Pharmacology HESI V2 Preparation Questions with Answers
Rated A
A client is prescribed phenobarbital sodium
(Luminal) for a seizure disorder. The medication A nurse s preparing to administer eye drops to a
has a long half-life of 4 days. Based on this half- client. Which of the following are appropriate
life, the medication will most likely be prescribed nursing interventions related to this procedure?
A. once a day. (Select all that apply.)
B. twice a day. A. Using medical aseptic technique
C. three times a day. B. Asking the client to look up at the ceiling
D. four times a day. - ANSWER -ANS: A C. Having the client lie in a side-lying position
Medication with long half-lives remain at their D. Dropping medication into the center of the
therapeutic levels between doses for long client's conjunctival sac
periods of time. Therefore, this medication can E. Instructing the client to close the eye gently -
be administered once a day. ANSWER -ANS:B, D, E
The medication should be dropped into the
center of the conjunctival sac to promote better
distribution of the medication. The client should
A nurse educator is reviewing medication close the eye gently to allow improved
dosages and factors that influence medication distribution of the medication.
metabolism with a group of nurses. Medication
dosages may need to be decreased for which of Surgical aseptic technique is used to administer
the following reasons? (Select all that apply.) eye drops. The client should be sitting or in a
A. Increased renal excretion supine position to facilitate proper administration
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes of eye drops.
C. Liver failure
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication metabolized by
the same pathway - ANSWER -ANS: C, E A nurse is completing discharge teaching to a
Liver failure decreases metabolism and thus client who has a new prescription for a
increase the concentration of medication. This transdermal medication. Which of the following
may require decreasing the dosage of statements by the client indicates understanding
medication. When two medications are of the teaching?
metabolized in the same way, they may compete A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab prior
for metabolism, thereby increasing the to applying the patch."
concentration of one or both medications. B. "I will rotate the application site weekly."
C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with
Increased renal excretion may decrease no hair."
concentration of the medication, requiring D. "I will place the new patch on the site of the
increased dosage. Increased medication- old patch." - ANSWER -ANS: C
metabolizing enzymes can decrease the Transdermal medication should be applied to a
concentration of the medication. The dose might hairless area of skin to promote absorption of
need increased. Peripheral vascular disease may medication.
impair distribution, and more of the medication
may be needed. The skin should be washed with soap and water
and dried thoroughly before applying a
transdermal patch. Application sites should be
,Pharmacology HESI V2 Preparation Questions with Answers
Rated A
rotated on a daily basis to prevent skin irritation. types of prescription?
A. Single prescription
B. Stat prescription
C. Routine prescription
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and D. Standing prescription - ANSWER -ANS:
notes a new prescription by the provider to verify C
the trough level of the client's medication. Which A routine prescription identifies a medication that
of the following actions should the nurse take? is given on a regular schedule. This medication is
A. Have a blood specimen obtained immediately administered every day until discontinued.
prior to the next dose of medication.
B. Verify that the client has been on the A single prescription is to be given once at a
medication for 24 hr before ordering a blood specified time or as soon as possible. A stat
specimen. prescription is only given once, and it is given
C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen immediately. A standing prescription is written for
after the next dose of medication. specific circumstances or a specific unit.
D. Begin administering the medication, and
obtain a blood specimen. - ANSWER -ANS:
A
To verify trough levels of a medication, a blood A nurse is reviewing a new prescription for
specimen is obtained immediately before the ondansetron (Zofran) 4 mg PO PRN nausea and
next dose of medication. vomiting for a client who has hyperemesis
gravidarum. The nurse should clarify which of the
following parts of the prescription with the
provider?
