HESI Pharmacology Exam
HESI Pharmacology Exam Study Guide
Questions and Answers 100% ACCURATE 2024-
2025
A client is ordered 22 mg of gentamicin by IM injection. The drug is available in 20 mg/2
mL. How many milliliters should be administered? _____ mL -Correct Answer ✔2.2
Dopamine is administered to a client who is hypotensive. Which finding should the
nurse identify as a therapeutic response? -Correct Answer ✔Increase in urine output
The health care provider prescribes ipratropium for a client. An allergic reaction to which
other medication would cause the nurse to question the prescription for ipratropium? -
Correct Answer ✔Atropine sulfate
The nurse is teaching a student about the dynamics of medication administration. Which
physiologic mechanism will the nurse include in the teaching which explains a drug's
increased metabolism triggered by a disease process? -Correct Answer
✔Pharmacokinetics
A client is taking famotidine. Which client statement should the nurse further assess
because it may indicate that the client is experiencing a side effect of this drug? -Correct
Answer ✔"I seem to be having difficulty thinking clearly."
A client has a positive skin test for tuberculosis. Which prophylactic drug should the
nurse expect to administer to this client? -Correct Answer ✔Isoniazid
In addition to nitrate therapy, a client is receiving nifedipine, 10 mg PO every 6 hours.
The nurse should plan to observe for which common side effect of this treatment
regimen? -Correct Answer ✔Hypotension
A client with chronic gouty arthritis is talking allopurinol, 100 mg PO daily. Which
laboratory serum level should the nurse report to the health care provider to determine
the therapeutic outcome? -Correct Answer ✔Uric acid level
The health care provider prescribes the anticonvulsant carbamazepine for an
adolescent client with a seizure disorder. The nurse should instruct the client to notify
the health care provider if which condition occurs? -Correct Answer ✔Develops a sore
throat
Methylphenidate is prescribed for daily administration to a 10-year-old child with
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In preparing a teaching plan for the
parents of this child newly diagnosed with ADHD, which instruction is most important for
HESI Pharmacology Exam
, HESI Pharmacology Exam
the nurse to provide to the parents? -Correct Answer ✔Administer the medication in the
morning before the child goes to school.
A client with metastatic cancer reports severe continuous pain. Which route of
administration should the nurse use to provide the most effective continuous analgesia?
-Correct Answer ✔Transdermal
A client is receiving antiinfective drug therapy for a postoperative infection. Which
complaint should alert the nurse to the possibility that the client has contracted a
superinfection? -Correct Answer ✔"My mouth feels sore."
A client receives an antihypertensive agent daily. Which action is most important for the
nurse to implement prior to administering the medication? -Correct Answer ✔Obtain the
client's blood pressure.
A male client asks the nurse why condoms should not be lubricated with the spermicide
nonoxynol-9. Which response is best for the nurse to provide? -Correct Answer
✔Nonoxynol-9 provides no protection from STDs and has been linked to the
transmission of HIV.
A client who is HIV-positive is receiving combination therapy with the antiviral
medication zidovudine. Which instruction should the nurse include in this client's
teaching plan? -Correct Answer ✔Return to the clinic every 2 weeks for blood counts.
A female client is receiving tamoxifen following surgery for breast cancer. She reports to
the nurse the onset of hot flashes. Which is the best nursing action? -Correct Answer
✔Instruct the client that hot flashes are a side effect that often occurs with the use of
this medication.
A client with angina pectoris is instructed to take sublingual nitroglycerin tablets PRN for
chest pain. Which instruction should the nurse include in the client's teaching plan? -
Correct Answer ✔Take one tablet at the onset of angina and stop activity.
A client who has chronic back pain is on long-term pain medication management and
asks the nurse why his pain relief therapy is not as effective as it was 2 months ago.
How should the nurse respond? -Correct Answer ✔"Tolerance to medication requires
increased drug levels to achieve the same effect."
A client with metastatic cancer who has been receiving fentanyl for several weeks
reports to the nurse that the medication is not effectively controlling the pain. Which
action should the nurse initiate? -Correct Answer ✔Notify the health care provider of the
need to increase the dose.
