1
BSN 315
BSN 315 HESI PHARMACOLOGY EXAM (2025/
2026 UPDATE) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS| GRADE A|
100% CORRECT (VERIFIED SOLUTIONS)
1. A client receives a prescription for sulfamethoxazole-
trimethoprim for a urinary tract infection (UTI). Which instruction
should the nurse provide the client?
1.Ingest food prior to taking the antibiotic.
2.Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
3.Take the medication with grapefruit juice.
4.Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight.: Drink at least 8 glasses of
water a day.
Rationale
To decrease the risk of renal damage due to crystalluria associated
with sulfamethoxazole, the client should be instructed to consume at
BSN 315
, 2
BSN 315
least 8 glasses of water a day. To increase absorption,
sulfamethoxazole should be given on an empty stomach.
2. The nurse reviews the new prescription, phenelzine, a
monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), for a client on the
psychiatric unit with depression. Which information is most
important for the nurse to assess?
1.Consumption of any alcohol or tyramine-rich foods.
2.Complaints of nausea or vomiting.
3.Therapeutic serum drug levels.
4.Blood pressure and pulse prior to taking each dose:
Consumption of any alcohol or tyramine-rich foods.
Rationale
The consumption of any type of tyramine-containing foods such as
aged cheeses, fermented fruits and vegetables, smoked or cured
meats, dark wines, and other alcoholic products should be avoided
when a client is prescribed an MAOI due to the food-drug interaction
causing a hypertensive crisis which can lead to a hemorrhagic stroke.
BSN 315
, 3
BSN 315
3. A male client with meningitis is prescribed cefotaxime IV and
asks the nurse why he cannot receive an oral drug, such as
cefaclor or cefadroxil, that he has taken before for infections.
How should the nurse respond when considering the actions of
cephalosporins?
1.Cefazolin is another IV antibiotic that can be prescribed.
2.Cefaclor is a good alternative to suggest to the healthcare
provider.
3.Cefadroxil is usually prescribed when the IV is discontinued.
4.Cefotaxime provides therapeutic CNS concentrations.:
Cefotaxime provides therapeutic CNS concentrations.
Rationale
According to research studies, only third-generation cephalosporins
such as cefotaxime and ceftazidime have been shown effective in
treating bacterial meningitis with the exception of cefuroxime, the only
second-generation cephalosporin shown to be effective. First-
generation cephalosporins have not been successful in the treatment
BSN 315
, 4
BSN 315
of bacterial meningitis. IV administration of these antibiotics is the
preferred route of administration due to oral administration medication
levels tend to be too low to be effective in comparison to parental
administration.
4. A client receives a prescription for esomeprazole 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.: History of deep vein
thrombosis.
Rationale
Esomeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), may increase the chance
of bleeding in a client who is taking both PPI and warfarin, which is
used in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The healthcare
BSN 315
BSN 315
BSN 315 HESI PHARMACOLOGY EXAM (2025/
2026 UPDATE) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS| GRADE A|
100% CORRECT (VERIFIED SOLUTIONS)
1. A client receives a prescription for sulfamethoxazole-
trimethoprim for a urinary tract infection (UTI). Which instruction
should the nurse provide the client?
1.Ingest food prior to taking the antibiotic.
2.Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
3.Take the medication with grapefruit juice.
4.Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight.: Drink at least 8 glasses of
water a day.
Rationale
To decrease the risk of renal damage due to crystalluria associated
with sulfamethoxazole, the client should be instructed to consume at
BSN 315
, 2
BSN 315
least 8 glasses of water a day. To increase absorption,
sulfamethoxazole should be given on an empty stomach.
2. The nurse reviews the new prescription, phenelzine, a
monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), for a client on the
psychiatric unit with depression. Which information is most
important for the nurse to assess?
1.Consumption of any alcohol or tyramine-rich foods.
2.Complaints of nausea or vomiting.
3.Therapeutic serum drug levels.
4.Blood pressure and pulse prior to taking each dose:
Consumption of any alcohol or tyramine-rich foods.
Rationale
The consumption of any type of tyramine-containing foods such as
aged cheeses, fermented fruits and vegetables, smoked or cured
meats, dark wines, and other alcoholic products should be avoided
when a client is prescribed an MAOI due to the food-drug interaction
causing a hypertensive crisis which can lead to a hemorrhagic stroke.
BSN 315
, 3
BSN 315
3. A male client with meningitis is prescribed cefotaxime IV and
asks the nurse why he cannot receive an oral drug, such as
cefaclor or cefadroxil, that he has taken before for infections.
How should the nurse respond when considering the actions of
cephalosporins?
1.Cefazolin is another IV antibiotic that can be prescribed.
2.Cefaclor is a good alternative to suggest to the healthcare
provider.
3.Cefadroxil is usually prescribed when the IV is discontinued.
4.Cefotaxime provides therapeutic CNS concentrations.:
Cefotaxime provides therapeutic CNS concentrations.
Rationale
According to research studies, only third-generation cephalosporins
such as cefotaxime and ceftazidime have been shown effective in
treating bacterial meningitis with the exception of cefuroxime, the only
second-generation cephalosporin shown to be effective. First-
generation cephalosporins have not been successful in the treatment
BSN 315
, 4
BSN 315
of bacterial meningitis. IV administration of these antibiotics is the
preferred route of administration due to oral administration medication
levels tend to be too low to be effective in comparison to parental
administration.
4. A client receives a prescription for esomeprazole 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.: History of deep vein
thrombosis.
Rationale
Esomeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), may increase the chance
of bleeding in a client who is taking both PPI and warfarin, which is
used in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The healthcare
BSN 315
