PHARMACOLOGY HESI PRACTICE 2 EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
2025/2026
A client receives a prescription for esomeprazole (Nexium) for heartburn.
Which finding in the client's history should the nurse report to the
healthcare provider before administering the prescription?
Eats spicy food three times a week.
History of deep vein thrombosis.
Drinks 2 alcoholic beverages on weekends.
Family history of diabetes mellitus. - ANSWER -History of deep vein
thrombosis.
A male client who is in the terminal stage of cancer is cared for at home by
his family and receives a prescription for morphine at a rate to control
intractable pain. When the hospice nurse visits, the client awakens, moans
in severe pain, and asks for an increase in the morphine dosage. After
determining the client's respirations are 10 per minute, what is the best
action for the nurse to implement?
Titrate the morphine dose upward until the client has adequate pain relief.
Suggest to the family that they can also give the client ibuprofen, a non-
narcotic analgesic.
Hold additional morphine until the client's respirations are at least 16 per
minute.
Inform the client that an increased dose of morphine increases side effects
without additional pain control. - ANSWER -Titrate the morphine dose
upward until the client has adequate pain relief.
,A client with Paget's disease is started on calcitonin (Calcimar) 500 mcg
subcutaneously daily. During the initial treatment, what is the priority
nursing action?
Assess the injection site for inflammation.
Evaluate the client's level of pain.
Monitor the client's alkaline phosphatase levels.
Observe the client for signs of hypersensitivity. - ANSWER -Observe the
client for signs of hypersensitivity.
A client is taking cyclosporine for renal allograft rejection prevention. After 9
months of drug therapy, the nurse reviews laboratory data and notes that
the blood urea nitrogen level is 36 mg/dl. What additional finding should the
nurse identify?
Hypotension.
White blood cell count 10,000.
Creatinine 28 mg/dl.
Anaphylactic reaction. - ANSWER -Creatinine 28 mg/dl.
The nurse receives a unit of blood from the blood bank for a postoperative
client who is currently in the X-ray department. What action should the
nurse implement?
Return the blood to the blood bank for refrigeration within 30 minutes.
Hang the blood transfusion as soon as the client returns to the unit.
Store the blood bag in the nursing unit's refrigerator until the client returns.
Take the unit of blood to the X-ray department to initiate the transfusion. -
ANSWER -Return the blood to the blood bank for refrigeration within 30
minutes.
, Which side effects should the nurse monitor for a client who is receiving
dexamethasone (Decadron) following neurosurgery? (Select all that apply.)
Select all that apply
Mood swings.
Decreased appetite.
Increased weight gain.
Serum glucose level of 65 mg/dl.
Delayed incisional wound healing.
Serum hemoglobin level of 9 mg/dl. - ANSWER -Mood swings.
Increased weight gain.
Delayed incisional wound healing.
Serum hemoglobin level of 9 mg/dl.
A client is taking danazol (Danocrine) for endometriosis and calls the clinic
nurse to complain of a dark, swollen, and painful leg. What instructions
should the nurse provide the client?
Wear support stockings.
Elevate both legs and apply heat.
Proceed to the closest emergency room.
Walk for 20 to 30 minutes to reduce muscle cramps. - ANSWER -Proceed to
the closest emergency room.
A client asks the nurse to explain the meaning of a narrow therapeutic index
of a medication. What information should the nurse use to ANSWER the
question?
The onset of action for the medication occurs very quickly.
A small margin exists between safe and toxic plasma levels.
Bioavailability is significantly reduced by the first-pass effect.
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
2025/2026
A client receives a prescription for esomeprazole (Nexium) for heartburn.
Which finding in the client's history should the nurse report to the
healthcare provider before administering the prescription?
Eats spicy food three times a week.
History of deep vein thrombosis.
Drinks 2 alcoholic beverages on weekends.
Family history of diabetes mellitus. - ANSWER -History of deep vein
thrombosis.
A male client who is in the terminal stage of cancer is cared for at home by
his family and receives a prescription for morphine at a rate to control
intractable pain. When the hospice nurse visits, the client awakens, moans
in severe pain, and asks for an increase in the morphine dosage. After
determining the client's respirations are 10 per minute, what is the best
action for the nurse to implement?
Titrate the morphine dose upward until the client has adequate pain relief.
Suggest to the family that they can also give the client ibuprofen, a non-
narcotic analgesic.
Hold additional morphine until the client's respirations are at least 16 per
minute.
Inform the client that an increased dose of morphine increases side effects
without additional pain control. - ANSWER -Titrate the morphine dose
upward until the client has adequate pain relief.
,A client with Paget's disease is started on calcitonin (Calcimar) 500 mcg
subcutaneously daily. During the initial treatment, what is the priority
nursing action?
Assess the injection site for inflammation.
Evaluate the client's level of pain.
Monitor the client's alkaline phosphatase levels.
Observe the client for signs of hypersensitivity. - ANSWER -Observe the
client for signs of hypersensitivity.
A client is taking cyclosporine for renal allograft rejection prevention. After 9
months of drug therapy, the nurse reviews laboratory data and notes that
the blood urea nitrogen level is 36 mg/dl. What additional finding should the
nurse identify?
Hypotension.
White blood cell count 10,000.
Creatinine 28 mg/dl.
Anaphylactic reaction. - ANSWER -Creatinine 28 mg/dl.
The nurse receives a unit of blood from the blood bank for a postoperative
client who is currently in the X-ray department. What action should the
nurse implement?
Return the blood to the blood bank for refrigeration within 30 minutes.
Hang the blood transfusion as soon as the client returns to the unit.
Store the blood bag in the nursing unit's refrigerator until the client returns.
Take the unit of blood to the X-ray department to initiate the transfusion. -
ANSWER -Return the blood to the blood bank for refrigeration within 30
minutes.
, Which side effects should the nurse monitor for a client who is receiving
dexamethasone (Decadron) following neurosurgery? (Select all that apply.)
Select all that apply
Mood swings.
Decreased appetite.
Increased weight gain.
Serum glucose level of 65 mg/dl.
Delayed incisional wound healing.
Serum hemoglobin level of 9 mg/dl. - ANSWER -Mood swings.
Increased weight gain.
Delayed incisional wound healing.
Serum hemoglobin level of 9 mg/dl.
A client is taking danazol (Danocrine) for endometriosis and calls the clinic
nurse to complain of a dark, swollen, and painful leg. What instructions
should the nurse provide the client?
Wear support stockings.
Elevate both legs and apply heat.
Proceed to the closest emergency room.
Walk for 20 to 30 minutes to reduce muscle cramps. - ANSWER -Proceed to
the closest emergency room.
A client asks the nurse to explain the meaning of a narrow therapeutic index
of a medication. What information should the nurse use to ANSWER the
question?
The onset of action for the medication occurs very quickly.
A small margin exists between safe and toxic plasma levels.
Bioavailability is significantly reduced by the first-pass effect.
