PN HESI Pharmacology Exam Ultimate Prep Course |
Complete Question Mock Test Study Guide with 100%
Correct Verified Answers | Already Graded A+ | 2026
Edition
SECTION 1: MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION & SAFETY
Question 1
The PN is preparing to administer a medication to a client. Which action is most
important to ensure client safety?
• A) Check the client's vital signs
• B) Ask the client if they have allergies
• C) Verify the client's identity using two identifiers
• D) Review the medication administration record
Answer: C
Rationale: Using two identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) is the most
important action to ensure the correct client receives the medication. This is a
fundamental safety step in the "Rights" of medication administration. Vital signs
and allergy checks are also important but secondary to confirming client identity .
Question 2
The nurse administers a medication to the wrong patient. What is the priority
nursing action?
• A) Complete an incident report
• B) Assess the patient for adverse reactions and notify the healthcare
provider
• C) Document the error in the patient's chart
• D) Report the error to the nursing supervisor
,Answer: B
Rationale: Patient safety is the priority. The nurse must assess the patient for
adverse reactions immediately and notify the healthcare provider. After the
patient is stable, the nurse should document the error and complete an incident
report. The sequence is: assess patient, notify provider, document, report .
Question 3
A client is prescribed a medication that is to be given via nasogastric (NG) tube.
Which action by the nurse is correct?
• A) Crush all medications and mix with water before administration
• B) Flush the NG tube with 30 mL of water before and after administration
• C) Administer the medication without checking tube placement
• D) Mix all medications together before administration
Answer: B
Rationale: When administering medications via NG tube, the nurse should flush
the tube with 30 mL of water before and after each medication to ensure patency
and prevent clogging. Tube placement should be verified before administration.
Not all medications can be crushed, and medications should be administered
separately to prevent interactions .
Question 4
Which of the following is the correct procedure for administering a liquid
medication?
• A) Use a medicine cup and pour the medication to the correct line
• B) Pour the medication into the patient's mouth from the bottle
• C) Use a household teaspoon to measure the dose
• D) Pour the medication and then return any excess to the bottle
,Answer: A
Rationale: Liquid medications should be measured using a medicine cup or oral
syringe at eye level to ensure accuracy. Household teaspoons are not accurate.
Medications should never be poured back into the bottle after being poured out.
The label should be checked three times .
Question 5
The PN is administering eye drops. Which technique is correct?
• A) Place the drop directly on the cornea
• B) Place the drop in the conjunctival sac
• C) Have the client close the eye tightly after instillation
• D) Touch the dropper tip to the eye to ensure accuracy
Answer: B
Rationale: Eye drops should be instilled into the conjunctival sac, not directly onto
the cornea, to prevent corneal irritation. The client should close their eyes gently,
not tightly. The dropper tip should never touch the eye to prevent
contamination .
Question 6
A client is prescribed an enteric-coated tablet. Which action is correct?
• A) Crush the tablet before administration
• B) Administer the tablet whole
• C) Dissolve the tablet in water
• D) Cut the tablet in half
Answer: B
, Rationale: Enteric-coated tablets should not be crushed, cut, or dissolved; they
must be swallowed whole to prevent gastric irritation and to ensure the
medication is released at the appropriate site in the digestive tract .
Question 7
The PN is preparing to administer an intramuscular (IM) injection to an adult.
Which site is most appropriate?
• A) Dorsogluteal
• B) Deltoid
• C) Vastus lateralis
• D) Ventrogluteal
Answer: D
Rationale: The ventrogluteal site is the preferred IM injection site for adults due
to its location away from major nerves and blood vessels, reducing the risk of
injury .
Question 8
The PN is preparing to administer an IM injection to a 6-month-old infant. Which
site is most appropriate?
• A) Dorsogluteal
• B) Deltoid
• C) Vastus lateralis
• D) Ventrogluteal
Answer: C
Rationale: The vastus lateralis is the preferred IM injection site for infants and
children under 3 years of age. It is a large muscle with good blood flow and is
located away from major nerves and blood vessels .
