HESI PHARMACOLOGY REVISION TEST ANSWERS
AND QUESTIONS SET A+
✔✔How would you safely administer narcotics? - ✔✔Ask about allergies.
Obtain baseline vitals.
Assess respiratory functions.
Ask about any constipation issues.
Needs 2 people to verify and waste.
✔✔What is the antidote for overdose of opioids? - ✔✔Naloxone (Narcan)
✔✔What is the antidote for overdose of acetaminophen? - ✔✔Acetylcysteine
(Mucomyst)
✔✔What is the antidote for overdose of heparin (? - ✔✔Protamine Sulfate
✔✔What is the antidote for overdose of warfarin (Coumadin)? - ✔✔Vitamin K
(Phytonadione)
✔✔What is the antidote for overdose of digitalis (Digoxin)? - ✔✔Digoxin Immune Fab
Toxicity Level: > 2.0 ng/mL
✔✔What is the antidote for overdose of insulin? - ✔✔Glucose D50
✔✔What is the antidote for overdose of theophylline? - ✔✔Esmolol it's also the antidote
for caffeine overdose.
Toxicity Level: 20 mcg/mL
✔✔What is the antidote for extrapyramidal symptoms? - ✔✔Benztropine (Cogentin) or
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
,✔✔What is the antidote for neuroleptic malignant syndrome? - ✔✔Lorazepam (Ativan)
✔✔What is the antidote for cholinergic crisis? - ✔✔Donepezil (Aricept)
✔✔What is a PCA pump? - ✔✔Patient Controlled Analgesic - delivers set amount of
pain medication with push of a button
✔✔Why would a patient be put on a PCA pump? - ✔✔PCA pumps provide a more
constant blood serum level of the drug compared to conventional analgesia.
✔✔Which medication is most common administered via PCA pump? - ✔✔morphine
✔✔A hospitalized patient has been complaining that she is having issues sleeping the
past few nights. Which medication would the nurse anticipate that the HCP will
prescribe for the patient? - ✔✔zolpidem (Ambien)
Treats insomnia.
✔✔What are the side effects of zolpidem (Ambien)? - ✔✔Headache and dizziness
✔✔What teachings should the nurse give about zolpidem (Ambien)? - ✔✔Do not drive
due to drowsiness and dizziness effects of medication.
Do not take with alcohol.
Use sleep promoting techniques: drink milk, quiet environment, reading, & avoid
caffeinated drinks.
✔✔An unconscious patient was admitted to the hospital with respiration of 10 breaths
per minute and pinpoint pupils. Which medication should the nurse anticipate to
administer to this patient? - ✔✔Naloxone (Narcan)
Monitor for respiratory depression after administration.
✔✔What are the side effects if naloxone (Narcan) is administered too quickly? -
✔✔Nausea, vomiting, tremors, and hypertension
✔✔Which bulk forming laxative would the nurse administer to a patient who just
experience a myocardial infarction? - ✔✔psyllium (Metamucil)
To stretch the intestinal wall, stimulate peristalsis, and soften the stool to prevent
constipation and straining. Also, used post rectal surgery.
, ✔✔How would the nurse prepare psyllium (Metamucil) for administration? - ✔✔Mix with
8 ounces of water at the bedside and administer immediately.
✔✔The patient asked the nurse how long will take for the psyllium (Metamucil) to start
working. What should the nurse respond? - ✔✔Bowel movement will occur within 12-36
hours.
✔✔A patient who is being discharged has a prescription for psyllium (Metamucil). What
teachings should the nurse give this patient? - ✔✔Mix with 8 ounces of water and drink
immediately.
Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water each day.
Do not take any other medications within 2 hours of taking psyllium (Metamucil).
✔✔A patient who has been taking psyllium (Metamucil) as prescribed complained of
bloating. How should the nurse respond? - ✔✔Abdominal discomfort and bloating is a
normal side effect of psyllium (Metamucil).
✔✔What teachings would a nurse give a patient with a prescription for phenytoin
(Dilantin)? - ✔✔Phenytoin (Dilantin) is an anti-seizure medication used to prevent partial
seizures.
It may cause gingival hyperplasia, rash, and ataxia.
Take with food and add folic acid to daily diet.
Report rash to HCP.
Wear a medic-alert bracelet.
Never abruptly discontinue the medication.
✔✔A lVN is preparing to administer phenytoin (Dilantin) to a patient with a history of
partial seizures. The nurse is going to administer the phenytoin (Dilantin) and
ondansetron (Zofran) via IV at the same time. Why did the RN stop the LVN prior to the
administration? - ✔✔Phenytoin (Dilantin) cannot be mixed with any other medication
when administered via IV.
Also, phenytoin (Dilantin) must be pushed slowly to avoid hypotension.
Check renal and liver functions often.
✔✔Which insulin is cloudy in appearance? - ✔✔Only intermediate acting NPH insulin
(Humulin N, Novolin N) is cloudy in appearance.
