Pharmacology Nursing Practice Questions 2026: 100
NCLEX-Style Questions, Answers & Rationales
1. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to an adult client. Which finding should
cause the nurse to withhold the medication and notify the provider?
A. Heart rate of 54/min
B. Respiratory rate of 18/min
C. Blood pressure of 128/76 mmHg
D. Temperature of 37°C
Answer: A. Heart rate of 54/min
Rationale: Digoxin can cause bradycardia. The nurse should assess the apical pulse
before administration and generally withhold the medication for significant bradycardia
according to facility parameters.
2. Which medication is the antidote for heparin overdose?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Naloxone
D. Acetylcysteine
Answer: B. Protamine sulfate
Rationale: Protamine sulfate reverses the anticoagulant effects of heparin.
3. A client taking warfarin should be taught to maintain a consistent intake of which
vitamin?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin B12
C. Vitamin C
D. Vitamin K
Answer: D. Vitamin K
Rationale: Vitamin K affects blood clotting and can reduce warfarin’s anticoagulant
effect. Clients should maintain a consistent dietary intake rather than suddenly
increasing or eliminating vitamin K-rich foods.
,4. Which assessment finding in a client receiving morphine requires the nurse’s
immediate attention?
A. Constipation
B. Nausea
C. Respiratory rate of 8/min
D. Mild drowsiness
Answer: C. Respiratory rate of 8/min
Rationale: Opioids can cause life-threatening respiratory depression. A markedly
decreased respiratory rate requires immediate assessment and intervention.
5. Which medication reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Atropine
Answer: B. Naloxone
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid-induced respiratory
and central nervous system depression.
6. A client taking lisinopril develops swelling of the lips and tongue. What should the
nurse do first?
A. Administer the next dose with food
B. Encourage oral fluids
C. Hold the medication and seek emergency treatment
D. Place the client in a supine position
Answer: C. Hold the medication and seek emergency treatment
Rationale: Facial, lip, or tongue swelling may indicate angioedema, a potentially life-
threatening reaction that can obstruct the airway.
7. Which adverse effect is commonly associated with ACE inhibitors?
A. Dry cough
B. Hearing loss
, C. Severe constipation
D. Increased appetite
Answer: A. Dry cough
Rationale: A persistent dry cough is a common adverse effect of ACE inhibitors such as
lisinopril.
8. Which laboratory value is especially important to monitor in a client receiving
furosemide?
A. Potassium
B. Hemoglobin A1c
C. Platelet count
D. Amylase
Answer: A. Potassium
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause significant potassium loss,
potentially resulting in hypokalemia.
9. Which medication is classified as a potassium-sparing diuretic?
A. Furosemide
B. Hydrochlorothiazide
C. Spironolactone
D. Mannitol
Answer: C. Spironolactone
Rationale: Spironolactone decreases potassium excretion and can cause hyperkalemia.
10. A client taking spironolactone should be taught to avoid excessive consumption of:
A. Apples
B. White rice
C. Potassium-rich foods
D. Bread
Answer: C. Potassium-rich foods
NCLEX-Style Questions, Answers & Rationales
1. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to an adult client. Which finding should
cause the nurse to withhold the medication and notify the provider?
A. Heart rate of 54/min
B. Respiratory rate of 18/min
C. Blood pressure of 128/76 mmHg
D. Temperature of 37°C
Answer: A. Heart rate of 54/min
Rationale: Digoxin can cause bradycardia. The nurse should assess the apical pulse
before administration and generally withhold the medication for significant bradycardia
according to facility parameters.
2. Which medication is the antidote for heparin overdose?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine sulfate
C. Naloxone
D. Acetylcysteine
Answer: B. Protamine sulfate
Rationale: Protamine sulfate reverses the anticoagulant effects of heparin.
3. A client taking warfarin should be taught to maintain a consistent intake of which
vitamin?
A. Vitamin A
B. Vitamin B12
C. Vitamin C
D. Vitamin K
Answer: D. Vitamin K
Rationale: Vitamin K affects blood clotting and can reduce warfarin’s anticoagulant
effect. Clients should maintain a consistent dietary intake rather than suddenly
increasing or eliminating vitamin K-rich foods.
,4. Which assessment finding in a client receiving morphine requires the nurse’s
immediate attention?
A. Constipation
B. Nausea
C. Respiratory rate of 8/min
D. Mild drowsiness
Answer: C. Respiratory rate of 8/min
Rationale: Opioids can cause life-threatening respiratory depression. A markedly
decreased respiratory rate requires immediate assessment and intervention.
5. Which medication reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression?
A. Flumazenil
B. Naloxone
C. Protamine sulfate
D. Atropine
Answer: B. Naloxone
Rationale: Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid-induced respiratory
and central nervous system depression.
6. A client taking lisinopril develops swelling of the lips and tongue. What should the
nurse do first?
A. Administer the next dose with food
B. Encourage oral fluids
C. Hold the medication and seek emergency treatment
D. Place the client in a supine position
Answer: C. Hold the medication and seek emergency treatment
Rationale: Facial, lip, or tongue swelling may indicate angioedema, a potentially life-
threatening reaction that can obstruct the airway.
7. Which adverse effect is commonly associated with ACE inhibitors?
A. Dry cough
B. Hearing loss
, C. Severe constipation
D. Increased appetite
Answer: A. Dry cough
Rationale: A persistent dry cough is a common adverse effect of ACE inhibitors such as
lisinopril.
8. Which laboratory value is especially important to monitor in a client receiving
furosemide?
A. Potassium
B. Hemoglobin A1c
C. Platelet count
D. Amylase
Answer: A. Potassium
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause significant potassium loss,
potentially resulting in hypokalemia.
9. Which medication is classified as a potassium-sparing diuretic?
A. Furosemide
B. Hydrochlorothiazide
C. Spironolactone
D. Mannitol
Answer: C. Spironolactone
Rationale: Spironolactone decreases potassium excretion and can cause hyperkalemia.
10. A client taking spironolactone should be taught to avoid excessive consumption of:
A. Apples
B. White rice
C. Potassium-rich foods
D. Bread
Answer: C. Potassium-rich foods
