Pharmacology HESI Exam Questions with Accurate Answers.
What two medications can create a high risk of digoxin toxicity if taken long-
term and daily? - accurate answers-Digoxin and Furosemide (Lasix)
What dangers can Lasix cause? - accurate answers-Hypokalemia leading to
digoxin toxicity
Normal Digoxin levels - accurate answers-0.5 - 2 ng/ml
Normal serum potassium levels - accurate answers-3.5 to 5 mEq/L
Low potassium or magnesium levels may increase risk for what toxicity? -
accurate answers-Digoxin toxicity
Signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity - accurate answers-Anorexia,
bradycardia, headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea and visual disturbances
(blurred vision, yellow vision and/or halo vision)
1When should you hold the Labetolol and notify the prescriber? - accurate
answers-When the pt's pulse rate too low
What are the side effects of Labetolol? - accurate answers-Weight gain due to
fluid retention
What is the best indication for fluid gain or loss? - accurate answers-
Monitoring pt's weight
How much weight should the patient be losing when taking Labetolol? -
accurate answers-1kg (2.2 lb.) = 1,000 mL fluid gain or loss in 24 hours.
When should you remove the nitroglycerin transdermal patch? - accurate
answers-At night
Why should you remove the nitroglycerin transdermal patch at night? -
accurate answers-It can produce tolerance when worn for 24 hours
How long should be without the nitroglycerin transdermal patch at night? -
accurate answers-8 hours
,Can a patient take sublingual nitroglycerin when wearing the patch and is
experiencing chest pain? - accurate answers-Yes
Why wear gloves when applying nitroglycerin paste or patch? - accurate
answers-Because it can cause severe vasodilation, decrease blood pressure,
intense headache to the administrator.
What can you give to a patient who is taken the nitroglycerin paste/patch and
is experiencing a headache? - accurate answers-Acetaminophen
What action should you take when the patient is experiencing angina and is
prescribed nitro? - accurate answers-If the vital signs are okay, leave the
nitroglycerin patch and administer the PRN sublingual nitro.
When a patient is in CCU/ICU and is on nitro drip what is expected? - accurate
answers-They become hypotensive
What should you do when the patient on the nitro drip is experiencing
hypotension? - accurate answers-Decrease the rate of the nitro drip.
What is the common ending for calcium channel blockers? - accurate
answers--dipine
What are the other two names for calcium channel blockers that do not end in
-dipine? - accurate answers-Verapamil (Calan) and Diltiazem (Cardizem)
"Dipines" affect only what? - accurate answers-Vessels (vasodilation)
What are side effects of calcium channel blockers? - accurate answers-
Dizziness, facial flushing, hypotension and edema.
Verapamil (Calan) and Diltiazem (Cardizem) also affect what? - accurate
answers-The heart and vessels
What should you monitor when the patient is taking calcium channel blocker?
- accurate answers-Blood pressure and decrease heart rate.
,What is another side effect in Verapamil (Calan) and Diltiazem (Cardizem)? -
accurate answers-Constipation
What is a beverage that you should avoid when taking calcium channel
blockers? - accurate answers-Grapefruit juice
Aliskiren (Tekturna) is what kind of medication? - accurate answers-Direct
renin inhibitor
What does Aliskiren (Tekturna) treat? - accurate answers-Hypertension
What are some teaching interventions when taking Aliskiren (Tekturna)? -
accurate answers-Don't take if pregnant (stop the drug immediately when the
patient is pregnant). Don't take with high fat meal.
What does Aliskiren (Tekturna) increase and what should they avoid? -
accurate answers-They increase potassium levels so don't take medications
that increase potassium.
Furosemide (Lasix) is what kind of drug? - accurate answers-Loop diuretic
Is furosemide (Lasix) slow or rapid acting? - accurate answers-Rapid
What is the use for furosemide (Lasix)? - accurate answers-Rapid diuresis in
emergencies such as pulmonary edema.
