PHARMACOLOGY HESI V2
PREPARATION WITH
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ACCURATE ANSWERS GRADED
A+ (2026 UPDATE!!)
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. - answer-ANS: A
Medication with long half-lives remain at their therapeutic levels between doses for long
periods of time. Therefore, this medication can be administered once a day.
A nurse educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence
medication metabolism with a group of nurses. 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
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication metabolized by the same pathway - answer-ANS: C, E
Liver failure decreases metabolism and thus increase the concentration of medication.
This may require decreasing the dosage of medication. When two medications are
metabolized in the same way, they may compete for metabolism, thereby increasing the
concentration of one or both medications.
,Increased renal excretion may decrease concentration of the medication, requiring
increased dosage. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes can decrease the
concentration of the medication. The dose might need increased. Peripheral vascular
disease may impair distribution, and more of the medication may be needed.
A nurse s preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which of the following are
appropriate nursing interventions related to this procedure? (Select all that apply.)
A. Using medical aseptic technique
B. Asking the client to look up at the ceiling
C. Having the client lie in a side-lying position
D. Dropping medication into the center of the client's conjunctival sac
E. Instructing the client to close the eye gently - answer-ANS:B, D, E
The medication should be dropped into the center of the conjunctival sac to promote
better distribution of the medication. The client should close the eye gently to allow
improved distribution of the medication.
Surgical aseptic technique is used to administer eye drops. The client should be sitting
or in a supine position to facilitate proper administration of eye drops.
A nurse is completing discharge teaching to a client who has a new prescription for a
transdermal medication. Which of the following statements by the client indicates
understanding of the teaching?
A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab prior to applying the patch."
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." - answer-ANS: C
Transdermal medication should be applied to a hairless area of skin to promote
absorption of medication.
The skin should be washed with soap and water and dried thoroughly before applying a
transdermal patch. Application sites should be rotated on a daily basis to prevent skin
irritation.
,A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription by the provider
to verify the trough level of the client's medication. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
A. Have a blood specimen obtained immediately prior to the next dose of medication.
B. Verify that the client has been on the medication for 24 hr before ordering a blood
specimen.
C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose of medication.
D. Begin administering the medication, and obtain a blood specimen. - answer-ANS: A
To verify trough levels of a medication, a blood specimen is obtained immediately
before the next dose of medication.
A nurse is preparing a client's medication. Which of the following are legal
responsibilities of the nurse? (Select all that apply.)
A. Maintaining skill competency
B. Determining the dosage
C. Monitoring for adverse effects
D. Safeguarding medications
E. Identifying the client's diagnosis - answer-ANS: A, C, D
Determining medication dosage and identifying a diagnosis is the role/responsibility of
the provider. The nurse should be informed about a client's diagnosis.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription by the provider
for lisinopril (Zestril) 10 mg PO every day. The nurse should recognize this as which of
the following types of prescription?
A. Single prescription
B. Stat prescription
C. Routine prescription
D. Standing prescription - answer-ANS: C
A routine prescription identifies a medication that is given on a regular schedule. This
medication is administered every day until discontinued.
, A single prescription is to be given once at a specified time or as soon as possible. A stat
prescription is only given once, and it is given immediately. A standing prescription is
written for specific circumstances or a specific unit.
A nurse is reviewing a new prescription for ondansetron (Zofran) 4 mg PO PRN nausea
and vomiting for a client who has hyperemesis gravidarum. The nurse should clarify
which of the following parts of the prescription with the provider?
A. Name
B. Dosage
C. Route
D. Time - answer-ANS: D
The time and frequency of medication administration is not included and should be
clarified with the provider.
A nurse is orienting a newly hired nurse and discussing how to take telephone
prescription. Which of the following statements by the newly hired nurse indicates
understanding of the discussion?
A. "A second nurse enters the prescription into the client's health record."
B. "Another nurse should listen to the phone call."
C. "The provider can clarify the prescription when he signs the health record."
D. "The 'read back' is omitted if this is a one-time prescription." - answer-ANS: B
The second nurse should listen to a telephone prescription to prevent errors in
communication.
The nurse who takes the telephone prescription should enter it into the client's health
record to prevent errors in translation. The nurse verifies the prescription is complete
and accurate at the time it is given by reading it back to the provider. A telephone
prescription includes reading back all types of medication prescription.
