision.
Later signs include pruritus, dry mouth, confusion, fruity odor of the breath, abdominal
pain, or coma (DKA).
Blood glucose: > 200 mg/dL
Acetone breath
Which medication would a nurse anticipate to administer to a patient before
administering a blood transfusion?
diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
What are the allergic reactions to a blood transfusion?
What are isotonic IV fluids?
A solution used to replace or maintain fluid and electrolyte levels.
Examples: 0.9% NS, Lactated Ringers, and D5W
What are hypotonic IV fluids?
A solution with lower concentration of stuff on the outside of the cell causing the fluids to
move into the cell causing the cell to swell.
This type of solution is used to rehydrate the patient.
0.45% NS, 0.25% NS, 2.5% Dextrose
What are hypertonic IV fluids?
A solution with higher concentration of stuff on the outside of the cell causing the fluids
to leave the cell and causing the cell to shrink.
This type of solutions is used to reduce swelling.
D5 0.5% NS, D10W
How would you safely administer narcotics?
Ask about allergies.
Obtain baseline vitals.
Assess respiratory functions.
Ask about any constipation issues.
Needs 2 people to verify and waste.
What is the antidote for overdose of opioids?
