HESI Pharmacology Exam Questions with
Correct Answers (VerifiedAnswers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication. Which action
best verifies the correct patient?
A. Compare the room number with the medication label
B. Use two approved patient identifiers
C. Ask another patient to identify the client
D. Verify only the patient's last name
Rationale: Using two identifiers, such as the patient's full name
and date of birth, is a core medication-safety practice. A room
or bed number is not an acceptable identifier because patients
can be moved or room assignments can change. Asking another
patient or relying on a single identifier increases the risk of
wrong-patient medication administration.
Question 2
A patient taking furosemide is at greatest risk for which
electrolyte imbalance?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
,C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypercalcemia
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases renal
excretion of sodium and water and also promotes potassium
loss. Hypokalemia can cause weakness, muscle cramps, and
potentially dangerous cardiac dysrhythmias, so potassium and
other electrolytes should be monitored.
Question 3
Which finding in a patient receiving digoxin requires the most
immediate follow-up?
A. Mild increase in appetite
B. Yellow-green visual halos
C. Occasional thirst
D. Heart rate of 82/min
Rationale: Visual disturbances such as yellow or green halos,
nausea, vomiting, and dysrhythmias can indicate digoxin
toxicity. The nurse should withhold the medication as
appropriate under the prescription or protocol and promptly
notify the prescriber while assessing the patient and relevant
laboratory values.
Question 4
Before administering digoxin, which assessment is most
important?
,A. Apical pulse for one full minute
B. Respiratory rate for 15 seconds
C. Bowel sounds
D. Skin turgor
Rationale: Digoxin can slow cardiac conduction and produce
bradycardia. The apical pulse should be assessed for a full
minute before administration, with the medication held
according to the medication's prescribed parameters if the pulse
is below the appropriate threshold.
Question 5
Which adverse effect is most characteristic of an ACE inhibitor
such as lisinopril?
A. Dry persistent cough
B. Orange urine
C. Severe constipation
D. Hearing loss
Rationale: ACE inhibitors increase bradykinin levels, which can
produce a persistent dry cough. Angioedema is another
important adverse reaction. Orange body fluids are associated
with rifampin, while hearing loss is associated with ototoxic
medications such as aminoglycosides.
Question 6
, A patient taking warfarin asks about dietary vitamin K. Which
response is best?
A. Avoid all vitamin K permanently
B. Keep vitamin K intake consistent from day to day
C. Double vitamin K intake when bruising occurs
D. Take vitamin K supplements every morning
Rationale: Warfarin's anticoagulant effect is influenced by
vitamin K intake. Patients generally should not eliminate vitamin
K foods completely; instead, they should maintain a consistent
dietary pattern so anticoagulation can be managed predictably.
Sudden large increases or decreases can alter the INR.
Question 7
Which laboratory test is used to monitor the therapeutic effect
of warfarin?
A. aPTT
B. INR
C. Serum sodium
D. Hemoglobin A1c
Rationale: The international normalized ratio, or INR, is used to
monitor warfarin therapy and guide dose adjustment. The aPTT
is commonly used to monitor unfractionated heparin.
Question 8
Correct Answers (VerifiedAnswers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer a medication. Which action
best verifies the correct patient?
A. Compare the room number with the medication label
B. Use two approved patient identifiers
C. Ask another patient to identify the client
D. Verify only the patient's last name
Rationale: Using two identifiers, such as the patient's full name
and date of birth, is a core medication-safety practice. A room
or bed number is not an acceptable identifier because patients
can be moved or room assignments can change. Asking another
patient or relying on a single identifier increases the risk of
wrong-patient medication administration.
Question 2
A patient taking furosemide is at greatest risk for which
electrolyte imbalance?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
,C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypercalcemia
Rationale: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that increases renal
excretion of sodium and water and also promotes potassium
loss. Hypokalemia can cause weakness, muscle cramps, and
potentially dangerous cardiac dysrhythmias, so potassium and
other electrolytes should be monitored.
Question 3
Which finding in a patient receiving digoxin requires the most
immediate follow-up?
A. Mild increase in appetite
B. Yellow-green visual halos
C. Occasional thirst
D. Heart rate of 82/min
Rationale: Visual disturbances such as yellow or green halos,
nausea, vomiting, and dysrhythmias can indicate digoxin
toxicity. The nurse should withhold the medication as
appropriate under the prescription or protocol and promptly
notify the prescriber while assessing the patient and relevant
laboratory values.
Question 4
Before administering digoxin, which assessment is most
important?
,A. Apical pulse for one full minute
B. Respiratory rate for 15 seconds
C. Bowel sounds
D. Skin turgor
Rationale: Digoxin can slow cardiac conduction and produce
bradycardia. The apical pulse should be assessed for a full
minute before administration, with the medication held
according to the medication's prescribed parameters if the pulse
is below the appropriate threshold.
Question 5
Which adverse effect is most characteristic of an ACE inhibitor
such as lisinopril?
A. Dry persistent cough
B. Orange urine
C. Severe constipation
D. Hearing loss
Rationale: ACE inhibitors increase bradykinin levels, which can
produce a persistent dry cough. Angioedema is another
important adverse reaction. Orange body fluids are associated
with rifampin, while hearing loss is associated with ototoxic
medications such as aminoglycosides.
Question 6
, A patient taking warfarin asks about dietary vitamin K. Which
response is best?
A. Avoid all vitamin K permanently
B. Keep vitamin K intake consistent from day to day
C. Double vitamin K intake when bruising occurs
D. Take vitamin K supplements every morning
Rationale: Warfarin's anticoagulant effect is influenced by
vitamin K intake. Patients generally should not eliminate vitamin
K foods completely; instead, they should maintain a consistent
dietary pattern so anticoagulation can be managed predictably.
Sudden large increases or decreases can alter the INR.
Question 7
Which laboratory test is used to monitor the therapeutic effect
of warfarin?
A. aPTT
B. INR
C. Serum sodium
D. Hemoglobin A1c
Rationale: The international normalized ratio, or INR, is used to
monitor warfarin therapy and guide dose adjustment. The aPTT
is commonly used to monitor unfractionated heparin.
Question 8
