HESI NCLEX RN: Pharmacology
1. In developing a nursing care plan for a 9-month-old infant with cystic
fibrosis, because the nurse is concerned about adequate nutrition,
which intervention would best meet this child's needs?
A. Give aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide after meals.
B. Give pancrelipase capsule mixed with applesauce before each
meal.
C. Administer cholestyramine resin before each meal and at bedtime.
D. Administer omeprazole for gastroesophageal reflux.
B. Give pancrelipase capsule mixed with applesauce before each meal.
2. An older client is receiving a water-soluble drug that is more than the
average dose for a young adult. Which action should the nurse
implement first?
A. Obtain a prescription for lower medication dosages.
B. Determine the drug's serum levels for toxicity.
C. Start IV fluids to decrease the serum drug levels.
D. Hold the next dosage and notify the health care provider.
B. Determine the drug's serum levels for toxicity.
3. When providing client teaching about the administration of
methylphenidate to a parent of a child diagnosed with ADHD, which
instruction should the nurse include in the teaching plan?
A. The doses should be given exactly 12 hours apart to sustain a
therapeutic serum level.
B. Doses should be scheduled at midmorning and midafternoon to
achieve optimal benefit.
C. Give the medication only on school days and when the child
appears to be anxious.
D. Offer the child the medication with breakfast and after the child
eats lunch.
D. Offer the child the medication with breakfast and after the child
eats lunch.
4. The nurse is preparing a child for transport to the operating room for
an emergency appendectomy. The anesthesiologist prescribes
atropine sulfate, IM STAT. What is the primary purpose for
administering this drug to the child at this time?
, A. Decrease the oral secretions.
B. Reduce the child's anxiety.
C. Potentiate the opioid effects.
D. Prevent possible peritonitis.
A. Decrease the oral secretions.
5. A client who is experiencing an acute attack of gouty arthritis is
prescribed colchicine USP, 1 mg PO daily. Which information is
most important for the nurse to provide the client?
A. Take the medication with meals.
B. Limit fluid intake until the attack subsides.
C. Stop the medication when the pain resolves.
D. Report any vomiting to the clinic.
D. Report any vomiting to the clinic.
Rationale:The client should be instructed to report signs of colchicine
toxicity, such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and/or abdominal pain, to
the health care provider. Food inhibits the absorption of colchicine
when ingested concurrently. Limited fluid intake decreases the
excretion of the uric acid crystals, which contributes to painful attacks.
Typically, a client should remain on a daily dose of colchicine to
decrease the number and severity of acute attacks, so stopping the
medication after the pain resolves is not indicated.
6. A client is being discharged with a prescription for sulfasalazine to
treat ulcerative colitis. Which instruction should the nurse provide to
this client prior to discharge?
A. Maintain good oral hygiene.
B. Take the medication 30 minutes before a meal.
C. Discontinue use of the drug gradually.
D. Drink at least eight glasses of fluid a day.
D. Drink at least eight glasses of fluid a day.
Adequate hydration is important for all sulfa drugs because they can
crystallize in the urine. If possible, the drug should be taken after
eating to provide longer intestinal transit time. Option A is important
for other medications, such as phenytoin, because of the incidence of
gingival hyperplasia, and option C is important for steroid
administration, but option D is most important to stress with this
client.
, 7. 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?
A. Hypotension
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Seizures
A. Hypotension
Rationale:Nifedipine reduces peripheral vascular resistance and
nitrates produce vasodilation, so concurrent use of nitrates with
nifedipine can cause hypotension with the initial administration of
these agents. Options B, C, and D are not side effects of this treatment
regimen.
8. During administration of theophylline, the nurse should monitor for
signs of toxicity. Which symptom would cause the nurse to suspect
theophylline toxicity?
A. Dry mouth
B. Urinary retention
C. Restlessness
D. Sedation
C. Restlessness
Rationale:Restlessness is a sign of theophylline intoxication. Other
signs of toxicity are anorexia, nausea, vomiting, insomnia,
tachycardia, arrhythmias, and seizures. Options A, B, and D are
common side effects of antihistamines but do not indicate
theophylline intoxication.
9. A 2-month-old infant is scheduled to receive the first DPT
immunization. What is the preferred injection site to administer this
immunization?
A. Dorsal gluteal
B. Vastus lateralis
C. Ventral gluteal
D. Deltoid
B. Vastus lateralis
Rationale:The preferred intramuscular site for children younger than 2
years is the vastus lateralis. Options A, C, and D are not preferred
injection sites for the infant at 2 months of age.
