PHARMACOLOGY HESI EXAM |ACTUAL
QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-
2027 UPDATED EDITION |GRADED A+
Question 1
A 67-year-old client is discharg̣ed from the hospital with a prescription for dig̣oxin
(Lanoxin) 0.25 mg̣ daily. Which instruction should the nurse include in this client's
discharg̣e teaching̣ plan? (2/150)
a. Take the medication in the morning̣ before rising̣.
b. Take and record radial pulse rate daily.
c. Expect some vision chang̣es due to the medication.
d. Increase intake of foods rich in Vitamin K.
CORRECT ANSWER
ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Monitoring̣ pulse rate is very important when taking̣ dig̣oxin (Lanoxin) (B).
The client should be further instructed to report pulse rates below 60 or g̣reater than 110
and to withhold the dosag̣e until consulting̣ with a health care professional in such a case.
(A) is not necessary. Visual chang̣es are an indication of drug̣ toxicity. The client should be
instructed to report these immediately (C). A diet rich in Vitamin K is not necessary (D).
Question 2
Which symptoms are serious adverse effects of beta-adrenerg̣ic blockers such as
propranolol (Inderal)? (6/150)
a. Headache, hypertension, and blurred vision.
b. Wheezing̣, hypotension, and AV block.
c. Vomiting̣, dilated pupils, and papilledema.
d. Tinnitus, muscle weakness, and tachypnea.
1
@THE STUDY VAULT
,CORRECT ANSWER
ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: AV block is g̣enerally associated with bradycardia and results in potentially
life-threatening̣ decreases in cardiac output. Additionally, wheezing̣ secondary to
bronchospasm and hypotension represent life-threatening̣ respiratory and cardiac
disorders, therefore these symptoms represent the most serious adverse effects of beta-
blocking̣ ag̣ents (B). (A, C, and D) are not associated with beta blockers.
Question 3
What medication is useful in treating̣ dig̣oxin (Lanoxin) toxicity? (7/150)
a. Atropine sulfate (Atropine).
b. Isoproterenol (Isuprel)
c. Xylocaine (Lidocaine).
d. Dig̣oxin immune fab (Dig̣ibind).
CORRECT ANSWER
ANSWER: D
RATIONALE: Dig̣ibind (D) is an antibody which binds antig̣enically to unbound serum
dig̣oxin (Lanoxin) or dig̣itoxin (Dig̣italis) resulting̣ in renal excretion of the bound
complex.
Therefore it is useful in treating̣ this type of drug̣ toxicity. (A, B, and C) are not used to
treat dig̣itoxin (Lanoxin) toxicity
Question 4
When caring̣ for a client on dig̣oxin (Lanoxin) therapy the nurse knows to be alert for
dig̣oxin (Lanoxin) toxicity. Which finding̣ would predispose this client to developing̣
dig̣oxin toxicity? (8/150)
a. Low serum sodium.
2
, b. Hig̣h serum sodium.
c. Low serum potassium.
d. Hig̣h serum potassium.
CORRECT ANSWER
ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: Hypokalemia (C) predisposes the client on dig̣oxin to dig̣oxin toxicity,
usually presented as abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea, vomiting̣, visual disturbances,
bradycardia, and AV disassociation. Assessment of serum potassium levels with prompt
correction of hypokalemia are important interventions for the client taking̣ dig̣oxin.
Question 5
A 78-year-old client with cong̣estive heart failure receives a cardiac g̣lycoside, dig̣oxin
(Lanoxin) 0.25mg̣ po daily. Which observation by the nurse indicates that the medication
has been effective? (9/150)
a. Systolic blood pressure reading̣s rang̣es from 120 to 130.
b. Clear breath sounds anteriorly and posteriorly
c. Jug̣ular venous distention present with supine positioning̣.
d. Radial pulse volume of +4 bilaterally.
CORRECT ANSWER
ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Dig̣oxin improves cardiac contractility and decreases conduction, which will
increase cardiac output. A decrease in pulmonary symptoms (B) indicates that the
medication was effective in increasing̣ the cardiac output. Dig̣oxin (Lanoxin) does not
directly affect the blood pressure (A). Jug̣ular venous distention is a sig̣nificant findin g̣, IF
it was assessed with the head of the bed raised at least 30 deg̣rees (C). A pulse volume of
+4 is a bounding̣ pulse, indicating̣ fluid volume overload has not improved in the client
with CHF(D).
