PN HESI PHARMACOLOGY REVIEW TEST BANK
2026 REVIEW TEST BANK | QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES |
EVOLVE HESI PN PHARMACOLOGY REVIEW -
COMPLETE A+ GUIDE
Section 1: Fundamentals of Pharmacology
1. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication to
a client. The client states, "I can't swallow that pill."
What is the nurse's priority action?
a) Crush the pill and mix it with applesauce.
b) Withhold the medication and document the refusal.
c) Assess the client's ability to swallow and check the
medication's form for administration.
d) Ask the client why they can't swallow the pill.
Answer: c) Assess the client's ability to swallow and check
the medication's form for administration.
Rationale: The nurse must first assess the situation. Crushing
a pill is unsafe as some are sustained-release or enteric-
coated. Withholding without assessment is premature. While
asking why is part of assessment, the priority is a physical
,assessment to determine if the medication can be given safely
via an alternative route or if it should be held.
2. Which of the following is the most important principle
of medication administration?
a) The three checks
b) The rights of medication administration
c) Aseptic technique
d) Documentation
Answer: b) The rights of medication administration.
Rationale: The "Rights" (right patient, drug, dose, route, time,
documentation, etc.) are foundational to safe medication
administration. While the three checks, aseptic technique, and
documentation are critical components, the "Rights" are the
overarching safety principles designed to prevent medication
errors.
3. A client is prescribed 500 mg of a medication. The
available dose is 250 mg per tablet. How many tablets
should the nurse administer?
a) 1 tablet
b) 1.5 tablets
c) 2 tablets
d) 2.5 tablets
Answer: c) 2 tablets.
,Rationale: The formula is: (Desired dose) / (Available dose
per tablet) = (500 mg) / (250 mg/tablet) = 2 tablets.
4. The physician orders a medication to be given "stat".
What does this mean?
a) Give the medication at bedtime.
b) Give the medication once, immediately.
c) Give the medication before meals.
d) Give the medication every hour.
Answer: b) Give the medication once, immediately.
Rationale: "Stat" is a Latin term meaning "immediately,"
indicating that the medication is urgent and should be
administered without delay. The medication is given as a single
dose.
5. The nurse administers the wrong medication to a client.
What is the nurse's first priority?
a) Report the error to the charge nurse.
b) Complete an incident report.
c) Assess the client for adverse effects.
d) Call the provider.
Answer: c) Assess the client for adverse effects.
Rationale: The immediate priority is the client's safety. The
nurse must first assess the client for any signs of adverse
reactions or harm from the error. After this, the provider
, and charge nurse should be notified, and an incident report
completed.
Section 2: Pain Management
6. A client is prescribed morphine sulfate for severe pain.
Which side effect should the nurse monitor for most
closely?
a) Diarrhea
b) Respiratory depression
c) Hypertension
d) Hyperthermia
Answer: b) Respiratory depression.
Rationale: Morphine sulfate is an opioid analgesic that can
cause significant respiratory depression by reducing the
sensitivity of the respiratory center in the brainstem to
carbon dioxide. This is the most life-threatening side effect
and requires close monitoring, especially of respiratory rate
and depth.
7. A client is taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain. The
nurse should teach the client about the risk for which
adverse effect with long-term use or overdose?
a) Gastrointestinal bleeding
b) Hepatotoxicity
c) Nephrotoxicity
d) Cardiotoxicity
2026 REVIEW TEST BANK | QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES |
EVOLVE HESI PN PHARMACOLOGY REVIEW -
COMPLETE A+ GUIDE
Section 1: Fundamentals of Pharmacology
1. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication to
a client. The client states, "I can't swallow that pill."
What is the nurse's priority action?
a) Crush the pill and mix it with applesauce.
b) Withhold the medication and document the refusal.
c) Assess the client's ability to swallow and check the
medication's form for administration.
d) Ask the client why they can't swallow the pill.
Answer: c) Assess the client's ability to swallow and check
the medication's form for administration.
Rationale: The nurse must first assess the situation. Crushing
a pill is unsafe as some are sustained-release or enteric-
coated. Withholding without assessment is premature. While
asking why is part of assessment, the priority is a physical
,assessment to determine if the medication can be given safely
via an alternative route or if it should be held.
2. Which of the following is the most important principle
of medication administration?
a) The three checks
b) The rights of medication administration
c) Aseptic technique
d) Documentation
Answer: b) The rights of medication administration.
Rationale: The "Rights" (right patient, drug, dose, route, time,
documentation, etc.) are foundational to safe medication
administration. While the three checks, aseptic technique, and
documentation are critical components, the "Rights" are the
overarching safety principles designed to prevent medication
errors.
3. A client is prescribed 500 mg of a medication. The
available dose is 250 mg per tablet. How many tablets
should the nurse administer?
a) 1 tablet
b) 1.5 tablets
c) 2 tablets
d) 2.5 tablets
Answer: c) 2 tablets.
,Rationale: The formula is: (Desired dose) / (Available dose
per tablet) = (500 mg) / (250 mg/tablet) = 2 tablets.
4. The physician orders a medication to be given "stat".
What does this mean?
a) Give the medication at bedtime.
b) Give the medication once, immediately.
c) Give the medication before meals.
d) Give the medication every hour.
Answer: b) Give the medication once, immediately.
Rationale: "Stat" is a Latin term meaning "immediately,"
indicating that the medication is urgent and should be
administered without delay. The medication is given as a single
dose.
5. The nurse administers the wrong medication to a client.
What is the nurse's first priority?
a) Report the error to the charge nurse.
b) Complete an incident report.
c) Assess the client for adverse effects.
d) Call the provider.
Answer: c) Assess the client for adverse effects.
Rationale: The immediate priority is the client's safety. The
nurse must first assess the client for any signs of adverse
reactions or harm from the error. After this, the provider
, and charge nurse should be notified, and an incident report
completed.
Section 2: Pain Management
6. A client is prescribed morphine sulfate for severe pain.
Which side effect should the nurse monitor for most
closely?
a) Diarrhea
b) Respiratory depression
c) Hypertension
d) Hyperthermia
Answer: b) Respiratory depression.
Rationale: Morphine sulfate is an opioid analgesic that can
cause significant respiratory depression by reducing the
sensitivity of the respiratory center in the brainstem to
carbon dioxide. This is the most life-threatening side effect
and requires close monitoring, especially of respiratory rate
and depth.
7. A client is taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain. The
nurse should teach the client about the risk for which
adverse effect with long-term use or overdose?
a) Gastrointestinal bleeding
b) Hepatotoxicity
c) Nephrotoxicity
d) Cardiotoxicity
