NIGHTINGALE COLLEGE HESI PHARMACOLOGY
315 ULTIMATE TEST BANK ACTUAL QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS
This premium pharmacology test bank provides verified
multiple-choice questions matching the Nightingale
College BSN HESI 315 curriculum. Every question
features a clear, italicized answer and an authoritative,
bold-italicized rationale detailing mechanisms of action,
critical nursing interventions, and drug interactions. It
serves as an essential high-yield study tool designed to
help nursing students ace their pharmacology exams.
1. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a
patient with heart failure. Which of the following
laboratory values should the nurse review before
administering the medication?
A) Serum sodium
B) Serum potassium
C) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
D) Serum glucose
Answer: B) Serum potassium
Rationale: Hypokalemia (low potassium) increases
the risk of digoxin toxicity. The nurse must always
check the patient's potassium levels and apical
pulse before administration.
,2. A patient is prescribed furosemide for pulmonary
edema. Which time of day should the nurse
recommend taking this medication?
A) At bedtime
B) Right before lunch
C) In the morning
D) Every 12 hours starting at midnight
Answer: C) In the morning
Rationale: Loop diuretics like furosemide cause
profound diuresis. Taking the medication in the
morning prevents nocturia and sleep disruption.
3. A client is receiving a continuous intravenous
infusion of heparin. Which laboratory test is used to
monitor the therapeutic effectiveness of heparin?
A) Prothrombin time (PT)
B) International Normalized Ratio (INR)
C) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
D) Platelet count
Answer: C) Activated partial thromboplastin time
(aPTT)
Rationale: The aPTT is specifically used to monitor
and adjust unfractionated heparin infusions. PT and
INR are used to monitor oral warfarin therapy.
,4. What is the antidote for an overdose of warfarin?
A) Protamine sulfate
B) Vitamin K
C) Acetylcysteine
D) Naloxone
Answer: B) Vitamin K
Rationale: Vitamin K is the direct antagonist for
warfarin. Protamine sulfate reverses heparin,
acetylcysteine reverses acetaminophen, and
naloxone reverses opioids.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient taking nitroglycerin
sublingual tablets for angina pectoris. What
instruction should the nurse include in the
teaching?
A) Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water.
B) Chew the tablet thoroughly before swallowing.
C) Place the tablet under the tongue and let it
dissolve completely.
D) Discard the bottle 1 year after opening.
Answer: C) Place the tablet under the tongue and let
it dissolve completely.
Rationale: Sublingual administration bypasses the
first-pass liver metabolism for rapid absorption.
, Nitroglycerin bottles should generally be replaced 6
months after opening.
6. A patient is started on atorvastatin. The nurse
should instruct the patient to immediately report
which of the following side effects?
A) Mild headaches
B) Muscle pain or tenderness
C) Flushing of the face
D) Dry cough
Answer: B) Muscle pain or tenderness
Rationale: Unexplained muscle pain or weakness
can be a sign of rhabdomyolysis, a rare but life-
threatening adverse effect of statin medications.
7. A nurse is monitoring a patient receiving
vancomycin via intermittent IV infusion. The patient
suddenly develops flushing, a rash on the upper
body, and hypotension. What is the nurse's priority
action?
A) Administer an antihistamine immediately.
B) Slow or stop the infusion.
C) Document the finding as an expected side effect.
D) Increase the IV fluid rate to elevate blood
pressure.
315 ULTIMATE TEST BANK ACTUAL QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS
This premium pharmacology test bank provides verified
multiple-choice questions matching the Nightingale
College BSN HESI 315 curriculum. Every question
features a clear, italicized answer and an authoritative,
bold-italicized rationale detailing mechanisms of action,
critical nursing interventions, and drug interactions. It
serves as an essential high-yield study tool designed to
help nursing students ace their pharmacology exams.
1. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a
patient with heart failure. Which of the following
laboratory values should the nurse review before
administering the medication?
A) Serum sodium
B) Serum potassium
C) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
D) Serum glucose
Answer: B) Serum potassium
Rationale: Hypokalemia (low potassium) increases
the risk of digoxin toxicity. The nurse must always
check the patient's potassium levels and apical
pulse before administration.
,2. A patient is prescribed furosemide for pulmonary
edema. Which time of day should the nurse
recommend taking this medication?
A) At bedtime
B) Right before lunch
C) In the morning
D) Every 12 hours starting at midnight
Answer: C) In the morning
Rationale: Loop diuretics like furosemide cause
profound diuresis. Taking the medication in the
morning prevents nocturia and sleep disruption.
3. A client is receiving a continuous intravenous
infusion of heparin. Which laboratory test is used to
monitor the therapeutic effectiveness of heparin?
A) Prothrombin time (PT)
B) International Normalized Ratio (INR)
C) Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
D) Platelet count
Answer: C) Activated partial thromboplastin time
(aPTT)
Rationale: The aPTT is specifically used to monitor
and adjust unfractionated heparin infusions. PT and
INR are used to monitor oral warfarin therapy.
,4. What is the antidote for an overdose of warfarin?
A) Protamine sulfate
B) Vitamin K
C) Acetylcysteine
D) Naloxone
Answer: B) Vitamin K
Rationale: Vitamin K is the direct antagonist for
warfarin. Protamine sulfate reverses heparin,
acetylcysteine reverses acetaminophen, and
naloxone reverses opioids.
5. A nurse is caring for a patient taking nitroglycerin
sublingual tablets for angina pectoris. What
instruction should the nurse include in the
teaching?
A) Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water.
B) Chew the tablet thoroughly before swallowing.
C) Place the tablet under the tongue and let it
dissolve completely.
D) Discard the bottle 1 year after opening.
Answer: C) Place the tablet under the tongue and let
it dissolve completely.
Rationale: Sublingual administration bypasses the
first-pass liver metabolism for rapid absorption.
, Nitroglycerin bottles should generally be replaced 6
months after opening.
6. A patient is started on atorvastatin. The nurse
should instruct the patient to immediately report
which of the following side effects?
A) Mild headaches
B) Muscle pain or tenderness
C) Flushing of the face
D) Dry cough
Answer: B) Muscle pain or tenderness
Rationale: Unexplained muscle pain or weakness
can be a sign of rhabdomyolysis, a rare but life-
threatening adverse effect of statin medications.
7. A nurse is monitoring a patient receiving
vancomycin via intermittent IV infusion. The patient
suddenly develops flushing, a rash on the upper
body, and hypotension. What is the nurse's priority
action?
A) Administer an antihistamine immediately.
B) Slow or stop the infusion.
C) Document the finding as an expected side effect.
D) Increase the IV fluid rate to elevate blood
pressure.
