PN HESI Pharmacology Exam 2026 Review Test
Bank
Questions with Correct ANSWERs & Detailed
Rationales
SECTION 1: MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION & SAFETY (Questions 1-20)
QUESTION 1
How do you safely prepare medication?
A. Prepare in a busy area to save time
B. Have good lighting and work alone, checking the medication label three times
C. Transfer medications to unlabeled bottles for convenience
D. Prepare medications for multiple patients at once
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
Option A is incorrect: Preparing medications in a busy area increases the risk of distractions and
medication errors. A quiet, distraction-free environment is essential for safe medication preparation.
Option B is correct: Safe medication preparation requires good lighting, working alone without
distractions, and checking the medication label three times: when removing it from the drawer, before
dispensing, and when replacing the container. This is a fundamental safety principle.
Option C is incorrect: Never transfer medications to unlabeled containers. This is extremely dangerous
and violates all medication safety standards. Medications must always remain in their original, properly
labeled containers.
Option D is incorrect: Preparing medications for multiple patients simultaneously significantly increases
the risk of medication errors and cross-contamination. Always prepare one patient's medications at a
time.
QUESTION 2
,How would you administer medication via the intramuscular (IM) route?
A. Inject at a 15-degree angle using a ½-inch needle
B. Inject at a 90-degree angle using the Z-track method
C. Inject at a 45-degree angle into fatty tissue
D. Inject intradermally and raise a wheal
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
Option A is incorrect: A 15-degree angle with a ½-inch needle is used for intradermal injections, not
intramuscular injections. IM injections require deeper penetration into muscle tissue.
Option B is correct: IM injections are administered at a 90-degree angle. The Z-track method is
recommended to prevent medication leakage into subcutaneous tissue and to minimize irritation. The
ventrogluteal site is preferred for adults due to its distance from major nerves and blood vessels.
Option C is incorrect: A 45-degree angle into fatty tissue describes a subcutaneous injection, not an
intramuscular injection. IM injections must reach the muscle layer.
Option D is incorrect: Intradermal injections that raise a wheal are used for specific tests like TB skin
tests or allergy testing, not for therapeutic IM medication administration.
QUESTION 3
Which of the following represents the "Six Rights" of medication administration?
A. Right patient, right drug, right dose, right time, right route, right documentation
B. Right patient, right drug, right dose, right time, right room, right diagnosis
C. Right patient, right doctor, right dose, right time, right route, right documentation
D. Right patient, right drug, right diagnosis, right time, right route, right documentation
ANSWER: A
Rationale:
Option A is correct: The Six Rights of medication administration are: right patient, right drug, right dose,
right time, right route, and right documentation. These are fundamental safety principles that must be
followed for every medication administration.
Option B is incorrect: "Right room" and "right diagnosis" are not part of the Six Rights. The correct
elements are right route and right documentation.
Option C is incorrect: "Right doctor" is not one of the Six Rights. The correct element is right drug.
Option D is incorrect: "Right diagnosis" is not one of the Six Rights. The correct element is right dose.
QUESTION 4
,A nurse is preparing to administer a medication. The patient states, "I've never seen that pill before."
What is the nurse's best action?
A. Tell the patient it's a new medication and administer it
B. Reassure the patient that the doctor ordered it
C. Hold the medication and verify the order
D. Ask the patient to take it anyway
ANSWER: C
Rationale:
Option A is incorrect: Administering a medication when a patient questions it without verification is
unsafe and disregards patient concerns. Patient concerns about medications should always be taken
seriously.
Option B is incorrect: Simply reassuring the patient without verification dismisses their legitimate
concern and could result in a medication error.
Option C is correct: When a patient questions a medication, the nurse should hold the medication and
verify the order. This demonstrates respect for the patient's knowledge and ensures safety. The nurse
should check the medication order, compare it to previous medications, and clarify with the prescriber if
needed.
Option D is incorrect: Pressuring a patient to take a medication they question is unethical and unsafe.
Patient autonomy and safety must be prioritized.
QUESTION 5
Which injection site is preferred for intramuscular injections in infants and young children?