Complete Question Mock Test Study Guide with 100%
Correct Verified Answers | Already Graded A+ | 2026
Edition
SECTION 1: MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION & SAFETY
Question 1
The PN is preparing to administer a medication to a client. Which action is most
important to ensure client safety?
• A) Check the client's vital signs
• B) Ask the client if they have allergies
• C) Verify the client's identity using two identifiers
• D) Review the medication administration record
Answer: C
Rationale: Using two identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) is the most
important action to ensure the correct client receives the medication. This is a
fundamental safety step in the "Rights" of medication administration. Vital signs
and allergy checks are also important but secondary to confirming client identity .
Question 2
The nurse administers a medication to the wrong patient. What is the priority
nursing action?
• A) Complete an incident report
• B) Assess the patient for adverse reactions and notify the healthcare
provider
• C) Document the error in the patient's chart
• D) Report the error to the nursing supervisor
,Answer: B
Rationale: Patient safety is the priority. The nurse must assess the patient for
adverse reactions immediately and notify the healthcare provider. After the
patient is stable, the nurse should document the error and complete an incident
report. The sequence is: assess patient, notify provider, document, report .
Question 3
A client is prescribed a medication that is to be given via nasogastric (NG) tube.
Which action by the nurse is correct?
• A) Crush all medications and mix with water before administration
• B) Flush the NG tube with 30 mL of water before and after administration
• C) Administer the medication without checking tube placement
• D) Mix all medications together before administration
Answer: B
Rationale: When administering medications via NG tube, the nurse should flush
the tube with 30 mL of water before and after each medication to ensure patency
and prevent clogging. Tube placement should be verified before administration.
Not all medications can be crushed, and medications should be administered
separately to prevent interactions .
Question 4
Which of the following is the correct procedure for administering a liquid
medication?
• A) Use a medicine cup and pour the medication to the correct line
• B) Pour the medication into the patient's mouth from the bottle
• C) Use a household teaspoon to measure the dose
• D) Pour the medication and then return any excess to the bottle
,Answer: A
Rationale: Liquid medications should be measured using a medicine cup or oral
syringe at eye level to ensure accuracy. Household teaspoons are not accurate.
Medications should never be poured back into the bottle after being poured out.
The label should be checked three times .
Question 5
The PN is administering eye drops. Which technique is correct?
• A) Place the drop directly on the cornea
• B) Place the drop in the conjunctival sac
• C) Have the client close the eye tightly after instillation
• D) Touch the dropper tip to the eye to ensure accuracy
Answer: B
Rationale: Eye drops should be instilled into the conjunctival sac, not directly onto
the cornea, to prevent corneal irritation. The client should close their eyes gently,
not tightly. The dropper tip should never touch the eye to prevent
contamination .
Question 6
A client is prescribed an enteric-coated tablet. Which action is correct?
• A) Crush the tablet before administration
• B) Administer the tablet whole
• C) Dissolve the tablet in water
• D) Cut the tablet in half
Answer: B
, Rationale: Enteric-coated tablets should not be crushed, cut, or dissolved; they
must be swallowed whole to prevent gastric irritation and to ensure the
medication is released at the appropriate site in the digestive tract .
Question 7
The PN is preparing to administer an intramuscular (IM) injection to an adult.
Which site is most appropriate?
• A) Dorsogluteal
• B) Deltoid
• C) Vastus lateralis
• D) Ventrogluteal
Answer: D
Rationale: The ventrogluteal site is the preferred IM injection site for adults due
to its location away from major nerves and blood vessels, reducing the risk of
injury .
Question 8
The PN is preparing to administer an IM injection to a 6-month-old infant. Which
site is most appropriate?
• A) Dorsogluteal
• B) Deltoid
• C) Vastus lateralis
• D) Ventrogluteal
Answer: C
Rationale: The vastus lateralis is the preferred IM injection site for infants and
children under 3 years of age. It is a large muscle with good blood flow and is
located away from major nerves and blood vessels .