AND QUESTIONS SET A+
✔✔How would you safely administer narcotics? - ✔✔Ask about allergies.
Obtain baseline vitals.
Assess respiratory functions.
Ask about any constipation issues.
Needs 2 people to verify and waste.
✔✔What is the antidote for overdose of opioids? - ✔✔Naloxone (Narcan)
✔✔What is the antidote for overdose of acetaminophen? - ✔✔Acetylcysteine
(Mucomyst)
✔✔What is the antidote for overdose of heparin (? - ✔✔Protamine Sulfate
✔✔What is the antidote for overdose of warfarin (Coumadin)? - ✔✔Vitamin K
(Phytonadione)
✔✔What is the antidote for overdose of digitalis (Digoxin)? - ✔✔Digoxin Immune Fab
Toxicity Level: > 2.0 ng/mL
✔✔What is the antidote for overdose of insulin? - ✔✔Glucose D50
✔✔What is the antidote for overdose of theophylline? - ✔✔Esmolol it's also the antidote
for caffeine overdose.
Toxicity Level: 20 mcg/mL
✔✔What is the antidote for extrapyramidal symptoms? - ✔✔Benztropine (Cogentin) or
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
,✔✔What is the antidote for neuroleptic malignant syndrome? - ✔✔Lorazepam (Ativan)
✔✔What is the antidote for cholinergic crisis? - ✔✔Donepezil (Aricept)
✔✔What is a PCA pump? - ✔✔Patient Controlled Analgesic - delivers set amount of
pain medication with push of a button
✔✔Why would a patient be put on a PCA pump? - ✔✔PCA pumps provide a more
constant blood serum level of the drug compared to conventional analgesia.
✔✔Which medication is most common administered via PCA pump? - ✔✔morphine
✔✔A hospitalized patient has been complaining that she is having issues sleeping the
past few nights. Which medication would the nurse anticipate that the HCP will
prescribe for the patient? - ✔✔zolpidem (Ambien)
Treats insomnia.
✔✔What are the side effects of zolpidem (Ambien)? - ✔✔Headache and dizziness
✔✔What teachings should the nurse give about zolpidem (Ambien)? - ✔✔Do not drive
due to drowsiness and dizziness effects of medication.
Do not take with alcohol.
Use sleep promoting techniques: drink milk, quiet environment, reading, & avoid
caffeinated drinks.
✔✔An unconscious patient was admitted to the hospital with respiration of 10 breaths
per minute and pinpoint pupils. Which medication should the nurse anticipate to
administer to this patient? - ✔✔Naloxone (Narcan)
Monitor for respiratory depression after administration.
✔✔What are the side effects if naloxone (Narcan) is administered too quickly? -
✔✔Nausea, vomiting, tremors, and hypertension
✔✔Which bulk forming laxative would the nurse administer to a patient who just
experience a myocardial infarction? - ✔✔psyllium (Metamucil)
To stretch the intestinal wall, stimulate peristalsis, and soften the stool to prevent
constipation and straining. Also, used post rectal surgery.
, ✔✔How would the nurse prepare psyllium (Metamucil) for administration? - ✔✔Mix with
8 ounces of water at the bedside and administer immediately.
✔✔The patient asked the nurse how long will take for the psyllium (Metamucil) to start
working. What should the nurse respond? - ✔✔Bowel movement will occur within 12-36
hours.
✔✔A patient who is being discharged has a prescription for psyllium (Metamucil). What
teachings should the nurse give this patient? - ✔✔Mix with 8 ounces of water and drink
immediately.
Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water each day.
Do not take any other medications within 2 hours of taking psyllium (Metamucil).
✔✔A patient who has been taking psyllium (Metamucil) as prescribed complained of
bloating. How should the nurse respond? - ✔✔Abdominal discomfort and bloating is a
normal side effect of psyllium (Metamucil).
✔✔What teachings would a nurse give a patient with a prescription for phenytoin
(Dilantin)? - ✔✔Phenytoin (Dilantin) is an anti-seizure medication used to prevent partial
seizures.
It may cause gingival hyperplasia, rash, and ataxia.
Take with food and add folic acid to daily diet.
Report rash to HCP.
Wear a medic-alert bracelet.
Never abruptly discontinue the medication.
✔✔A lVN is preparing to administer phenytoin (Dilantin) to a patient with a history of
partial seizures. The nurse is going to administer the phenytoin (Dilantin) and
ondansetron (Zofran) via IV at the same time. Why did the RN stop the LVN prior to the
administration? - ✔✔Phenytoin (Dilantin) cannot be mixed with any other medication
when administered via IV.
Also, phenytoin (Dilantin) must be pushed slowly to avoid hypotension.
Check renal and liver functions often.
✔✔Which insulin is cloudy in appearance? - ✔✔Only intermediate acting NPH insulin
(Humulin N, Novolin N) is cloudy in appearance.
