2026 HESI RN PHARMACOLOGY EXAM PREP EXAM – NGN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED
A+. 100% VERIFIED SOLUTIONS | UPDATED PER LATEST GUIDELINES | GRADED A+
Question 1
The nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a patient with heart failure. Which assessment finding would
indicate the patient is at increased risk for digoxin toxicity?
A. Heart rate of 62 beats/min
B. Serum potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L
C. Blood pressure of 110/70 mmHg
D. Serum creatinine of 1.0 mg/dL
🟢 Correct Answer:
B. Serum potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L
🔴 RATIONALE:
Hypokalemia (serum potassium < 3.5 mEq/L) significantly increases the risk of digoxin toxicity by enhancing the
binding of digoxin to cardiac sodium-potassium ATPase pumps. A heart rate of 62 is within normal limits, and
blood pressure and creatinine are within acceptable ranges.
Question 2
A patient is prescribed warfarin (Coumadin) for atrial fibrillation. The nurse notes the patient's INR is 4.5. What is
the nurse's priority action?
,A. Administer the next dose of warfarin as scheduled
B. Hold the next dose and notify the healthcare provider
C. Administer vitamin K intravenously
D. Increase the dose of warfarin
🟢 Correct Answer:
B. Hold the next dose and notify the healthcare provider
🔴 RATIONALE:
A therapeutic INR for atrial fibrillation is typically 2.0-3.0. An INR of 4.5 is elevated and indicates an increased
risk of bleeding. The nurse should hold the next dose and notify the healthcare provider for a dose adjustment.
Vitamin K is administered only for significant bleeding or a dangerously elevated INR.
Question 3
The nurse is administering intravenous furosemide to a patient with acute pulmonary edema. Which assessment
finding indicates the medication is having the desired therapeutic effect?
A. Decreased blood pressure
B. Increased urine output and decreased dyspnea
C. Decreased heart rate
D. Increased peripheral edema
🟢 Correct Answer:
B. Increased urine output and decreased dyspnea
,🔴 RATIONALE:
Furosemide is a loop diuretic used to reduce fluid volume overload. The desired therapeutic effects include
increased urine output, decreased edema, and relief of shortness of breath. Increased urine output is the most
direct indicator of effectiveness.
Question 4
A patient with asthma is prescribed an inhaled corticosteroid. Which instruction should the nurse include in the
teaching?
A. "Rinse your mouth with water after each use."
B. "Use this medication for acute shortness of breath."
C. "Take this medication with a full glass of water."
D. "Avoid using a spacer with this medication."
🟢 Correct Answer:
A. "Rinse your mouth with water after each use."
🔴 RATIONALE:
Inhaled corticosteroids can cause oral thrush. Rinsing the mouth with water after each use helps prevent this
complication. They are maintenance medications and should not be used for acute symptom relief. A spacer is
often recommended to improve delivery.
, Question 5
A patient is prescribed an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. Which adverse effect should the nurse
monitor for?
A. Dry cough and hyperkalemia
B. Tachycardia and hyperglycemia
C. Hypotension and hypokalemia
D. Weight gain and edema
🟢 Correct Answer:
A. Dry cough and hyperkalemia
🔴 RATIONALE:
ACE inhibitors can cause a dry cough (due to bradykinin accumulation) and hyperkalemia (due to reduced
aldosterone). Hypotension is also common, especially with the first dose. Hypokalemia is not a typical effect.
Question 6
A patient is prescribed heparin for a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which laboratory test should the nurse
monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of this medication?
A. INR
B. aPTT
C. Platelet count
D. Serum creatinine
A+. 100% VERIFIED SOLUTIONS | UPDATED PER LATEST GUIDELINES | GRADED A+
Question 1
The nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a patient with heart failure. Which assessment finding would
indicate the patient is at increased risk for digoxin toxicity?
A. Heart rate of 62 beats/min
B. Serum potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L
C. Blood pressure of 110/70 mmHg
D. Serum creatinine of 1.0 mg/dL
🟢 Correct Answer:
B. Serum potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L
🔴 RATIONALE:
Hypokalemia (serum potassium < 3.5 mEq/L) significantly increases the risk of digoxin toxicity by enhancing the
binding of digoxin to cardiac sodium-potassium ATPase pumps. A heart rate of 62 is within normal limits, and
blood pressure and creatinine are within acceptable ranges.
Question 2
A patient is prescribed warfarin (Coumadin) for atrial fibrillation. The nurse notes the patient's INR is 4.5. What is
the nurse's priority action?
,A. Administer the next dose of warfarin as scheduled
B. Hold the next dose and notify the healthcare provider
C. Administer vitamin K intravenously
D. Increase the dose of warfarin
🟢 Correct Answer:
B. Hold the next dose and notify the healthcare provider
🔴 RATIONALE:
A therapeutic INR for atrial fibrillation is typically 2.0-3.0. An INR of 4.5 is elevated and indicates an increased
risk of bleeding. The nurse should hold the next dose and notify the healthcare provider for a dose adjustment.
Vitamin K is administered only for significant bleeding or a dangerously elevated INR.
Question 3
The nurse is administering intravenous furosemide to a patient with acute pulmonary edema. Which assessment
finding indicates the medication is having the desired therapeutic effect?
A. Decreased blood pressure
B. Increased urine output and decreased dyspnea
C. Decreased heart rate
D. Increased peripheral edema
🟢 Correct Answer:
B. Increased urine output and decreased dyspnea
,🔴 RATIONALE:
Furosemide is a loop diuretic used to reduce fluid volume overload. The desired therapeutic effects include
increased urine output, decreased edema, and relief of shortness of breath. Increased urine output is the most
direct indicator of effectiveness.
Question 4
A patient with asthma is prescribed an inhaled corticosteroid. Which instruction should the nurse include in the
teaching?
A. "Rinse your mouth with water after each use."
B. "Use this medication for acute shortness of breath."
C. "Take this medication with a full glass of water."
D. "Avoid using a spacer with this medication."
🟢 Correct Answer:
A. "Rinse your mouth with water after each use."
🔴 RATIONALE:
Inhaled corticosteroids can cause oral thrush. Rinsing the mouth with water after each use helps prevent this
complication. They are maintenance medications and should not be used for acute symptom relief. A spacer is
often recommended to improve delivery.
, Question 5
A patient is prescribed an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. Which adverse effect should the nurse
monitor for?
A. Dry cough and hyperkalemia
B. Tachycardia and hyperglycemia
C. Hypotension and hypokalemia
D. Weight gain and edema
🟢 Correct Answer:
A. Dry cough and hyperkalemia
🔴 RATIONALE:
ACE inhibitors can cause a dry cough (due to bradykinin accumulation) and hyperkalemia (due to reduced
aldosterone). Hypotension is also common, especially with the first dose. Hypokalemia is not a typical effect.
Question 6
A patient is prescribed heparin for a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Which laboratory test should the nurse
monitor to evaluate the effectiveness of this medication?
A. INR
B. aPTT
C. Platelet count
D. Serum creatinine