HESI Pharmacology Exam
HESI Pharmacology Exam Study Guide
Questions and Answers 100% ACCURATE 2024-
2025
A client is ordered 22 mg of gentamicin by IM injection. The drug is available in 20 mg/2
mL. How many milliliters should be administered? _____ mL -Correct Answer ✔2.2
Dopamine is administered to a client who is hypotensive. Which finding should the
nurse identify as a therapeutic response? -Correct Answer ✔Increase in urine output
The health care provider prescribes ipratropium for a client. An allergic reaction to which
other medication would cause the nurse to question the prescription for ipratropium? -
Correct Answer ✔Atropine sulfate
The nurse is teaching a student about the dynamics of medication administration. Which
physiologic mechanism will the nurse include in the teaching which explains a drug's
increased metabolism triggered by a disease process? -Correct Answer
✔Pharmacokinetics
A client is taking famotidine. Which client statement should the nurse further assess
because it may indicate that the client is experiencing a side effect of this drug? -Correct
Answer ✔"I seem to be having difficulty thinking clearly."
A client has a positive skin test for tuberculosis. Which prophylactic drug should the
nurse expect to administer to this client? -Correct Answer ✔Isoniazid
In addition to nitrate therapy, a client is receiving nifedipine, 10 mg PO every 6 hours.
The nurse should plan to observe for which common side effect of this treatment
regimen? -Correct Answer ✔Hypotension
A client with chronic gouty arthritis is talking allopurinol, 100 mg PO daily. Which
laboratory serum level should the nurse report to the health care provider to determine
the therapeutic outcome? -Correct Answer ✔Uric acid level
The health care provider prescribes the anticonvulsant carbamazepine for an
adolescent client with a seizure disorder. The nurse should instruct the client to notify
the health care provider if which condition occurs? -Correct Answer ✔Develops a sore
throat
Methylphenidate is prescribed for daily administration to a 10-year-old child with
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In preparing a teaching plan for the
parents of this child newly diagnosed with ADHD, which instruction is most important for
HESI Pharmacology Exam
, HESI Pharmacology Exam
the nurse to provide to the parents? -Correct Answer ✔Administer the medication in the
morning before the child goes to school.
A client with metastatic cancer reports severe continuous pain. Which route of
administration should the nurse use to provide the most effective continuous analgesia?
-Correct Answer ✔Transdermal
A client is receiving antiinfective drug therapy for a postoperative infection. Which
complaint should alert the nurse to the possibility that the client has contracted a
superinfection? -Correct Answer ✔"My mouth feels sore."
A client receives an antihypertensive agent daily. Which action is most important for the
nurse to implement prior to administering the medication? -Correct Answer ✔Obtain the
client's blood pressure.
A male client asks the nurse why condoms should not be lubricated with the spermicide
nonoxynol-9. Which response is best for the nurse to provide? -Correct Answer
✔Nonoxynol-9 provides no protection from STDs and has been linked to the
transmission of HIV.
A client who is HIV-positive is receiving combination therapy with the antiviral
medication zidovudine. Which instruction should the nurse include in this client's
teaching plan? -Correct Answer ✔Return to the clinic every 2 weeks for blood counts.
A female client is receiving tamoxifen following surgery for breast cancer. She reports to
the nurse the onset of hot flashes. Which is the best nursing action? -Correct Answer
✔Instruct the client that hot flashes are a side effect that often occurs with the use of
this medication.
A client with angina pectoris is instructed to take sublingual nitroglycerin tablets PRN for
chest pain. Which instruction should the nurse include in the client's teaching plan? -
Correct Answer ✔Take one tablet at the onset of angina and stop activity.
A client who has chronic back pain is on long-term pain medication management and
asks the nurse why his pain relief therapy is not as effective as it was 2 months ago.
How should the nurse respond? -Correct Answer ✔"Tolerance to medication requires
increased drug levels to achieve the same effect."
A client with metastatic cancer who has been receiving fentanyl for several weeks
reports to the nurse that the medication is not effectively controlling the pain. Which
action should the nurse initiate? -Correct Answer ✔Notify the health care provider of the
need to increase the dose.
HESI Pharmacology Exam
