PHARMACOLOGY/HESI/ NCLEX REVIEW
Practice Questions and Explanations
2026
1. A male client who has been taking a high dose of a
nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drug (NSAID) comes to the
clinic complaining of gastric pain and blood in his stool. The
healthcare provider discontinues the NSAIDs and prescribes
esomeprazole. Which information should the client include in
the nurse's teaching plan?
A. Once pain subsides, NSAID therapy can be continued
B. Resume a diet that consists of milk, cream, and bland
foods
C. Notify the healthcare provider of the passage of black stool
D. Call the clinic if diarrhea or headache occur when taking
esomeprazole - Correct Answers ✅C
2. When administering zolpidem to an older client, which
computer documentation indicates that the desired outcome
has been achieved?
A. Sleeps soundly through the night
B. Decreased episodes of incontinence
C. Exhibits fewer emotional outburst
D. Improved ability to concentrate - Correct Answers ✅A
3. A male client with a fungal infection of the toenail reports
to the nurse that he has been applying an over-the-counter
triple antibiotic ointment to the infection daily for two weeks
without any improvement.
,PHARMACOLOGY/HESI/ NCLEX REVIEW
Practice Questions and Explanations
2026
Which action should the nurse take?
A. Instruct the client to obtain a prescription for oral
terbinafine
B. Suggest that the client use the ointment twice a day to be
more effective
C. Reassure that the treatment of fungus-infected toenails
often takes several months
D. Advise the client to obtain a prescription-strength
formulation of the ointment - Correct Answers ✅A
A client with a nasogastric tube (NGT) has a prescription for
sucralfate. The liquid form of the medication is not currently
available in the pharmacy and tablets have been delivered to
the medication
dispensing system. Which action should the nurse include
when administering the medication?
A. Crush the tablet and mix it with water separately from
other medications
B. Crush the tablet and mix it with other crushed tablets
diluted in water
C. Withhold the medication until a liquid form is available on
the nursing unit
D. Crush the tablet and mix it with other liquid medications
for administration - Correct Answers ✅A
,PHARMACOLOGY/HESI/ NCLEX REVIEW
Practice Questions and Explanations
2026
A client with chronic asthma receives a prescription for
montelukast, a leukotriene modifier. Which statement by the
client indicates to the nurse that medication teaching was
effective?
A. I should take this medication only when I am having an
asthma attack
B. I will take the tablet every evening to control my asthma
C. This medication will stop an asthma attack immediately
D. I will not need to use my inhalers twice a day when I start
this medication - Correct Answers ✅
The nurse is planning to administer the antiulcer GI agent
sucralfate to a client with peptic ulcer disease. Which action
should the nurse include in this client's plan of care?
A. Assess for secondary Candida infection
B. Administer sucralfate once a day, preferably at bedtime
C. Give sucralfate on an empty stomach
D. Monitor for electrolyte imbalance - Correct Answers ✅B
A client with anemia secondary to chronic kidney disease
(CKD) started a prescription for epoetin alfa two months ago.
Which client finding best indicates that the medication is
effective?
A. Reports of increased energy levels and decreased fatigue
B. Takes concurrent iron therapy without adverse effects
, PHARMACOLOGY/HESI/ NCLEX REVIEW
Practice Questions and Explanations
2026
C. Food diary shows increased consumption of iron-rich foods
D. Hemoglobin level increased to 12 grams/dL(120 mmol/L) -
Correct Answers ✅D
The healthcare provider prescribes propylthiouracil (PTU) and
Lugol's solution, a strong idoine solution, for a client with
hyperthyroidism. How should the nurse schedule the
administration of these medications?
A. Administer iodine one hour before PTU
B. Offer both drugs together with a meal
C. Schedule both medications at bedtime
D. Give parental dose once every 24 hours - Correct
Answers ✅B
Twenty minutes after the nurse starts a secondary IV infusion
of cefepime 2 grams using an infusion pump to deliver the
dose in one hour, the client reports feeling nauseated. Which
action should the nurse implement?
