HESI Exit Exam Pharmacology Practice
Questions
80 NCLEX-Style Multiple-Choice Questions
Topics: Drug Classifications, Side Effects, Nursing Interventions, Dosage
Calculations, Patient Teaching
May 31, 2025
Instructions
This document contains 80 NCLEX-style multiple-choice questions designed to prepare you
for the Pharmacology section of the HESI Exit Exam. Each question includes four answer
choices (AD), with the correct answer clearly indicated. Topics cover drug classifications, side
effects, nursing interventions, safe dosage calculations, and patient teaching. Use this practice
test to assess your pharmacology knowledge and clinical judgment. Good luck!
Practice Questions
A client is prescribed lisinopril for hypertension. Which side effect should the nurse monitor
for?
A) Persistent dry cough
A) B) Increased appetite
C) Bradycardia
D) Weight gain
Correct Answer: A
A nurse is preparing to administer 500 mg of amoxicillin PO every 8 hours. The pharmacy
provides 250 mg capsules. How many capsules should the nurse administer per dose?
A) 1 capsule
B) B) 2 capsules
C) 3 capsules
D) 4 capsules
Correct Answer: B
1
, A client receiving warfarin has an INR of 5.2. What should the nurse do first?
A) Administer the next dose as scheduled
B) Notify the healthcare provider
C)
C) Encourage a high-fiber diet
D) Monitor for signs of thrombosis
Correct Answer: B
A client is prescribed furosemide for heart failure. Which electrolyte imbalance should the
nurse monitor?
A) Hyperkalemia
D) B) Hypokalemia
C) Hypernatremia
D) Hypocalcemia
Correct Answer: B
A nurse is teaching a client about metformin for type 2 diabetes. Which instruction should be
included?
A) Take the medication with meals
E) B) Expect weight gain as a side effect
C) Avoid all carbohydrates
D) Take the medication at bedtime only
Correct Answer: A
A client is receiving IV heparin. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor closely?
A) Platelet count
B) aPTT
F)
C) INR
D) Hemoglobin
Correct Answer: B
A client is prescribed albuterol for asthma. What should the nurse teach the client to report?
A) Increased appetite
B) Tremors or nervousness
G)
C) Weight loss
D) Constipation
Correct Answer: B
2
, A nurse is to administer 10 mg of morphine sulfate IV every 4 hours. The vial contains 15
mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose?
A) 0.67 mL
H) B) 1.5 mL
C) 2 mL
D) 0.5 mL
Correct Answer: A
A client receiving digoxin reports nausea and blurred vision. What should the nurse do first?
A) Administer an antiemetic
B) Check the clients digoxin level
I)
C) Encourage fluid intake
D) Document and monitor
Correct Answer: B
A client is prescribed sertraline for depression. Which side effect should the nurse teach the
client to report?
A) Increased energy
J) B) Suicidal thoughts
C) Weight gain
D) Dry skin
Correct Answer: B
A nurse is administering insulin glargine to a client with diabetes. When is the best time to
administer this medication?
A) With breakfast
K) B) At bedtime
C) Before exercise
D) After meals
Correct Answer: B
A client is prescribed prednisone for rheumatoid arthritis. What should the nurse teach about
long-term use?
A) Take the medication on an empty stomach
L) B) Monitor for signs of infection
C) Expect permanent weight loss
D) Avoid calcium-rich foods
Correct Answer: B
3
Questions
80 NCLEX-Style Multiple-Choice Questions
Topics: Drug Classifications, Side Effects, Nursing Interventions, Dosage
Calculations, Patient Teaching
May 31, 2025
Instructions
This document contains 80 NCLEX-style multiple-choice questions designed to prepare you
for the Pharmacology section of the HESI Exit Exam. Each question includes four answer
choices (AD), with the correct answer clearly indicated. Topics cover drug classifications, side
effects, nursing interventions, safe dosage calculations, and patient teaching. Use this practice
test to assess your pharmacology knowledge and clinical judgment. Good luck!
Practice Questions
A client is prescribed lisinopril for hypertension. Which side effect should the nurse monitor
for?
A) Persistent dry cough
A) B) Increased appetite
C) Bradycardia
D) Weight gain
Correct Answer: A
A nurse is preparing to administer 500 mg of amoxicillin PO every 8 hours. The pharmacy
provides 250 mg capsules. How many capsules should the nurse administer per dose?
A) 1 capsule
B) B) 2 capsules
C) 3 capsules
D) 4 capsules
Correct Answer: B
1
, A client receiving warfarin has an INR of 5.2. What should the nurse do first?
A) Administer the next dose as scheduled
B) Notify the healthcare provider
C)
C) Encourage a high-fiber diet
D) Monitor for signs of thrombosis
Correct Answer: B
A client is prescribed furosemide for heart failure. Which electrolyte imbalance should the
nurse monitor?
A) Hyperkalemia
D) B) Hypokalemia
C) Hypernatremia
D) Hypocalcemia
Correct Answer: B
A nurse is teaching a client about metformin for type 2 diabetes. Which instruction should be
included?
A) Take the medication with meals
E) B) Expect weight gain as a side effect
C) Avoid all carbohydrates
D) Take the medication at bedtime only
Correct Answer: A
A client is receiving IV heparin. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor closely?
A) Platelet count
B) aPTT
F)
C) INR
D) Hemoglobin
Correct Answer: B
A client is prescribed albuterol for asthma. What should the nurse teach the client to report?
A) Increased appetite
B) Tremors or nervousness
G)
C) Weight loss
D) Constipation
Correct Answer: B
2
, A nurse is to administer 10 mg of morphine sulfate IV every 4 hours. The vial contains 15
mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose?
A) 0.67 mL
H) B) 1.5 mL
C) 2 mL
D) 0.5 mL
Correct Answer: A
A client receiving digoxin reports nausea and blurred vision. What should the nurse do first?
A) Administer an antiemetic
B) Check the clients digoxin level
I)
C) Encourage fluid intake
D) Document and monitor
Correct Answer: B
A client is prescribed sertraline for depression. Which side effect should the nurse teach the
client to report?
A) Increased energy
J) B) Suicidal thoughts
C) Weight gain
D) Dry skin
Correct Answer: B
A nurse is administering insulin glargine to a client with diabetes. When is the best time to
administer this medication?
A) With breakfast
K) B) At bedtime
C) Before exercise
D) After meals
Correct Answer: B
A client is prescribed prednisone for rheumatoid arthritis. What should the nurse teach about
long-term use?
A) Take the medication on an empty stomach
L) B) Monitor for signs of infection
C) Expect permanent weight loss
D) Avoid calcium-rich foods
Correct Answer: B
3