1. In developing a nursing care plan for a 9-month-old infant with cystic
fibrosis, because the nurse is concerned about adequate nutrition,
which intervention would best meet this child's needs?
A. Give aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide after meals.
B. Give pancrelipase capsule mixed with applesauce before each
meal.
C. Administer cholestyramine resin before each meal and at bedtime.
D. Administer omeprazole for gastroesophageal reflux.
B. Give pancrelipase capsule mixed with applesauce before each meal.
2. An older client is receiving a water-soluble drug that is more than the
average dose for a young adult. Which action should the nurse
implement first?
A. Obtain a prescription for lower medication dosages.
B. Determine the drug's serum levels for toxicity.
C. Start IV fluids to decrease the serum drug levels.
D. Hold the next dosage and notify the health care provider.
B. Determine the drug's serum levels for toxicity.
3. When providing client teaching about the administration of
methylphenidate to a parent of a child diagnosed with ADHD, which
instruction should the nurse include in the teaching plan?
A. The doses should be given exactly 12 hours apart to sustain a
therapeutic serum level.
B. Doses should be scheduled at midmorning and midafternoon to
achieve optimal benefit.
C. Give the medication only on school days and when the child
appears to be anxious.
D. Offer the child the medication with breakfast and after the child
eats lunch.
D. Offer the child the medication with breakfast and after the child
eats lunch.
4. The nurse is preparing a child for transport to the operating room for
an emergency appendectomy. The anesthesiologist prescribes
atropine sulfate, IM STAT. What is the primary purpose for
administering this drug to the child at this time?
, A. Decrease the oral secretions.
B. Reduce the child's anxiety.
C. Potentiate the opioid effects.
D. Prevent possible peritonitis.
A. Decrease the oral secretions.
5. A client who is experiencing an acute attack of gouty arthritis is
prescribed colchicine USP, 1 mg PO daily. Which information is
most important for the nurse to provide the client?
A. Take the medication with meals.
B. Limit fluid intake until the attack subsides.
C. Stop the medication when the pain resolves.
D. Report any vomiting to the clinic.
D. Report any vomiting to the clinic.
Rationale:The client should be instructed to report signs of colchicine
toxicity, such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and/or abdominal pain, to
the health care provider. Food inhibits the absorption of colchicine
when ingested concurrently. Limited fluid intake decreases the
excretion of the uric acid crystals, which contributes to painful attacks.
Typically, a client should remain on a daily dose of colchicine to
decrease the number and severity of acute attacks, so stopping the
medication after the pain resolves is not indicated.
6. A client is being discharged with a prescription for sulfasalazine to
treat ulcerative colitis. Which instruction should the nurse provide to
this client prior to discharge?
A. Maintain good oral hygiene.
B. Take the medication 30 minutes before a meal.
C. Discontinue use of the drug gradually.
D. Drink at least eight glasses of fluid a day.
D. Drink at least eight glasses of fluid a day.
Adequate hydration is important for all sulfa drugs because they can
crystallize in the urine. If possible, the drug should be taken after
eating to provide longer intestinal transit time. Option A is important
for other medications, such as phenytoin, because of the incidence of
gingival hyperplasia, and option C is important for steroid
administration, but option D is most important to stress with this
client.
, 7. 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?
A. Hypotension
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Seizures
A. Hypotension
Rationale:Nifedipine reduces peripheral vascular resistance and
nitrates produce vasodilation, so concurrent use of nitrates with
nifedipine can cause hypotension with the initial administration of
these agents. Options B, C, and D are not side effects of this treatment
regimen.
8. During administration of theophylline, the nurse should monitor for
signs of toxicity. Which symptom would cause the nurse to suspect
theophylline toxicity?
A. Dry mouth
B. Urinary retention
C. Restlessness
D. Sedation
C. Restlessness
Rationale:Restlessness is a sign of theophylline intoxication. Other
signs of toxicity are anorexia, nausea, vomiting, insomnia,
tachycardia, arrhythmias, and seizures. Options A, B, and D are
common side effects of antihistamines but do not indicate
theophylline intoxication.
9. A 2-month-old infant is scheduled to receive the first DPT
immunization. What is the preferred injection site to administer this
immunization?
A. Dorsal gluteal
B. Vastus lateralis
C. Ventral gluteal
D. Deltoid
B. Vastus lateralis
Rationale:The preferred intramuscular site for children younger than 2
years is the vastus lateralis. Options A, C, and D are not preferred
injection sites for the infant at 2 months of age.
