PHARMACOLOGY HESI VERSION 2 2026 EXAM
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
The nurse is transcribing a new prescription for spironolactone Adactone for a client
who receives an angiotensin-converting enzyme ACE inhibitor. Which action should the
nurse implement? - ANS-Verify both prescriptions with the healthcare provider
The healthcare provider prescribes naloxone Narcan for a client in the emergency room.
Which assessment data would indicate that the naloxone has been effective? - ANS-
The client's respiratory rate is 16 breaths/minute
The nurse is assessing the effectiveness of high dose aspirin therapy for an 88-year-old
client with arthritis. The client reports that she can't hear the nurse's questions because
her ears are ringing. What action should the nurse implement? - ANS-Notify the
healthcare provider of this finding immediately
A client is taking hydromorphone Dilaudid PO q4h at home. Following surgery, Dilaudid
IV q4h PRN and butorphanol tartrate Stadol IV q4h PRN are prescribed for pain. The
client received a dose of the Dilaudid IV four hours ago, and is again requesting pain
medication. What intervention should the nurse implement? - ANS-Administer only the
Dilaudid q4h PRN for pain
The nurse is reviewing the use of the patient-controlled analgesia PCA pump with a
client in the immediate postoperative period. The client will receive morphine 1 mg IV
per hour basal rate with 1 mg IV every 15 minutes per PCA to total 5 mg IV maximally
per hour. What assessment has the highest priority before initiating the PCA pump? -
ANS-The rate and depth of the client's respirations
, A client has a continuous IV infusion of dopamine Intropin and an IV of normal saline at
50 ml/hour. The nurse notes that the client's urinary output has been 20 ml/hour for the
last two hours. Which intervention should the nurse initiate? - ANS-Notify the healthcare
provider of the urinary output
A client receiving albuterol Proventil tablets complains of nausea every evening with her
9 p.m. dose. What action should the nurse take to alleviate this side effect? - ANS-
Administer the dose with a snack
Which method of medication administration provides the client with the greatest first-
pass effect? - ANS-Oral
In evaluating the effects of lactulose Cephulac, which outcome should indicate that the
drug is performing as intended? - ANS-Two or three soft stools per day
Upon admission to the emergency center, an adult client with acute status asthmaticus
is prescribed this series of medications. In which order should the nurse administer the
prescribed medications? Arrange from first to last.
A) Prednisone Deltasone orally.
B) Gentamicin Garamycin IM.
C) Albuterol Proventil puffs.
D) Salmeterol Serevent Diskus. - ANS-The best sequence of administration is C, D, A
and B
An older client with a decreased percentage of lean body mass is likely to receive a
prescription that is adjusted based on which pharmacokinetic process? - ANS-
Distribution
Which medications should the nurse caution the client about taking while receiving an
opioid analgesic? - ANS-Benzodiazepines
Which client should the nurse identify as being at highest risk for complications during
the use of an opioid analgesic? - ANS-A young adult with inflammatory bowel disease
A client is being treated for hyperthyroidism with propylthiouracil PTU. The nurse knows
that the action of this drug is to - ANS-inhibit synthesis of T3 and T4 by the thyroid gland
A 43-year-old female client is receiving thyroid replacement hormone following a
thyroidectomy. What adverse effects associated with thyroid hormone toxicity should
the nurse instruct the client to report promptly to the healthcare provider? - ANS-
Tachycardia and chest pain
A client is receiving ampicillin sodium Omnipen for a sinus infection. The nurse should
instruct the client to notify the healthcare provider immediately if which symptom
occurs? - ANS-Rash
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
The nurse is transcribing a new prescription for spironolactone Adactone for a client
who receives an angiotensin-converting enzyme ACE inhibitor. Which action should the
nurse implement? - ANS-Verify both prescriptions with the healthcare provider
The healthcare provider prescribes naloxone Narcan for a client in the emergency room.
Which assessment data would indicate that the naloxone has been effective? - ANS-
The client's respiratory rate is 16 breaths/minute
The nurse is assessing the effectiveness of high dose aspirin therapy for an 88-year-old
client with arthritis. The client reports that she can't hear the nurse's questions because
her ears are ringing. What action should the nurse implement? - ANS-Notify the
healthcare provider of this finding immediately
A client is taking hydromorphone Dilaudid PO q4h at home. Following surgery, Dilaudid
IV q4h PRN and butorphanol tartrate Stadol IV q4h PRN are prescribed for pain. The
client received a dose of the Dilaudid IV four hours ago, and is again requesting pain
medication. What intervention should the nurse implement? - ANS-Administer only the
Dilaudid q4h PRN for pain
The nurse is reviewing the use of the patient-controlled analgesia PCA pump with a
client in the immediate postoperative period. The client will receive morphine 1 mg IV
per hour basal rate with 1 mg IV every 15 minutes per PCA to total 5 mg IV maximally
per hour. What assessment has the highest priority before initiating the PCA pump? -
ANS-The rate and depth of the client's respirations
, A client has a continuous IV infusion of dopamine Intropin and an IV of normal saline at
50 ml/hour. The nurse notes that the client's urinary output has been 20 ml/hour for the
last two hours. Which intervention should the nurse initiate? - ANS-Notify the healthcare
provider of the urinary output
A client receiving albuterol Proventil tablets complains of nausea every evening with her
9 p.m. dose. What action should the nurse take to alleviate this side effect? - ANS-
Administer the dose with a snack
Which method of medication administration provides the client with the greatest first-
pass effect? - ANS-Oral
In evaluating the effects of lactulose Cephulac, which outcome should indicate that the
drug is performing as intended? - ANS-Two or three soft stools per day
Upon admission to the emergency center, an adult client with acute status asthmaticus
is prescribed this series of medications. In which order should the nurse administer the
prescribed medications? Arrange from first to last.
A) Prednisone Deltasone orally.
B) Gentamicin Garamycin IM.
C) Albuterol Proventil puffs.
D) Salmeterol Serevent Diskus. - ANS-The best sequence of administration is C, D, A
and B
An older client with a decreased percentage of lean body mass is likely to receive a
prescription that is adjusted based on which pharmacokinetic process? - ANS-
Distribution
Which medications should the nurse caution the client about taking while receiving an
opioid analgesic? - ANS-Benzodiazepines
Which client should the nurse identify as being at highest risk for complications during
the use of an opioid analgesic? - ANS-A young adult with inflammatory bowel disease
A client is being treated for hyperthyroidism with propylthiouracil PTU. The nurse knows
that the action of this drug is to - ANS-inhibit synthesis of T3 and T4 by the thyroid gland
A 43-year-old female client is receiving thyroid replacement hormone following a
thyroidectomy. What adverse effects associated with thyroid hormone toxicity should
the nurse instruct the client to report promptly to the healthcare provider? - ANS-
Tachycardia and chest pain
A client is receiving ampicillin sodium Omnipen for a sinus infection. The nurse should
instruct the client to notify the healthcare provider immediately if which symptom
occurs? - ANS-Rash