3
@THE STUDY VAULT
QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026-
2027 UPDATED EDITION |GRADED A+
Question 1
A 67-year-old client is discharg̣ed from the hospital with a prescription for dig̣oxin
(Lanoxin) 0.25 mg̣ daily. Which instruction should the nurse include in this client's
discharg̣e teaching̣ plan? (2/150)
a. Take the medication in the morning̣ before rising̣.
b. Take and record radial pulse rate daily.
c. Expect some vision chang̣es due to the medication.
d. Increase intake of foods rich in Vitamin K.
CORRECT ANSWER
ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Monitoring̣ pulse rate is very important when taking̣ dig̣oxin (Lanoxin) (B).
The client should be further instructed to report pulse rates below 60 or g̣reater than 110
and to withhold the dosag̣e until consulting̣ with a health care professional in such a case.
(A) is not necessary. Visual chang̣es are an indication of drug̣ toxicity. The client should be
instructed to report these immediately (C). A diet rich in Vitamin K is not necessary (D).
Question 2
Which symptoms are serious adverse effects of beta-adrenerg̣ic blockers such as
propranolol (Inderal)? (6/150)
a. Headache, hypertension, and blurred vision.
b. Wheezing̣, hypotension, and AV block.
c. Vomiting̣, dilated pupils, and papilledema.
d. Tinnitus, muscle weakness, and tachypnea.
1
@THE STUDY VAULT
,CORRECT ANSWER
ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: AV block is g̣enerally associated with bradycardia and results in potentially
life-threatening̣ decreases in cardiac output. Additionally, wheezing̣ secondary to
bronchospasm and hypotension represent life-threatening̣ respiratory and cardiac
disorders, therefore these symptoms represent the most serious adverse effects of beta-
blocking̣ ag̣ents (B). (A, C, and D) are not associated with beta blockers.
Question 3
What medication is useful in treating̣ dig̣oxin (Lanoxin) toxicity? (7/150)
a. Atropine sulfate (Atropine).
b. Isoproterenol (Isuprel)
c. Xylocaine (Lidocaine).
d. Dig̣oxin immune fab (Dig̣ibind).
CORRECT ANSWER
ANSWER: D
RATIONALE: Dig̣ibind (D) is an antibody which binds antig̣enically to unbound serum
dig̣oxin (Lanoxin) or dig̣itoxin (Dig̣italis) resulting̣ in renal excretion of the bound
complex.
Therefore it is useful in treating̣ this type of drug̣ toxicity. (A, B, and C) are not used to
treat dig̣itoxin (Lanoxin) toxicity
Question 4
When caring̣ for a client on dig̣oxin (Lanoxin) therapy the nurse knows to be alert for
dig̣oxin (Lanoxin) toxicity. Which finding̣ would predispose this client to developing̣
dig̣oxin toxicity? (8/150)
a. Low serum sodium.
2
, b. Hig̣h serum sodium.
c. Low serum potassium.
d. Hig̣h serum potassium.
CORRECT ANSWER
ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: Hypokalemia (C) predisposes the client on dig̣oxin to dig̣oxin toxicity,
usually presented as abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea, vomiting̣, visual disturbances,
bradycardia, and AV disassociation. Assessment of serum potassium levels with prompt
correction of hypokalemia are important interventions for the client taking̣ dig̣oxin.
Question 5
A 78-year-old client with cong̣estive heart failure receives a cardiac g̣lycoside, dig̣oxin
(Lanoxin) 0.25mg̣ po daily. Which observation by the nurse indicates that the medication
has been effective? (9/150)
a. Systolic blood pressure reading̣s rang̣es from 120 to 130.
b. Clear breath sounds anteriorly and posteriorly
c. Jug̣ular venous distention present with supine positioning̣.
d. Radial pulse volume of +4 bilaterally.
CORRECT ANSWER
ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Dig̣oxin improves cardiac contractility and decreases conduction, which will
increase cardiac output. A decrease in pulmonary symptoms (B) indicates that the
medication was effective in increasing̣ the cardiac output. Dig̣oxin (Lanoxin) does not
directly affect the blood pressure (A). Jug̣ular venous distention is a sig̣nificant findin g̣, IF
it was assessed with the head of the bed raised at least 30 deg̣rees (C). A pulse volume of
+4 is a bounding̣ pulse, indicating̣ fluid volume overload has not improved in the client
with CHF(D).
3
@THE STUDY VAULT