A. Continue the infusion and administer a PRN antiemetic
prescription
B. Stop the medication infusion and notify the healthcare
provider of the adverse effect
C. Reassure the client that the nausea us not related to the IV
infusion
Practice Questions and Explanations
2026
1. A male client who has been taking a high dose of a
nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drug (NSAID) comes to the
clinic complaining of gastric pain and blood in his stool. The
healthcare provider discontinues the NSAIDs and prescribes
esomeprazole. Which information should the client include in
the nurse's teaching plan?
A. Once pain subsides, NSAID therapy can be continued
B. Resume a diet that consists of milk, cream, and bland
foods
C. Notify the healthcare provider of the passage of black stool
D. Call the clinic if diarrhea or headache occur when taking
esomeprazole - Correct Answers ✅C
2. When administering zolpidem to an older client, which
computer documentation indicates that the desired outcome
has been achieved?
A. Sleeps soundly through the night
B. Decreased episodes of incontinence
C. Exhibits fewer emotional outburst
D. Improved ability to concentrate - Correct Answers ✅A
3. A male client with a fungal infection of the toenail reports
to the nurse that he has been applying an over-the-counter
triple antibiotic ointment to the infection daily for two weeks
without any improvement.
,PHARMACOLOGY/HESI/ NCLEX REVIEW
Practice Questions and Explanations
2026
Which action should the nurse take?
A. Instruct the client to obtain a prescription for oral
terbinafine
B. Suggest that the client use the ointment twice a day to be
more effective
C. Reassure that the treatment of fungus-infected toenails
often takes several months
D. Advise the client to obtain a prescription-strength
formulation of the ointment - Correct Answers ✅A
A client with a nasogastric tube (NGT) has a prescription for
sucralfate. The liquid form of the medication is not currently
available in the pharmacy and tablets have been delivered to
the medication
dispensing system. Which action should the nurse include
when administering the medication?
A. Crush the tablet and mix it with water separately from
other medications
B. Crush the tablet and mix it with other crushed tablets
diluted in water
C. Withhold the medication until a liquid form is available on
the nursing unit
D. Crush the tablet and mix it with other liquid medications
for administration - Correct Answers ✅A
,PHARMACOLOGY/HESI/ NCLEX REVIEW
Practice Questions and Explanations
2026
A client with chronic asthma receives a prescription for
montelukast, a leukotriene modifier. Which statement by the
client indicates to the nurse that medication teaching was
effective?
A. I should take this medication only when I am having an
asthma attack
B. I will take the tablet every evening to control my asthma
C. This medication will stop an asthma attack immediately
D. I will not need to use my inhalers twice a day when I start
this medication - Correct Answers ✅
The nurse is planning to administer the antiulcer GI agent
sucralfate to a client with peptic ulcer disease. Which action
should the nurse include in this client's plan of care?
A. Assess for secondary Candida infection
B. Administer sucralfate once a day, preferably at bedtime
C. Give sucralfate on an empty stomach
D. Monitor for electrolyte imbalance - Correct Answers ✅B
A client with anemia secondary to chronic kidney disease
(CKD) started a prescription for epoetin alfa two months ago.
Which client finding best indicates that the medication is
effective?
A. Reports of increased energy levels and decreased fatigue
B. Takes concurrent iron therapy without adverse effects
, PHARMACOLOGY/HESI/ NCLEX REVIEW
Practice Questions and Explanations
2026
C. Food diary shows increased consumption of iron-rich foods
D. Hemoglobin level increased to 12 grams/dL(120 mmol/L) -
Correct Answers ✅D
The healthcare provider prescribes propylthiouracil (PTU) and
Lugol's solution, a strong idoine solution, for a client with
hyperthyroidism. How should the nurse schedule the
administration of these medications?
A. Administer iodine one hour before PTU
B. Offer both drugs together with a meal
C. Schedule both medications at bedtime
D. Give parental dose once every 24 hours - Correct
Answers ✅B
Twenty minutes after the nurse starts a secondary IV infusion
of cefepime 2 grams using an infusion pump to deliver the
dose in one hour, the client reports feeling nauseated. Which
action should the nurse implement?
A. Continue the infusion and administer a PRN antiemetic
prescription
B. Stop the medication infusion and notify the healthcare
provider of the adverse effect
C. Reassure the client that the nausea us not related to the IV
infusion
