HESI Pharmacology Specialty Examination Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2025/2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. A nurse is administering digoxin to a patient with heart failure.
Which finding would indicate digoxin toxicity?
a) Bradycardia and visual halos
b) Hypotension and weight gain
c) Tachycardia and dry mouth
d) Diarrhea and confusion
Answer: a) Bradycardia and visual halos
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity often presents with bradycardia, nausea,
vomiting, and visual disturbances such as yellow or green halos.
2. Which class of drugs is first-line therapy for hypertension?
a) Beta-blockers
b) ACE inhibitors
c) Diuretics
d) Calcium channel blockers
Answer: c) Diuretics
Rationale: Thiazide diuretics are often the first-line choice for
uncomplicated hypertension due to their efficacy and safety profile.
3. A patient receiving warfarin has an INR of 5. Which intervention
is most appropriate?
a) Administer vitamin K
b) Increase warfarin dose
c) Administer heparin
d) Hold warfarin and monitor
,Answer: a) Administer vitamin K
Rationale: An INR of 5 indicates a high risk of bleeding; vitamin K
reverses warfarin’s effects.
4. Which adverse effect is most common with aminoglycosides?
a) Hepatotoxicity
b) Ototoxicity
c) Hypokalemia
d) Thrombocytopenia
Answer: b) Ototoxicity
Rationale: Aminoglycosides can cause dose-dependent ototoxicity
and nephrotoxicity.
5. A patient is prescribed albuterol for asthma. Which instruction
should the nurse give?
a) Take it only when symptoms occur
b) Use it daily to prevent symptoms
c) Limit fluid intake
d) Avoid exercise
Answer: a) Take it only when symptoms occur
Rationale: Albuterol is a short-acting beta-2 agonist used as a rescue
inhaler, not for daily prevention.
6. Which drug is contraindicated in pregnancy due to
teratogenicity?
a) Metformin
b) Lisinopril
c) Insulin
d) Acetaminophen
,Answer: b) Lisinopril
Rationale: ACE inhibitors like lisinopril are teratogenic and should be
avoided during pregnancy.
7. A patient taking furosemide should be monitored for which
electrolyte imbalance?
a) Hyperkalemia
b) Hypokalemia
c) Hypernatremia
d) Hypocalcemia
Answer: b) Hypokalemia
Rationale: Loop diuretics increase potassium excretion, leading to
hypokalemia.
8. Which medication is used as first-line treatment for anaphylaxis?
a) Diphenhydramine
b) Epinephrine
c) Prednisone
d) Albuterol
Answer: b) Epinephrine
Rationale: Epinephrine is the drug of choice for severe allergic
reactions due to its vasoconstrictive and bronchodilatory effects.
9. A patient taking lithium for bipolar disorder develops tremors,
nausea, and confusion. What is the priority action?
a) Increase lithium dose
b) Assess serum lithium level
c) Give antiemetics
d) Administer beta-blocker
, Answer: b) Assess serum lithium level
Rationale: These symptoms indicate potential lithium toxicity, which
requires immediate serum level assessment.
10. Which medication can cause a "cough" as a common side
effect?
a) Lisinopril
b) Losartan
c) Metoprolol
d) Hydrochlorothiazide
Answer: a) Lisinopril
Rationale: ACE inhibitors commonly cause a persistent dry cough due
to increased bradykinin levels.
11. Which is an adverse effect of corticosteroid therapy?
a) Hyperglycemia
b) Bradycardia
c) Hypotension
d) Weight loss
Answer: a) Hyperglycemia
Rationale: Corticosteroids increase gluconeogenesis, which can
elevate blood glucose levels.
12. A patient with a history of peptic ulcer disease should avoid
which NSAID?
a) Ibuprofen
b) Acetaminophen
c) Celecoxib
d) Aspirin
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2025/2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. A nurse is administering digoxin to a patient with heart failure.
Which finding would indicate digoxin toxicity?
a) Bradycardia and visual halos
b) Hypotension and weight gain
c) Tachycardia and dry mouth
d) Diarrhea and confusion
Answer: a) Bradycardia and visual halos
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity often presents with bradycardia, nausea,
vomiting, and visual disturbances such as yellow or green halos.
2. Which class of drugs is first-line therapy for hypertension?
a) Beta-blockers
b) ACE inhibitors
c) Diuretics
d) Calcium channel blockers
Answer: c) Diuretics
Rationale: Thiazide diuretics are often the first-line choice for
uncomplicated hypertension due to their efficacy and safety profile.
3. A patient receiving warfarin has an INR of 5. Which intervention
is most appropriate?
a) Administer vitamin K
b) Increase warfarin dose
c) Administer heparin
d) Hold warfarin and monitor
,Answer: a) Administer vitamin K
Rationale: An INR of 5 indicates a high risk of bleeding; vitamin K
reverses warfarin’s effects.
4. Which adverse effect is most common with aminoglycosides?
a) Hepatotoxicity
b) Ototoxicity
c) Hypokalemia
d) Thrombocytopenia
Answer: b) Ototoxicity
Rationale: Aminoglycosides can cause dose-dependent ototoxicity
and nephrotoxicity.
5. A patient is prescribed albuterol for asthma. Which instruction
should the nurse give?
a) Take it only when symptoms occur
b) Use it daily to prevent symptoms
c) Limit fluid intake
d) Avoid exercise
Answer: a) Take it only when symptoms occur
Rationale: Albuterol is a short-acting beta-2 agonist used as a rescue
inhaler, not for daily prevention.
6. Which drug is contraindicated in pregnancy due to
teratogenicity?
a) Metformin
b) Lisinopril
c) Insulin
d) Acetaminophen
,Answer: b) Lisinopril
Rationale: ACE inhibitors like lisinopril are teratogenic and should be
avoided during pregnancy.
7. A patient taking furosemide should be monitored for which
electrolyte imbalance?
a) Hyperkalemia
b) Hypokalemia
c) Hypernatremia
d) Hypocalcemia
Answer: b) Hypokalemia
Rationale: Loop diuretics increase potassium excretion, leading to
hypokalemia.
8. Which medication is used as first-line treatment for anaphylaxis?
a) Diphenhydramine
b) Epinephrine
c) Prednisone
d) Albuterol
Answer: b) Epinephrine
Rationale: Epinephrine is the drug of choice for severe allergic
reactions due to its vasoconstrictive and bronchodilatory effects.
9. A patient taking lithium for bipolar disorder develops tremors,
nausea, and confusion. What is the priority action?
a) Increase lithium dose
b) Assess serum lithium level
c) Give antiemetics
d) Administer beta-blocker
, Answer: b) Assess serum lithium level
Rationale: These symptoms indicate potential lithium toxicity, which
requires immediate serum level assessment.
10. Which medication can cause a "cough" as a common side
effect?
a) Lisinopril
b) Losartan
c) Metoprolol
d) Hydrochlorothiazide
Answer: a) Lisinopril
Rationale: ACE inhibitors commonly cause a persistent dry cough due
to increased bradykinin levels.
11. Which is an adverse effect of corticosteroid therapy?
a) Hyperglycemia
b) Bradycardia
c) Hypotension
d) Weight loss
Answer: a) Hyperglycemia
Rationale: Corticosteroids increase gluconeogenesis, which can
elevate blood glucose levels.
12. A patient with a history of peptic ulcer disease should avoid
which NSAID?
a) Ibuprofen
b) Acetaminophen
c) Celecoxib
d) Aspirin