A. Deltoid
B. Ventrogluteal
C. Vastus lateralis
D. Dorsogluteal
ANSWER: C
Rationale:
Option A is incorrect: The deltoid muscle is too small in infants and young children to safely administer
IM injections. It's typically used for small volume injections in older children and adults.
Option B is incorrect: While the ventrogluteal site is safe for adults, it's difficult to locate accurately in
infants and young children due to underdeveloped muscle mass.
, Option C is correct: The vastus lateralis (anterolateral thigh) is the preferred site for IM injections in
infants and young children because it's well-developed at birth, free of major nerves and blood vessels,
and easy to locate.
Option D is incorrect: The dorsogluteal site is no longer recommended for any age group due to the risk
of hitting the sciatic nerve and superior gluteal artery.
QUESTION 6
What is the appropriate needle length for a subcutaneous injection in an average adult?
A. 1-1.5 inches
B. ½-5/8 inch
C. 1/4 inch
D. 2 inches
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
Option A is incorrect: A 1-1.5 inch needle is too long for subcutaneous injections and would likely
penetrate into muscle tissue. This length is appropriate for IM injections.
Option B is correct: A ½-5/8 inch needle (25-27 gauge) is appropriate for subcutaneous injections in
average adults. This length ensures the medication is delivered into the subcutaneous tissue without
reaching the muscle.
Option C is incorrect: A 1/4 inch needle is too short for most subcutaneous injections and is typically
used for intradermal injections.
Option D is incorrect: A 2-inch needle is excessively long for subcutaneous injections and is used for
deep IM injections in obese patients.
QUESTION 7
Which action by the nurse demonstrates proper technique when administering eye drops?
A. Instilling drops directly onto the cornea
B. Having the patient look up while pulling down the lower eyelid
C. Applying pressure to the inner canthus after administration
D. Both B and C
ANSWER: D
Rationale:
Option A is incorrect: Drops should never be instilled directly onto the cornea as this can cause
discomfort and blinking, which wastes the medication. Drops should be placed in the conjunctival sac.
Bank
Questions with Correct ANSWERs & Detailed
Rationales
SECTION 1: MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION & SAFETY (Questions 1-20)
QUESTION 1
How do you safely prepare medication?
A. Prepare in a busy area to save time
B. Have good lighting and work alone, checking the medication label three times
C. Transfer medications to unlabeled bottles for convenience
D. Prepare medications for multiple patients at once
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
Option A is incorrect: Preparing medications in a busy area increases the risk of distractions and
medication errors. A quiet, distraction-free environment is essential for safe medication preparation.
Option B is correct: Safe medication preparation requires good lighting, working alone without
distractions, and checking the medication label three times: when removing it from the drawer, before
dispensing, and when replacing the container. This is a fundamental safety principle.
Option C is incorrect: Never transfer medications to unlabeled containers. This is extremely dangerous
and violates all medication safety standards. Medications must always remain in their original, properly
labeled containers.
Option D is incorrect: Preparing medications for multiple patients simultaneously significantly increases
the risk of medication errors and cross-contamination. Always prepare one patient's medications at a
time.
QUESTION 2
,How would you administer medication via the intramuscular (IM) route?
A. Inject at a 15-degree angle using a ½-inch needle
B. Inject at a 90-degree angle using the Z-track method
C. Inject at a 45-degree angle into fatty tissue
D. Inject intradermally and raise a wheal
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
Option A is incorrect: A 15-degree angle with a ½-inch needle is used for intradermal injections, not
intramuscular injections. IM injections require deeper penetration into muscle tissue.
Option B is correct: IM injections are administered at a 90-degree angle. The Z-track method is
recommended to prevent medication leakage into subcutaneous tissue and to minimize irritation. The
ventrogluteal site is preferred for adults due to its distance from major nerves and blood vessels.
Option C is incorrect: A 45-degree angle into fatty tissue describes a subcutaneous injection, not an
intramuscular injection. IM injections must reach the muscle layer.
Option D is incorrect: Intradermal injections that raise a wheal are used for specific tests like TB skin
tests or allergy testing, not for therapeutic IM medication administration.
