PN HESI Pharmacology Exam 2026 Review Test Bank with
180 Questions and Correct Answers / Evolve HESI PN
Pharmacology Exam Review Test Bank 2026-2027
Corrected
The health care provider prescribes morphine sulfate grain 1/8 IM stat. Morphine is
available in 8 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the practical nurse (PN)
administer? - ANSWER-1 Ml
Answer: 1 mL — Correct. (gr 1/8 = 7.5 mg ≈ 0.94 mL, rounded to 1 mL.)
A client with type 1 diabetes mellitus received an early AM dose of regular insulin
per sliding scale. At 10:00 AM, the practical nurse (PN) should report which signs
indicative of hypoglycemia?
A) Urticaria and rash.
B) Nausea and diarrhea.
C) Irritability and confusion.
D) Fruity, acetone odor to the breath. - ANSWER-C) Irritability and confusion.
Feedback:
Irritability and confusion (C) are early signs of hypoglycemia. (A, B, and D) are
not signs of hypoglycemia.
A client with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is having symptoms of
reflux despite taking omeprazole (Prilosec) 20 mg daily. What action should the
practical nurse (PN) implement?
A) Notify the healthcare provider about the symptoms.
B) Obtain vital signs every 30 minutes until symptoms are alleviated.
C) Instruct the client to stop taking the medication.
1
,D) Tell the client to take an antacid in addition to the omeprazole. - ANSWER-A)
Notify the healthcare provider about the symptoms.
Feedback:
Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, acts to reduce gastric acid secretion. If once
daily dosing fails to control the client's symptoms, the healthcare provider should
be notified (A) for dose adjustment. (B) will not help to reduce the client's
symptoms. Unless the client shows symptoms of a hypersensitivity to the
medication, the client should not stop the medication (C). (D) should not suggested
without a prescription from the healthcare provider.
The practical nurse (PN) is reinforcing information to a client about the use of an
antiemetic to help manage nausea and vomiting during a course of chemotherapy.
Which information is most important for the PN to provide?
A) Eat small amounts of food, such as crackers, to soothe the stomach lining.
B) Drink any palatable liquid as tolerated when nauseated.
C) Ensure safety by taking at bedtime if drowsiness occurs.
D) Take at least 30 minutes before a chemotherapeutic agent is received. -
ANSWER-D) Take at least 30 minutes before a chemotherapeutic agent is
received.
Feedback:
Antiemetics should be given before any chemotherapeutic agent is administered,
often 30 minutes to 3 hours before treatment (D). Although (A, B, and C) are
useful tips, if tolerated, they do not ensure the maximum therapeutic response.
Which prescription should the practical nurse (PN) administer for a client who is
experiencing an anaphylactic reaction to an antibiotic?
A) Ephedra (ma-huang).
B) Epinephrine (Adrenalin).
C) Phenylephrin (Neo-Synephrine).
2
,D) Fexofenadine with pseudoephedrine (Allegra D). - ANSWER-B) Epinephrine
(Adrenalin).
Feedback:
Epinephrine (Adrenalin), a potent sympathomimetic, is the drug of choice for the
treatment of anaphylaxis (B). (A, C, and D) are not used for an acute
immunological dysfunction that causes cardiovascular effects.
An older adult client receives a prescription for hydrochlorothiazide
(HydroDIURIL), a thiazide diuretic for the treatment of heart failure. Which side
effect(s) should the practical nurse reinforce with the client? (Select all that apply.)
A) Constipation.
B) Fatigue.
C) Edema.
D) Nausea.
E) Dehydration.
F) Blurred vision. - ANSWER-B) Fatigue.
E) Dehydration.
Feedback:
Hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL), a thiazide diuretic, reduces blood pressure
by reducing blood volume and reducing arterial resistance. Adverse effects of
thiazides include hypokalemia, fatigue (B), dehydration (E), hyperglycemia, and
hyperuricemia. Although (A, C, D and F) may be associated with aging or other
pathology, they are not side effects commonly associated with HydroDIURIL.
A client who returns from surgery for bowel resection complains of severe pain
around the incision. Which assessment is most important for the practical nurse
(PN) to obtain prior to the administration of morphine sulfate?
A) Rate of respirations.
B) Core temperature.
3
, C) Appearance of the incision.
D) Presence of bowel sounds. - ANSWER-A) Rate of respirations.
Feedback:
Opioids cause respiratory depression, so the respiratory rate (A) should be assessed
prior to administration of morphine sulfate. (B, C, and D) do not address the
concept of medication safety.
A client is receiving the third course of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) therapy for a tumor of
the liver. Which action should the practical nurse implement to reduce the client's
risk for stomatitis?
A) Use commercial oral products to reduce the risk of oral infections.
B) Observe for black, tarry stools or bleeding ulcerations.
C) Increase intake of foods containing fiber and citric acid.
D) Examine mouth daily for bleeding, white spots, and ulcerations. - ANSWER-
D) Examine mouth daily for bleeding, white spots, and ulcerations.
Feedback:
5-fluorouracil (5FU) is an antimetabolite, antineoplastic agent that causes
sloughing of the rapid proliferating epithelial cells of the oral mucosa causing
ulceration, bleeding, and oral candidiasis (thrush). Daily examination of the oral
mucosa (D) should be implemented to identify signs of stomatitis, such as white
spots, ulcerations, and bleeding of the mouth, so early intervention can be
implemented. Oral commercial products usually contain alcohol, which contributes
to inflammation of the oral mucosa, and should be avoided (A). Although
monitoring the stool for bleeding (B) should be implemented, stomatitis occurs in
75% of clients who receive 5FU. Foods high in fiber and citric acid should also be
avoided (C) to reduce pain and trauma to the mouth.
Which instruction should the practical nurse (PN) reinforce with a client who is
taking disulfiram (Antabuse)?
A) Cigarette smoking cessation program should be started.
4
180 Questions and Correct Answers / Evolve HESI PN
Pharmacology Exam Review Test Bank 2026-2027
Corrected
The health care provider prescribes morphine sulfate grain 1/8 IM stat. Morphine is
available in 8 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the practical nurse (PN)
administer? - ANSWER-1 Ml
Answer: 1 mL — Correct. (gr 1/8 = 7.5 mg ≈ 0.94 mL, rounded to 1 mL.)
A client with type 1 diabetes mellitus received an early AM dose of regular insulin
per sliding scale. At 10:00 AM, the practical nurse (PN) should report which signs
indicative of hypoglycemia?
A) Urticaria and rash.
B) Nausea and diarrhea.
C) Irritability and confusion.
D) Fruity, acetone odor to the breath. - ANSWER-C) Irritability and confusion.
Feedback:
Irritability and confusion (C) are early signs of hypoglycemia. (A, B, and D) are
not signs of hypoglycemia.
A client with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is having symptoms of
reflux despite taking omeprazole (Prilosec) 20 mg daily. What action should the
practical nurse (PN) implement?
A) Notify the healthcare provider about the symptoms.
B) Obtain vital signs every 30 minutes until symptoms are alleviated.
C) Instruct the client to stop taking the medication.
1
,D) Tell the client to take an antacid in addition to the omeprazole. - ANSWER-A)
Notify the healthcare provider about the symptoms.
Feedback:
Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, acts to reduce gastric acid secretion. If once
daily dosing fails to control the client's symptoms, the healthcare provider should
be notified (A) for dose adjustment. (B) will not help to reduce the client's
symptoms. Unless the client shows symptoms of a hypersensitivity to the
medication, the client should not stop the medication (C). (D) should not suggested
without a prescription from the healthcare provider.
The practical nurse (PN) is reinforcing information to a client about the use of an
antiemetic to help manage nausea and vomiting during a course of chemotherapy.
Which information is most important for the PN to provide?