Furosemide (Lasix) may produce what kind of adverse effect? - accurate
answers-Hypokalemia
What should you assess when you suspect patient of hypokalemia? - accurate
answers-Muscle cramps and muscle weakness.
What also should you assess when patient is experiencing some adverse
effects of furosemide (Lasix)? - accurate answers-Hypotension, fluid and
electrolyte abnormalities, and dehydration.
What are the side effects of furosemide (Lasix)? - accurate answers-Dizziness,
headache, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low potassium levels,
hyperglycemia, ototoxicity with aminoglycosides (drugs that end in -mycin).
, What is biggest side effect concern when patient taking furosemide (Lasix)? -
accurate answers-Low potassium levels
When a patient needs potassium supplements what are some foods a patient
can consume that contain potassium? - accurate answers-Dried fruits, fish,
leafy veggies, squash, beans, meats, nuts, bananas, potatoes, and diary
products.
What is another name for IV potassium? - accurate answers-KCl
What should you assess when the patient is on IV potassium? - accurate
answers-Overall condition of the veins.
Which vein should you use when administering IV potassium? - accurate
answers-Large vein, like the antecubital vein.
Why is venous access important when administering IV potassium? - accurate
answers-Because it can irritate the skin.
What should you do when the patient is burning at the site during the IV
potassium? - accurate answers-Notify the nurse immediately
IV Potassium extravasation can cause what? - accurate answers-Necrosis of
the tissues
What should you assess and confirm prior to administering IV potassium? -
accurate answers-Calculate and set the rate as ordered, know anticipated
duration of therapy and know the restrictions imposed by patient's history.
Do not give what kind of IV during IV potassium? - accurate answers-IV push
You should infuse the IV potassium rate no greater than what in peripheral
IV? - accurate answers-10 mEq/hr.
You should infuse the IV potassium rate no greater than what in central line? -
accurate answers-20 mEq/hr.
Always use what for IV potassium? - accurate answers-Infusion pump
What two medications can create a high risk of digoxin toxicity if taken long-
term and daily? - accurate answers-Digoxin and Furosemide (Lasix)
What dangers can Lasix cause? - accurate answers-Hypokalemia leading to
digoxin toxicity
Normal Digoxin levels - accurate answers-0.5 - 2 ng/ml
Normal serum potassium levels - accurate answers-3.5 to 5 mEq/L
Low potassium or magnesium levels may increase risk for what toxicity? -
accurate answers-Digoxin toxicity
Signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity - accurate answers-Anorexia,
bradycardia, headache, dizziness, confusion, nausea and visual disturbances
(blurred vision, yellow vision and/or halo vision)
1When should you hold the Labetolol and notify the prescriber? - accurate
answers-When the pt's pulse rate too low
What are the side effects of Labetolol? - accurate answers-Weight gain due to
fluid retention
What is the best indication for fluid gain or loss? - accurate answers-
Monitoring pt's weight
How much weight should the patient be losing when taking Labetolol? -
accurate answers-1kg (2.2 lb.) = 1,000 mL fluid gain or loss in 24 hours.
When should you remove the nitroglycerin transdermal patch? - accurate
answers-At night
Why should you remove the nitroglycerin transdermal patch at night? -
accurate answers-It can produce tolerance when worn for 24 hours
How long should be without the nitroglycerin transdermal patch at night? -
accurate answers-8 hours
,Can a patient take sublingual nitroglycerin when wearing the patch and is
experiencing chest pain? - accurate answers-Yes
Why wear gloves when applying nitroglycerin paste or patch? - accurate
answers-Because it can cause severe vasodilation, decrease blood pressure,
intense headache to the administrator.
What can you give to a patient who is taken the nitroglycerin paste/patch and
is experiencing a headache? - accurate answers-Acetaminophen
What action should you take when the patient is experiencing angina and is
prescribed nitro? - accurate answers-If the vital signs are okay, leave the
nitroglycerin patch and administer the PRN sublingual nitro.
When a patient is in CCU/ICU and is on nitro drip what is expected? - accurate
answers-They become hypotensive
What should you do when the patient on the nitro drip is experiencing
hypotension? - accurate answers-Decrease the rate of the nitro drip.
What is the common ending for calcium channel blockers? - accurate
answers--dipine
What are the other two names for calcium channel blockers that do not end in
-dipine? - accurate answers-Verapamil (Calan) and Diltiazem (Cardizem)
"Dipines" affect only what? - accurate answers-Vessels (vasodilation)
What are side effects of calcium channel blockers? - accurate answers-
Dizziness, facial flushing, hypotension and edema.
Verapamil (Calan) and Diltiazem (Cardizem) also affect what? - accurate
answers-The heart and vessels
What should you monitor when the patient is taking calcium channel blocker?
- accurate answers-Blood pressure and decrease heart rate.
,What is another side effect in Verapamil (Calan) and Diltiazem (Cardizem)? -
accurate answers-Constipation
What is a beverage that you should avoid when taking calcium channel
blockers? - accurate answers-Grapefruit juice
Aliskiren (Tekturna) is what kind of medication? - accurate answers-Direct
renin inhibitor
What does Aliskiren (Tekturna) treat? - accurate answers-Hypertension
What are some teaching interventions when taking Aliskiren (Tekturna)? -
accurate answers-Don't take if pregnant (stop the drug immediately when the
patient is pregnant). Don't take with high fat meal.
What does Aliskiren (Tekturna) increase and what should they avoid? -
accurate answers-They increase potassium levels so don't take medications
that increase potassium.
Furosemide (Lasix) is what kind of drug? - accurate answers-Loop diuretic
Is furosemide (Lasix) slow or rapid acting? - accurate answers-Rapid
What is the use for furosemide (Lasix)? - accurate answers-Rapid diuresis in
emergencies such as pulmonary edema.
Furosemide (Lasix) may produce what kind of adverse effect? - accurate
answers-Hypokalemia
What should you assess when you suspect patient of hypokalemia? - accurate
answers-Muscle cramps and muscle weakness.
What also should you assess when patient is experiencing some adverse
effects of furosemide (Lasix)? - accurate answers-Hypotension, fluid and
electrolyte abnormalities, and dehydration.
What are the side effects of furosemide (Lasix)? - accurate answers-Dizziness,
headache, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low potassium levels,
hyperglycemia, ototoxicity with aminoglycosides (drugs that end in -mycin).
, What is biggest side effect concern when patient taking furosemide (Lasix)? -
accurate answers-Low potassium levels
When a patient needs potassium supplements what are some foods a patient
can consume that contain potassium? - accurate answers-Dried fruits, fish,
leafy veggies, squash, beans, meats, nuts, bananas, potatoes, and diary
products.
What is another name for IV potassium? - accurate answers-KCl
What should you assess when the patient is on IV potassium? - accurate
answers-Overall condition of the veins.
Which vein should you use when administering IV potassium? - accurate
answers-Large vein, like the antecubital vein.
Why is venous access important when administering IV potassium? - accurate
answers-Because it can irritate the skin.
What should you do when the patient is burning at the site during the IV
potassium? - accurate answers-Notify the nurse immediately
IV Potassium extravasation can cause what? - accurate answers-Necrosis of
the tissues
What should you assess and confirm prior to administering IV potassium? -
accurate answers-Calculate and set the rate as ordered, know anticipated
duration of therapy and know the restrictions imposed by patient's history.
Do not give what kind of IV during IV potassium? - accurate answers-IV push
You should infuse the IV potassium rate no greater than what in peripheral
IV? - accurate answers-10 mEq/hr.
You should infuse the IV potassium rate no greater than what in central line? -
accurate answers-20 mEq/hr.
Always use what for IV potassium? - accurate answers-Infusion pump
