HESI Pharmacology Specialty Exam: 80
Original NCLEX-Style Practice Questions
with Comprehensive Answers
Instructions
The following are 80 original NCLEX-style multiple-choice questions designed for the
HESI Pharmacology Specialty Exam. Each question includes four answer options (A–D).
Select the best answer for each question. Topics include drug classifications, mecha-
nisms of action, side effects, nursing interventions, antidotes, patient teaching, and safe
administration.
1. A nurse is caring for a patient with hypertension prescribed losartan 50 mg daily.
What is the mechanism of action of this medication?
A. Inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme
B. Blocks angiotensin II receptors
C. Inhibits sodium reabsorption in the kidneys
D. Blocks beta-adrenergic receptors
Correct Answer: B. Losartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) that
reduces blood pressure by blocking angiotensin II receptors.
2. A patient receiving chemotherapy is prescribed aprepitant. What is the primary
purpose of this medication?
A. Prevent nausea and vomiting
B. Boost immune response
C. Reduce tumor size
D. Manage pain
Correct Answer: A. Aprepitant is an antiemetic used to prevent chemotherapy-
induced nausea and vomiting.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer IV vancomycin to a patient with a MRSA infec-
tion. What is a priority nursing intervention?
A. Administer over 30 minutes
B. Monitor for red man syndrome
C. Check blood glucose levels
D. Assess for hypertension
Correct Answer: B. Vancomycin can cause red man syndrome; slow infusion and
monitoring are essential.
1
, 4. A patient is prescribed sertraline for depression. What should the nurse include in
patient teaching?
A. Take with grapefruit juice
B. Report increased suicidal thoughts
C. Expect immediate mood improvement
D. Increase alcohol consumption
Correct Answer: B. Sertraline, an SSRI, may increase suicidal thoughts initially;
patients should report this.
5. A nurse is administering insulin aspart to a patient with diabetes. How many
minutes before a meal should it be given?
A. 5–15
B. 30–45
C. 60–90
D. 120–180
Correct Answer: A. Insulin aspart, a rapid-acting insulin, should be given 5–15
minutes before meals.
6. A patient with atrial fibrillation is prescribed dabigatran. What is the drug’s clas-
sification?
A. Direct thrombin inhibitor
B. Vitamin K antagonist
C. Antiplatelet agent
D. Beta-blocker
Correct Answer: A. Dabigatran is a direct thrombin inhibitor used as an anticoag-
ulant.
7. A patient receiving morphine reports severe constipation. What should the nurse
recommend?
A. Increase fiber intake
B. Decrease fluid intake
C. Stop the medication
D. Take an antacid
Correct Answer: A. Constipation is a common side effect of morphine; increasing
fiber helps manage it.
8. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin 0.125 mg orally. What should be checked
before administration?
A. Apical pulse
B. Blood glucose
C. Respiratory rate
D. Blood pressure
Correct Answer: A. Checking the apical pulse is essential to detect bradycardia
before giving digoxin.
9. A patient is prescribed prednisone for rheumatoid arthritis. What is a long-term
side effect to monitor?
A. Weight loss
B. Bone density loss
C. Hypoglycemia
2
Original NCLEX-Style Practice Questions
with Comprehensive Answers
Instructions
The following are 80 original NCLEX-style multiple-choice questions designed for the
HESI Pharmacology Specialty Exam. Each question includes four answer options (A–D).
Select the best answer for each question. Topics include drug classifications, mecha-
nisms of action, side effects, nursing interventions, antidotes, patient teaching, and safe
administration.
1. A nurse is caring for a patient with hypertension prescribed losartan 50 mg daily.
What is the mechanism of action of this medication?
A. Inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme
B. Blocks angiotensin II receptors
C. Inhibits sodium reabsorption in the kidneys
D. Blocks beta-adrenergic receptors
Correct Answer: B. Losartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) that
reduces blood pressure by blocking angiotensin II receptors.
2. A patient receiving chemotherapy is prescribed aprepitant. What is the primary
purpose of this medication?
A. Prevent nausea and vomiting
B. Boost immune response
C. Reduce tumor size
D. Manage pain
Correct Answer: A. Aprepitant is an antiemetic used to prevent chemotherapy-
induced nausea and vomiting.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer IV vancomycin to a patient with a MRSA infec-
tion. What is a priority nursing intervention?
A. Administer over 30 minutes
B. Monitor for red man syndrome
C. Check blood glucose levels
D. Assess for hypertension
Correct Answer: B. Vancomycin can cause red man syndrome; slow infusion and
monitoring are essential.
1
, 4. A patient is prescribed sertraline for depression. What should the nurse include in
patient teaching?
A. Take with grapefruit juice
B. Report increased suicidal thoughts
C. Expect immediate mood improvement
D. Increase alcohol consumption
Correct Answer: B. Sertraline, an SSRI, may increase suicidal thoughts initially;
patients should report this.
5. A nurse is administering insulin aspart to a patient with diabetes. How many
minutes before a meal should it be given?
A. 5–15
B. 30–45
C. 60–90
D. 120–180
Correct Answer: A. Insulin aspart, a rapid-acting insulin, should be given 5–15
minutes before meals.
6. A patient with atrial fibrillation is prescribed dabigatran. What is the drug’s clas-
sification?
A. Direct thrombin inhibitor
B. Vitamin K antagonist
C. Antiplatelet agent
D. Beta-blocker
Correct Answer: A. Dabigatran is a direct thrombin inhibitor used as an anticoag-
ulant.
7. A patient receiving morphine reports severe constipation. What should the nurse
recommend?
A. Increase fiber intake
B. Decrease fluid intake
C. Stop the medication
D. Take an antacid
Correct Answer: A. Constipation is a common side effect of morphine; increasing
fiber helps manage it.
8. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin 0.125 mg orally. What should be checked
before administration?
A. Apical pulse
B. Blood glucose
C. Respiratory rate
D. Blood pressure
Correct Answer: A. Checking the apical pulse is essential to detect bradycardia
before giving digoxin.
9. A patient is prescribed prednisone for rheumatoid arthritis. What is a long-term
side effect to monitor?
A. Weight loss
B. Bone density loss
C. Hypoglycemia
2
