HESI PHARMACOLOGY EXAM 2026
100 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS (Correct
Answer Marked with ✓)
1. A client taking furosemide reports muscle weakness. Which lab value should the nurse
check first?
A. Sodium
B. Calcium
C. Potassium ✓
D. Chloride
Rationale: Loop diuretics cause potassium loss which can result in muscle weakness.
2. The nurse should withhold digoxin if which finding is present?
A. HR 88 bpm
B. HR 74 bpm
C. HR 62 bpm
D. HR 56 bpm ✓
Rationale: Hold digoxin for HR <60 bpm in adults.
3. A client on warfarin has an INR of 6.2. What is the priority action?
A. Administer enoxaparin
B. Hold the next dose ✓
C. Increase the warfarin dose
D. Give aspirin
4. Which food should a client on MAOIs avoid?
,A. Whole milk
B. Fresh apples
C. Aged cheese ✓
D. Rice
5. A client taking lisinopril develops a persistent dry cough. What should the nurse expect?
A. Dose increase
B. Drug discontinuation ✓
C. Add a diuretic
D. Encourage fluids
6. Which of the following is an antidote for opioid overdose?
A. Protamine sulfate
B. Acetylcysteine
C. Naloxone ✓
D. Flumazenil
7. Which instruction is essential for a client taking lithium?
A. Restrict sodium
B. Avoid caffeine
C. Maintain consistent sodium intake ✓
D. Take with antacids
8. A client on gentamicin reports tinnitus. What is the nurse’s priority?
A. Encourage oral fluids
B. Hold the dose ✓
C. Reduce noise
D. Give analgesics
9. What is the peak time for regular insulin?
,A. 15 minutes
B. 30 minutes
C. 2–3 hours ✓
D. 6 hours
10. A client on prednisone should be monitored for?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Fluid retention ✓
D. Weight loss
11. Which medication increases the risk of bleeding with warfarin?
A. Vitamin K
B. Ibuprofen ✓
C. Omeprazole
D. Loratadine
12. A client taking metformin is scheduled for contrast CT scan. What action is correct?
A. Increase water intake
B. Continue metformin
C. Hold metformin 24–48 hr before test ✓
D. Give insulin
13. An adverse effect of statins includes:
A. Dry mouth
B. Muscle pain ✓
C. Insomnia
D. Bradycardia
14. Before giving morphine, the nurse must assess:
, A. Temperature
B. Respiratory rate ✓
C. Blood glucose
D. Bowel sounds
15. Which lab test is necessary for clients taking heparin?
A. PT
B. INR
C. aPTT ✓
D. Platelets only
16. What is the therapeutic level of phenytoin?
A. 0–5
B. 5–10
C. 10–20 ✓
D. 20–30
17. Which finding indicates the client has aspirin toxicity?
A. Constipation
B. Tinnitus ✓
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Cough
18. A major adverse effect of amiodarone is:
A. Liver failure
B. Pulmonary toxicity ✓
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Diarrhea
19. A client taking spironolactone should avoid:
100 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS (Correct
Answer Marked with ✓)
1. A client taking furosemide reports muscle weakness. Which lab value should the nurse
check first?
A. Sodium
B. Calcium
C. Potassium ✓
D. Chloride
Rationale: Loop diuretics cause potassium loss which can result in muscle weakness.
2. The nurse should withhold digoxin if which finding is present?
A. HR 88 bpm
B. HR 74 bpm
C. HR 62 bpm
D. HR 56 bpm ✓
Rationale: Hold digoxin for HR <60 bpm in adults.
3. A client on warfarin has an INR of 6.2. What is the priority action?
A. Administer enoxaparin
B. Hold the next dose ✓
C. Increase the warfarin dose
D. Give aspirin
4. Which food should a client on MAOIs avoid?
,A. Whole milk
B. Fresh apples
C. Aged cheese ✓
D. Rice
5. A client taking lisinopril develops a persistent dry cough. What should the nurse expect?
A. Dose increase
B. Drug discontinuation ✓
C. Add a diuretic
D. Encourage fluids
6. Which of the following is an antidote for opioid overdose?
A. Protamine sulfate
B. Acetylcysteine
C. Naloxone ✓
D. Flumazenil
7. Which instruction is essential for a client taking lithium?
A. Restrict sodium
B. Avoid caffeine
C. Maintain consistent sodium intake ✓
D. Take with antacids
8. A client on gentamicin reports tinnitus. What is the nurse’s priority?
A. Encourage oral fluids
B. Hold the dose ✓
C. Reduce noise
D. Give analgesics
9. What is the peak time for regular insulin?
,A. 15 minutes
B. 30 minutes
C. 2–3 hours ✓
D. 6 hours
10. A client on prednisone should be monitored for?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hypoglycemia
C. Fluid retention ✓
D. Weight loss
11. Which medication increases the risk of bleeding with warfarin?
A. Vitamin K
B. Ibuprofen ✓
C. Omeprazole
D. Loratadine
12. A client taking metformin is scheduled for contrast CT scan. What action is correct?
A. Increase water intake
B. Continue metformin
C. Hold metformin 24–48 hr before test ✓
D. Give insulin
13. An adverse effect of statins includes:
A. Dry mouth
B. Muscle pain ✓
C. Insomnia
D. Bradycardia
14. Before giving morphine, the nurse must assess:
, A. Temperature
B. Respiratory rate ✓
C. Blood glucose
D. Bowel sounds
15. Which lab test is necessary for clients taking heparin?
A. PT
B. INR
C. aPTT ✓
D. Platelets only
16. What is the therapeutic level of phenytoin?
A. 0–5
B. 5–10
C. 10–20 ✓
D. 20–30
17. Which finding indicates the client has aspirin toxicity?
A. Constipation
B. Tinnitus ✓
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Cough
18. A major adverse effect of amiodarone is:
A. Liver failure
B. Pulmonary toxicity ✓
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Diarrhea
19. A client taking spironolactone should avoid:
