COURSE CODE: HESI-PHARM-V2
EXAM DATE TIME ALLOWED
COURSE TITLE: Pharmacology HESI V2 — Comprehensive Review
— / — / —— 180 Minutes
INSTRUCTOR: —
◇
Pharmacology HESI V2 — 2026/2027
Comprehensive Final Examination
ALL QUESTIONS ARE COMPULSORY
A MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (200 Marks)
Choose the single best answer for each question. Write the correct letter in the space provided.
1. A client is prescribed phenobarbital sodium (Luminal) for a seizure disorder. The medication has a
long half-life of 4 days. Based on this half-life, the medication will most likely be prescribed:
A. once a day.
B. twice a day.
C. three times a day.
D. four times a day.
◆
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: A. once a day.
Rationale: Medication with long half-lives remain at therapeutic levels between doses for long periods. Therefore, this
medication can be administered once a day.
, 2. Medication dosages may need to be decreased for which of the following reasons? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Increased renal excretion
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
C. Liver failure and Concurrent use of medication metabolized by the same pathway
D. Peripheral vascular disease
◆
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: C. Liver failure and Concurrent use of medication metabolized by the same pathway
Rationale: Liver failure decreases metabolism, increasing drug concentration. Competing metabolic pathways also increase
concentrations. Increased renal excretion and enzymes decrease concentration, requiring increased dosage.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer eye drops. Which of the following are appropriate nursing
interventions? (Select all that apply.)
A. Using medical aseptic technique
B. Asking the client to look up at the ceiling, Dropping medication into the center of the conjunctival sac, and
Instructing the client to close the eye gently
C. Having the client lie in a side-lying position
D. Using surgical aseptic technique only
◆
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: B. Asking the client to look up at the ceiling, Dropping medication into the center of the conjunctival sac,
and Instructing the client to close the eye gently
Rationale: The medication should be dropped into the center of the conjunctival sac. The client should look up and close the eye
gently. Surgical aseptic technique is used, not medical asepsis. The client should be sitting or supine.
4. A client has a new prescription for a transdermal medication. Which statement indicates
understanding?
A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab prior to applying."
B. "I will rotate the application site weekly."
C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
D. "I will place the new patch on the site of the old patch."
◆
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
Rationale: Transdermal medication should be applied to a hairless area to promote absorption. Sites should be washed with
soap and water, not alcohol. Sites should be rotated daily.
, 5. To verify the trough level of a medication, which action should the nurse take?
A. Obtain blood specimen immediately prior to the next dose.
B. Verify client has been on medication for 24 hr before ordering specimen.
C. Ask client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose.
D. Begin administering medication and obtain blood specimen.
◆
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: A. Obtain blood specimen immediately prior to the next dose.
Rationale: Trough levels measure the lowest drug concentration and are drawn just before the next scheduled dose.
6. Which of the following are legal responsibilities of the nurse regarding medications? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Maintaining skill competency, Monitoring for adverse effects, and Safeguarding medications
B. Determining the dosage
C. Identifying the client's diagnosis
D. Prescribing new medications
◆
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: A. Maintaining skill competency, Monitoring for adverse effects, and Safeguarding medications
Rationale: Determining dosage and identifying diagnosis are provider responsibilities. The nurse maintains competency,
monitors for adverse effects, and safeguards medications.
7. A prescription for lisinopril 10 mg PO every day is which type of prescription?
A. Single prescription
B. Stat prescription
C. Routine prescription
D. Standing prescription
◆
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: C. Routine prescription
Rationale: A routine prescription identifies medication given on a regular schedule. Single is once; stat is immediate; standing is
for specific circumstances.
EXAM DATE TIME ALLOWED
COURSE TITLE: Pharmacology HESI V2 — Comprehensive Review
— / — / —— 180 Minutes
INSTRUCTOR: —
◇
Pharmacology HESI V2 — 2026/2027
Comprehensive Final Examination
ALL QUESTIONS ARE COMPULSORY
A MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (200 Marks)
Choose the single best answer for each question. Write the correct letter in the space provided.
1. A client is prescribed phenobarbital sodium (Luminal) for a seizure disorder. The medication has a
long half-life of 4 days. Based on this half-life, the medication will most likely be prescribed:
A. once a day.
B. twice a day.
C. three times a day.
D. four times a day.
◆
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: A. once a day.
Rationale: Medication with long half-lives remain at therapeutic levels between doses for long periods. Therefore, this
medication can be administered once a day.
, 2. Medication dosages may need to be decreased for which of the following reasons? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Increased renal excretion
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
C. Liver failure and Concurrent use of medication metabolized by the same pathway
D. Peripheral vascular disease
◆
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: C. Liver failure and Concurrent use of medication metabolized by the same pathway
Rationale: Liver failure decreases metabolism, increasing drug concentration. Competing metabolic pathways also increase
concentrations. Increased renal excretion and enzymes decrease concentration, requiring increased dosage.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer eye drops. Which of the following are appropriate nursing
interventions? (Select all that apply.)
A. Using medical aseptic technique
B. Asking the client to look up at the ceiling, Dropping medication into the center of the conjunctival sac, and
Instructing the client to close the eye gently
C. Having the client lie in a side-lying position
D. Using surgical aseptic technique only
◆
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: B. Asking the client to look up at the ceiling, Dropping medication into the center of the conjunctival sac,
and Instructing the client to close the eye gently
Rationale: The medication should be dropped into the center of the conjunctival sac. The client should look up and close the eye
gently. Surgical aseptic technique is used, not medical asepsis. The client should be sitting or supine.
4. A client has a new prescription for a transdermal medication. Which statement indicates
understanding?
A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab prior to applying."
B. "I will rotate the application site weekly."
C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
D. "I will place the new patch on the site of the old patch."
◆
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
Rationale: Transdermal medication should be applied to a hairless area to promote absorption. Sites should be washed with
soap and water, not alcohol. Sites should be rotated daily.
, 5. To verify the trough level of a medication, which action should the nurse take?
A. Obtain blood specimen immediately prior to the next dose.
B. Verify client has been on medication for 24 hr before ordering specimen.
C. Ask client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose.
D. Begin administering medication and obtain blood specimen.
◆
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: A. Obtain blood specimen immediately prior to the next dose.
Rationale: Trough levels measure the lowest drug concentration and are drawn just before the next scheduled dose.
6. Which of the following are legal responsibilities of the nurse regarding medications? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Maintaining skill competency, Monitoring for adverse effects, and Safeguarding medications
B. Determining the dosage
C. Identifying the client's diagnosis
D. Prescribing new medications
◆
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: A. Maintaining skill competency, Monitoring for adverse effects, and Safeguarding medications
Rationale: Determining dosage and identifying diagnosis are provider responsibilities. The nurse maintains competency,
monitors for adverse effects, and safeguards medications.
7. A prescription for lisinopril 10 mg PO every day is which type of prescription?
A. Single prescription
B. Stat prescription
C. Routine prescription
D. Standing prescription
◆
✦ CORRECT ANSWER: C. Routine prescription
Rationale: A routine prescription identifies medication given on a regular schedule. Single is once; stat is immediate; standing is
for specific circumstances.