QUESTION 3
Which of the following represents the "Six Rights" of medication administration?
A. Right patient, right drug, right dose, right time, right route, right documentation
B. Right patient, right drug, right dose, right time, right room, right diagnosis
C. Right patient, right doctor, right dose, right time, right route, right documentation
D. Right patient, right drug, right diagnosis, right time, right route, right documentation
ANSWER: A
Rationale:
Option A is correct: The Six Rights of medication administration are: right patient, right drug, right dose,
right time, right route, and right documentation. These are fundamental safety principles that must be
followed for every medication administration.
Option B is incorrect: "Right room" and "right diagnosis" are not part of the Six Rights. The correct
elements are right route and right documentation.
Option C is incorrect: "Right doctor" is not one of the Six Rights. The correct element is right drug.
Option D is incorrect: "Right diagnosis" is not one of the Six Rights. The correct element is right dose.
QUESTION 4
,A nurse is preparing to administer a medication. The patient states, "I've never seen that pill before."
What is the nurse's best action?
A. Tell the patient it's a new medication and administer it
B. Reassure the patient that the doctor ordered it
C. Hold the medication and verify the order
D. Ask the patient to take it anyway
ANSWER: C
Rationale:
Option A is incorrect: Administering a medication when a patient questions it without verification is
unsafe and disregards patient concerns. Patient concerns about medications should always be taken
seriously.
Option B is incorrect: Simply reassuring the patient without verification dismisses their legitimate
concern and could result in a medication error.
Option C is correct: When a patient questions a medication, the nurse should hold the medication and
verify the order. This demonstrates respect for the patient's knowledge and ensures safety. The nurse
should check the medication order, compare it to previous medications, and clarify with the prescriber if
needed.
Option D is incorrect: Pressuring a patient to take a medication they question is unethical and unsafe.
Patient autonomy and safety must be prioritized.
QUESTION 5
Which injection site is preferred for intramuscular injections in infants and young children?
A. Deltoid
B. Ventrogluteal
C. Vastus lateralis
D. Dorsogluteal
ANSWER: C
Rationale:
Option A is incorrect: The deltoid muscle is too small in infants and young children to safely administer
IM injections. It's typically used for small volume injections in older children and adults.
Option B is incorrect: While the ventrogluteal site is safe for adults, it's difficult to locate accurately in
infants and young children due to underdeveloped muscle mass.
, Option C is correct: The vastus lateralis (anterolateral thigh) is the preferred site for IM injections in
infants and young children because it's well-developed at birth, free of major nerves and blood vessels,
and easy to locate.
Option D is incorrect: The dorsogluteal site is no longer recommended for any age group due to the risk
of hitting the sciatic nerve and superior gluteal artery.
QUESTION 6
What is the appropriate needle length for a subcutaneous injection in an average adult?
A. 1-1.5 inches
B. ½-5/8 inch
C. 1/4 inch
D. 2 inches
ANSWER: B
Rationale:
Option A is incorrect: A 1-1.5 inch needle is too long for subcutaneous injections and would likely
penetrate into muscle tissue. This length is appropriate for IM injections.
Option B is correct: A ½-5/8 inch needle (25-27 gauge) is appropriate for subcutaneous injections in
average adults. This length ensures the medication is delivered into the subcutaneous tissue without
reaching the muscle.
Option C is incorrect: A 1/4 inch needle is too short for most subcutaneous injections and is typically
used for intradermal injections.
Option D is incorrect: A 2-inch needle is excessively long for subcutaneous injections and is used for
deep IM injections in obese patients.
QUESTION 7
Which action by the nurse demonstrates proper technique when administering eye drops?
A. Instilling drops directly onto the cornea
B. Having the patient look up while pulling down the lower eyelid
C. Applying pressure to the inner canthus after administration
D. Both B and C
ANSWER: D
Rationale:
Option A is incorrect: Drops should never be instilled directly onto the cornea as this can cause
discomfort and blinking, which wastes the medication. Drops should be placed in the conjunctival sac.