A nurse is preparing a client's medication. Which A. Name
of the following are legal responsibilities of the B. Dosage
nurse? (Select all that apply.) C. Route
A. Maintaining skill competency D. Time - ANSWER -ANS: D
B. Determining the dosage The time and frequency of medication
C. Monitoring for adverse effects administration is not included and should be
D. Safeguarding medications clarified with the provider.
E. Identifying the client's diagnosis -
ANSWER -ANS: A, C, D
Determining medication dosage and identifying a
diagnosis is the role/responsibility of the provider. A nurse is orienting a newly hired nurse and
The nurse should be informed about a client's discussing how to take telephone prescription.
diagnosis. Which of the following statements by the newly
hired nurse indicates understanding of the
discussion?
A. "A second nurse enters the prescription into
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and the client's health record."
notes a new prescription by the provider for B. "Another nurse should listen to the phone call."
lisinopril (Zestril) 10 mg PO every day. The nurse C. "The provider can clarify the prescription when
should recognize this as which of the following he signs the health record."
,Pharmacology HESI V2 Preparation Questions with Answers
Rated A
D. "The 'read back' is omitted if this is a one-time following findings is indicative of phlebitis?
prescription." - ANSWER -ANS: B (Select all that apply.)
The second nurse should listen to a telephone A. Tingling sensation below insertion site
prescription to prevent errors in communication. B. Tachycardia
C. Palpable, hard mass above insertion site
The nurse who takes the telephone prescription D. Cool, pale skin
should enter it into the client's health record to E. Pain at site - ANSWER -ANS: C, E
prevent errors in translation. The nurse verifies Pain at the IV site and a palpable, hard mass
the prescription is complete and accurate at the above the insertion site is a clinical manifestation
time it is given by reading it back to the provider. of thrombophlebitis.
A telephone prescription includes reading back
all types of medication prescription. A tingling sensation below the insertion site is a
clinical manifestation of nerve damage.
Tachycardia is a clinical manifestation of fluid
volume overload. Cool, pale skin is a clinical
A nurse on a medical unit is admitting a client manifestation of infiltration.
and completing a preassessment before
administration of medications. Which of the
following data should the nurse include in the
preassessment? (Select all that apply.) A nurse manager is reviewing the facility's
A. Use of herbal teas policies for IV therapy with the members of his
B. Daily fluid intake team. The nurse manager should remind the
C. Current health status team that which of the following techniques helps
D. Previous surgical history minimize the risk of catheter embolism?
E. Food allergies - ANSWER -ANS: A, C, E A. Performing hand hygiene before and after IV
Use of herbal product,s which often contains insertion
caffeine, should be assessed prior to medication B. Rotating IV sites at least every 72 hr
administration because caffeine can affect C. Minimizing tourniquet time
medication biotransformation. Current health D. Avoiding reinserting the needle into an IV
status should be reviewed because new catheter - ANSWER -ANS: D
prescriptions can cause alterations in current The nurse manager should remind the members
health status. Food allergies should be included to avoid reinserting a needle to an IV catheter.
in the preassessment that is completed prior to This action can result in severing the end of the
medication administration to identify any potential catheter and consequently cause a catheter
interactions. embolism.
Daily fluid intake and surgical history is
important, but it is not part of the
presassessment that is completed prior to A nurse is preparing to initiate IV therapy for an
medication administration. older adult client. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
A. Use a disposable razor to remove excess hair
on the extremity.
A nurse is assessing a client's IV. Which of the B. Select the back of the client's hand to insert
, Pharmacology HESI V2 Preparation Questions with Answers
Rated A
the IV catheter. apply.)
C. Distend the veins by using a blood pressure A. A client at 8 weeks of gestation who asks for
cuff. an influenza immunization.
D. Direct the client to raise his arm above his B. A client who takes prednisone and has a
heart. - ANSWER -ANS: C possible fungal infection.