PREPARATION WITH
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ACCURATE ANSWERS GRADED
A+ (2026 UPDATE!!)
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. - answer-ANS: A
Medication with long half-lives remain at their therapeutic levels between doses for long
periods of time. Therefore, this medication can be administered once a day.
A nurse educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence
medication metabolism with a group of nurses. 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
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication metabolized by the same pathway - answer-ANS: C, E
Liver failure decreases metabolism and thus increase the concentration of medication.
This may require decreasing the dosage of medication. When two medications are
metabolized in the same way, they may compete for metabolism, thereby increasing the
concentration of one or both medications.
,Increased renal excretion may decrease concentration of the medication, requiring
increased dosage. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes can decrease the
concentration of the medication. The dose might need increased. Peripheral vascular
disease may impair distribution, and more of the medication may be needed.
A nurse s preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which of the following are
appropriate nursing interventions related to this procedure? (Select all that apply.)
A. Using medical aseptic technique
B. Asking the client to look up at the ceiling
C. Having the client lie in a side-lying position
D. Dropping medication into the center of the client's conjunctival sac
E. Instructing the client to close the eye gently - answer-ANS:B, D, E
The medication should be dropped into the center of the conjunctival sac to promote
better distribution of the medication. The client should close the eye gently to allow
improved distribution of the medication.
Surgical aseptic technique is used to administer eye drops. The client should be sitting
or in a supine position to facilitate proper administration of eye drops.
A nurse is completing discharge teaching to a client who has a new prescription for a
transdermal medication. Which of the following statements by the client indicates
understanding of the teaching?
A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab prior to applying the patch."
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." - answer-ANS: C
Transdermal medication should be applied to a hairless area of skin to promote
absorption of medication.
The skin should be washed with soap and water and dried thoroughly before applying a
transdermal patch. Application sites should be rotated on a daily basis to prevent skin
irritation.
,A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription by the provider
to verify the trough level of the client's medication. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
A. Have a blood specimen obtained immediately prior to the next dose of medication.
B. Verify that the client has been on the medication for 24 hr before ordering a blood
specimen.
C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose of medication.
D. Begin administering the medication, and obtain a blood specimen. - answer-ANS: A
To verify trough levels of a medication, a blood specimen is obtained immediately
before the next dose of medication.
A nurse is preparing a client's medication. Which of the following are legal
responsibilities of the nurse? (Select all that apply.)
A. Maintaining skill competency
B. Determining the dosage
C. Monitoring for adverse effects
D. Safeguarding medications
E. Identifying the client's diagnosis - answer-ANS: A, C, D
Determining medication dosage and identifying a diagnosis is the role/responsibility of
the provider. The nurse should be informed about a client's diagnosis.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription by the provider
for lisinopril (Zestril) 10 mg PO every day. The nurse should recognize this as which of
the following types of prescription?
A. Single prescription
B. Stat prescription
C. Routine prescription
D. Standing prescription - answer-ANS: C
A routine prescription identifies a medication that is given on a regular schedule. This
medication is administered every day until discontinued.
, A single prescription is to be given once at a specified time or as soon as possible. A stat
prescription is only given once, and it is given immediately. A standing prescription is
written for specific circumstances or a specific unit.
A nurse is reviewing a new prescription for ondansetron (Zofran) 4 mg PO PRN nausea
and vomiting for a client who has hyperemesis gravidarum. The nurse should clarify
which of the following parts of the prescription with the provider?
A. Name
B. Dosage
C. Route
D. Time - answer-ANS: D
The time and frequency of medication administration is not included and should be
clarified with the provider.
A nurse is orienting a newly hired nurse and discussing how to take telephone
prescription. Which of the following statements by the newly hired nurse indicates
understanding of the discussion?
A. "A second nurse enters the prescription into the client's health record."
B. "Another nurse should listen to the phone call."
C. "The provider can clarify the prescription when he signs the health record."
D. "The 'read back' is omitted if this is a one-time prescription." - answer-ANS: B
The second nurse should listen to a telephone prescription to prevent errors in
communication.
The nurse who takes the telephone prescription should enter it into the client's health
record to prevent errors in translation. The nurse verifies the prescription is complete
and accurate at the time it is given by reading it back to the provider. A telephone
prescription includes reading back all types of medication prescription.