A) Eat small amounts of food, such as crackers, to soothe the stomach lining.
B) Drink any palatable liquid as tolerated when nauseated.
C) Ensure safety by taking at bedtime if drowsiness occurs.
D) Take at least 30 minutes before a chemotherapeutic agent is received. -
ANSWER-D) Take at least 30 minutes before a chemotherapeutic agent is
received.
Feedback:
Antiemetics should be given before any chemotherapeutic agent is administered,
often 30 minutes to 3 hours before treatment (D). Although (A, B, and C) are
useful tips, if tolerated, they do not ensure the maximum therapeutic response.
Which prescription should the practical nurse (PN) administer for a client who is
experiencing an anaphylactic reaction to an antibiotic?
A) Ephedra (ma-huang).
B) Epinephrine (Adrenalin).
C) Phenylephrin (Neo-Synephrine).
2
,D) Fexofenadine with pseudoephedrine (Allegra D). - ANSWER-B) Epinephrine
(Adrenalin).
Feedback:
Epinephrine (Adrenalin), a potent sympathomimetic, is the drug of choice for the
treatment of anaphylaxis (B). (A, C, and D) are not used for an acute
immunological dysfunction that causes cardiovascular effects.
An older adult client receives a prescription for hydrochlorothiazide
(HydroDIURIL), a thiazide diuretic for the treatment of heart failure. Which side
effect(s) should the practical nurse reinforce with the client? (Select all that apply.)
A) Constipation.
B) Fatigue.
C) Edema.
D) Nausea.
E) Dehydration.
F) Blurred vision. - ANSWER-B) Fatigue.
E) Dehydration.
Feedback:
Hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL), a thiazide diuretic, reduces blood pressure
by reducing blood volume and reducing arterial resistance. Adverse effects of
thiazides include hypokalemia, fatigue (B), dehydration (E), hyperglycemia, and
hyperuricemia. Although (A, C, D and F) may be associated with aging or other
pathology, they are not side effects commonly associated with HydroDIURIL.
A client who returns from surgery for bowel resection complains of severe pain
around the incision. Which assessment is most important for the practical nurse
(PN) to obtain prior to the administration of morphine sulfate?
A) Rate of respirations.
B) Core temperature.
3
, C) Appearance of the incision.
D) Presence of bowel sounds. - ANSWER-A) Rate of respirations.
Feedback:
Opioids cause respiratory depression, so the respiratory rate (A) should be assessed
prior to administration of morphine sulfate. (B, C, and D) do not address the
concept of medication safety.
A client is receiving the third course of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) therapy for a tumor of
the liver. Which action should the practical nurse implement to reduce the client's
risk for stomatitis?
A) Use commercial oral products to reduce the risk of oral infections.
B) Observe for black, tarry stools or bleeding ulcerations.
C) Increase intake of foods containing fiber and citric acid.
D) Examine mouth daily for bleeding, white spots, and ulcerations. - ANSWER-
D) Examine mouth daily for bleeding, white spots, and ulcerations.
Feedback:
5-fluorouracil (5FU) is an antimetabolite, antineoplastic agent that causes
sloughing of the rapid proliferating epithelial cells of the oral mucosa causing
ulceration, bleeding, and oral candidiasis (thrush). Daily examination of the oral
mucosa (D) should be implemented to identify signs of stomatitis, such as white
spots, ulcerations, and bleeding of the mouth, so early intervention can be
implemented. Oral commercial products usually contain alcohol, which contributes
to inflammation of the oral mucosa, and should be avoided (A). Although
monitoring the stool for bleeding (B) should be implemented, stomatitis occurs in
75% of clients who receive 5FU. Foods high in fiber and citric acid should also be
avoided (C) to reduce pain and trauma to the mouth.
Which instruction should the practical nurse (PN) reinforce with a client who is
taking disulfiram (Antabuse)?
A) Cigarette smoking cessation program should be started.
4