The nurse should distend the veins using a blood C. A client who has chronic liver disease and
pressure cuff to reduce overfilling of the vein, reports he is taking hydrocodone.
which can result in a hematoma. D. A client who has PUD and takes sucralfate
and tells the nurse she has started taking OTC
The nurse should remove excess hair by clipping aluminum hydroxide.
it with scissors. Shaving with disposable razors E. A client who has a prosthetic heart valve who
can cause skin damage that lead to infection. In takes warfarin and reports a suspected
most instances, the nurse inserts the IV catheter pregnancy. - ANSWER -ANS: B, C, E
into a distal site, such as the back of the client's Glucocorticoids should not be taken by a client
hand. However, when inserting an IV catheter for who has possible systemic fungal infection.
an older adult, the nurse should use a site on the Acetaminophen is contraindicated due to toxicity
arm because older adults typically have fragile for the client who has a liver disorder. Warfarin is
veins in the back of their hands. The nurse a Pregnancy Category X medication, which can
should direct the client to hold his arm below the cause severe birth defects in a fetus.
level of his heart to distend the vein.
The influenza vaccine is recommended for all
people older than 6 months of age and is not
contraindicated for pregnant women. There is no
A nurse is caring for a client receiving dextrose contraindication for a client who has PUD and
5% in water IV at 250 mL. Which of the following takes sucralfate and also starts taking OTC
findings are an indication of fluid volume aluminum hydroxide. The nurse should ensure
overload? (Select all that apply.) that the client takes medications 3 min apart.
A. Hypotension
B. Bradycardia
C. Shortness of breath
D. Crackles heard in lungs A nurse is preparing to administer an IM dose of
E. Distended neck veins - ANSWER -ANS: penicillin to a client who has a new prescription.
C, D, E The client states she took penicillin 3 years ago
and developed a rash. Which of the following is
Due to an increase in fluid in the cardiovascular an appropriate nursing action?
system, hypertension and tachycardia are A. Administer the prescribed dose.
manifestations of fluid overload. B. Withhold the medication.
C. Ask the provider to change the prescription to
an oral form.
D. Administer an oral antihistamine at the same
A nurse in a clinic is caring for a group of clients. time. - ANSWER -ANS: B
The nurse should contact the provider about a The nurse should withhold the medication and
potential contraindication to a medication for notify the provider of the client's previous reaction
which of the following clients? (Select all that to penicillin so that an alternative antibiotic can
Rated A
A client is prescribed phenobarbital sodium
(Luminal) for a seizure disorder. The medication A nurse s preparing to administer eye drops to a
has a long half-life of 4 days. Based on this half- client. Which of the following are appropriate
life, the medication will most likely be prescribed nursing interventions related to this procedure?
A. once a day. (Select all that apply.)
B. twice a day. A. Using medical aseptic technique
C. three times a day. B. Asking the client to look up at the ceiling
D. four times a day. - ANSWER -ANS: A C. Having the client lie in a side-lying position
Medication with long half-lives remain at their D. Dropping medication into the center of the
therapeutic levels between doses for long client's conjunctival sac
periods of time. Therefore, this medication can E. Instructing the client to close the eye gently -
be administered once a day. ANSWER -ANS:B, D, E
The medication should be dropped into the
center of the conjunctival sac to promote better
distribution of the medication. The client should
A nurse educator is reviewing medication close the eye gently to allow improved
dosages and factors that influence medication distribution of the medication.
metabolism with a group of nurses. Medication
dosages may need to be decreased for which of Surgical aseptic technique is used to administer
the following reasons? (Select all that apply.) eye drops. The client should be sitting or in a
A. Increased renal excretion supine position to facilitate proper administration
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes of eye drops.
C. Liver failure
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication metabolized by
the same pathway - ANSWER -ANS: C, E A nurse is completing discharge teaching to a
Liver failure decreases metabolism and thus client who has a new prescription for a
increase the concentration of medication. This transdermal medication. Which of the following
may require decreasing the dosage of statements by the client indicates understanding
medication. When two medications are of the teaching?
metabolized in the same way, they may compete A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab prior
for metabolism, thereby increasing the to applying the patch."
concentration of one or both medications. B. "I will rotate the application site weekly."
C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with
Increased renal excretion may decrease no hair."
concentration of the medication, requiring D. "I will place the new patch on the site of the
increased dosage. Increased medication- old patch." - ANSWER -ANS: C
metabolizing enzymes can decrease the Transdermal medication should be applied to a
concentration of the medication. The dose might hairless area of skin to promote absorption of
need increased. Peripheral vascular disease may medication.
impair distribution, and more of the medication
may be needed. The skin should be washed with soap and water
and dried thoroughly before applying a
transdermal patch. Application sites should be
,Pharmacology HESI V2 Preparation Questions with Answers
Rated A
rotated on a daily basis to prevent skin irritation. types of prescription?
A. Single prescription
B. Stat prescription
C. Routine prescription
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and D. Standing prescription - ANSWER -ANS:
notes a new prescription by the provider to verify C
the trough level of the client's medication. Which A routine prescription identifies a medication that
of the following actions should the nurse take? is given on a regular schedule. This medication is
A. Have a blood specimen obtained immediately administered every day until discontinued.
prior to the next dose of medication.
B. Verify that the client has been on the A single prescription is to be given once at a
medication for 24 hr before ordering a blood specified time or as soon as possible. A stat
specimen. prescription is only given once, and it is given
C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen immediately. A standing prescription is written for
after the next dose of medication. specific circumstances or a specific unit.
D. Begin administering the medication, and
obtain a blood specimen. - ANSWER -ANS:
A
To verify trough levels of a medication, a blood A nurse is reviewing a new prescription for
specimen is obtained immediately before the ondansetron (Zofran) 4 mg PO PRN nausea and
next dose of medication. vomiting for a client who has hyperemesis
gravidarum. The nurse should clarify which of the
following parts of the prescription with the
provider?
A nurse is preparing a client's medication. Which A. Name
of the following are legal responsibilities of the B. Dosage
nurse? (Select all that apply.) C. Route
A. Maintaining skill competency D. Time - ANSWER -ANS: D
B. Determining the dosage The time and frequency of medication
C. Monitoring for adverse effects administration is not included and should be
D. Safeguarding medications clarified with the provider.
E. Identifying the client's diagnosis -
ANSWER -ANS: A, C, D
Determining medication dosage and identifying a
diagnosis is the role/responsibility of the provider. A nurse is orienting a newly hired nurse and
The nurse should be informed about a client's discussing how to take telephone prescription.
diagnosis. Which of the following statements by the newly
hired nurse indicates understanding of the
discussion?
A. "A second nurse enters the prescription into
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and the client's health record."
notes a new prescription by the provider for B. "Another nurse should listen to the phone call."
lisinopril (Zestril) 10 mg PO every day. The nurse C. "The provider can clarify the prescription when
should recognize this as which of the following he signs the health record."
,Pharmacology HESI V2 Preparation Questions with Answers
Rated A
D. "The 'read back' is omitted if this is a one-time following findings is indicative of phlebitis?
prescription." - ANSWER -ANS: B (Select all that apply.)
The second nurse should listen to a telephone A. Tingling sensation below insertion site
prescription to prevent errors in communication. B. Tachycardia
C. Palpable, hard mass above insertion site
The nurse who takes the telephone prescription D. Cool, pale skin
should enter it into the client's health record to E. Pain at site - ANSWER -ANS: C, E
prevent errors in translation. The nurse verifies Pain at the IV site and a palpable, hard mass
the prescription is complete and accurate at the above the insertion site is a clinical manifestation
time it is given by reading it back to the provider. of thrombophlebitis.
A telephone prescription includes reading back
all types of medication prescription. A tingling sensation below the insertion site is a
clinical manifestation of nerve damage.
Tachycardia is a clinical manifestation of fluid
volume overload. Cool, pale skin is a clinical
A nurse on a medical unit is admitting a client manifestation of infiltration.
and completing a preassessment before
administration of medications. Which of the
following data should the nurse include in the
preassessment? (Select all that apply.) A nurse manager is reviewing the facility's
A. Use of herbal teas policies for IV therapy with the members of his
B. Daily fluid intake team. The nurse manager should remind the
C. Current health status team that which of the following techniques helps
D. Previous surgical history minimize the risk of catheter embolism?
E. Food allergies - ANSWER -ANS: A, C, E A. Performing hand hygiene before and after IV
Use of herbal product,s which often contains insertion
caffeine, should be assessed prior to medication B. Rotating IV sites at least every 72 hr
administration because caffeine can affect C. Minimizing tourniquet time
medication biotransformation. Current health D. Avoiding reinserting the needle into an IV
status should be reviewed because new catheter - ANSWER -ANS: D
prescriptions can cause alterations in current The nurse manager should remind the members
health status. Food allergies should be included to avoid reinserting a needle to an IV catheter.
in the preassessment that is completed prior to This action can result in severing the end of the
medication administration to identify any potential catheter and consequently cause a catheter
interactions. embolism.
Daily fluid intake and surgical history is
important, but it is not part of the
presassessment that is completed prior to A nurse is preparing to initiate IV therapy for an
medication administration. older adult client. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
A. Use a disposable razor to remove excess hair
on the extremity.
A nurse is assessing a client's IV. Which of the B. Select the back of the client's hand to insert
, Pharmacology HESI V2 Preparation Questions with Answers
Rated A
the IV catheter. apply.)
C. Distend the veins by using a blood pressure A. A client at 8 weeks of gestation who asks for
cuff. an influenza immunization.
D. Direct the client to raise his arm above his B. A client who takes prednisone and has a
heart. - ANSWER -ANS: C possible fungal infection.
The nurse should distend the veins using a blood C. A client who has chronic liver disease and
pressure cuff to reduce overfilling of the vein, reports he is taking hydrocodone.
which can result in a hematoma. D. A client who has PUD and takes sucralfate
and tells the nurse she has started taking OTC
The nurse should remove excess hair by clipping aluminum hydroxide.
it with scissors. Shaving with disposable razors E. A client who has a prosthetic heart valve who
can cause skin damage that lead to infection. In takes warfarin and reports a suspected
most instances, the nurse inserts the IV catheter pregnancy. - ANSWER -ANS: B, C, E
into a distal site, such as the back of the client's Glucocorticoids should not be taken by a client
hand. However, when inserting an IV catheter for who has possible systemic fungal infection.
an older adult, the nurse should use a site on the Acetaminophen is contraindicated due to toxicity
arm because older adults typically have fragile for the client who has a liver disorder. Warfarin is
veins in the back of their hands. The nurse a Pregnancy Category X medication, which can
should direct the client to hold his arm below the cause severe birth defects in a fetus.
level of his heart to distend the vein.
The influenza vaccine is recommended for all
people older than 6 months of age and is not
contraindicated for pregnant women. There is no
A nurse is caring for a client receiving dextrose contraindication for a client who has PUD and
5% in water IV at 250 mL. Which of the following takes sucralfate and also starts taking OTC
findings are an indication of fluid volume aluminum hydroxide. The nurse should ensure
overload? (Select all that apply.) that the client takes medications 3 min apart.
A. Hypotension
B. Bradycardia
C. Shortness of breath
D. Crackles heard in lungs A nurse is preparing to administer an IM dose of
E. Distended neck veins - ANSWER -ANS: penicillin to a client who has a new prescription.
C, D, E The client states she took penicillin 3 years ago
and developed a rash. Which of the following is
Due to an increase in fluid in the cardiovascular an appropriate nursing action?
system, hypertension and tachycardia are A. Administer the prescribed dose.
manifestations of fluid overload. B. Withhold the medication.
C. Ask the provider to change the prescription to
an oral form.
D. Administer an oral antihistamine at the same
A nurse in a clinic is caring for a group of clients. time. - ANSWER -ANS: B
The nurse should contact the provider about a The nurse should withhold the medication and
potential contraindication to a medication for notify the provider of the client's previous reaction
which of the following clients? (Select all that to penicillin so that an alternative antibiotic can
