HESI Pharmacology Version 1 (v1) Exit Exam
— 250 Original HESI-Style Practice Q&As;
Important: These are newly written practice questions modeled on common nursing-pharmacology learning objectives. They
are not leaked HESI items, screenshots, or proprietary exam content, and no exam resource can honestly guarantee a pass or
A+. The format uses large dots for distractors and a larger green tick inside an empty box for the correct choice.
1. A client is prescribed lisinopril. Which condition is the medication most directly
intended to treat?
hypertension and heart failure
increased appetite
flushing during rapid infusion
ankle edema
Rationale: lisinopril is a ACE inhibitor used for hypertension and heart failure.
2. Which finding is most consistent with a common adverse effect of lisinopril?
restlessness
photosensitivity
persistent dry cough
gynecomastia
Rationale: A common adverse effect associated with lisinopril is persistent dry cough.
IM injection concept
Use the prescribed site/needle and institutional technique.
Original clinical schematic: injection-site concept
3. Which instruction should the nurse include when teaching a client about lisinopril?
avoid potassium salt substitutes
Take every dose with an antacid unless nausea occurs.
Avoid all fluids while taking the medication.
Double the next dose if one dose is missed.
Rationale: An important teaching point for lisinopril is to avoid potassium salt substitutes.
Original HESI-style pharmacology practice • Not an actual HESI exam Page 1
, 4. Which complication should the nurse recognize as a serious concern requiring
prompt evaluation in a client receiving lisinopril?
agranulocytosis
hypoglycemia
angioedema
aplastic anemia/agranulocytosis
Rationale: A serious concern with lisinopril is angioedema.
5. A client is prescribed losartan. Which condition is the medication most directly
intended to treat?
hypertension
rigidity
nausea
GI irritation
Rationale: losartan is a ARB used for hypertension.
6. Which finding is most consistent with a common adverse effect of losartan?
dizziness
oral thrush
GI irritation
headache
Rationale: A common adverse effect associated with losartan is dizziness.
7. Which instruction should the nurse include when teaching a client about losartan?
avoid potassium supplements unless prescribed
Stop the medication as soon as symptoms improve.
Take every dose with an antacid unless nausea occurs.
Double the next dose if one dose is missed.
Rationale: An important teaching point for losartan is to avoid potassium supplements unless prescribed.
Medication-relevant heart landmarks
Right side → pulmonary circulation
Left side → systemic circulation
Assess pulse/BP with cardioactive drugs.
Original pharmacology study diagram: cardiovascular medication context
Original HESI-style pharmacology practice • Not an actual HESI exam Page 2
, 8. Which complication should the nurse recognize as a serious concern requiring
prompt evaluation in a client receiving losartan?
gynecomastia
rhabdomyolysis
angioedema
red man syndrome
Rationale: A serious concern with losartan is angioedema.
9. A client is prescribed metoprolol. Which condition is the medication most directly
intended to treat?
increased appetite
hot flashes
photosensitivity
hypertension and rate control
Rationale: metoprolol is a beta blocker used for hypertension and rate control.
10. Which finding is most consistent with a common adverse effect of metoprolol?
orthostatic hypotension
mouth sores
headache
bradycardia
Rationale: A common adverse effect associated with metoprolol is bradycardia.
11. Which instruction should the nurse include when teaching a client about
metoprolol?
Stop the medication as soon as symptoms improve.
check apical pulse before giving
Double the next dose if one dose is missed.
Take every dose with an antacid unless nausea occurs.
Rationale: An important teaching point for metoprolol is to check apical pulse before giving.
12. Which complication should the nurse recognize as a serious concern requiring
prompt evaluation in a client receiving metoprolol?
opioid toxicity
severe QT prolongation
severe bradycardia
aplastic anemia/agranulocytosis
Rationale: A serious concern with metoprolol is severe bradycardia.
Original HESI-style pharmacology practice • Not an actual HESI exam Page 3
, 13. A client is prescribed digoxin. Which condition is the medication most directly
intended to treat?
sedation
hypoglycemia
heart failure and atrial fibrillation rate control
muscle pain
Rationale: digoxin is a cardiac glycoside used for heart failure and atrial fibrillation rate control.
14. Which finding is most consistent with a common adverse effect of digoxin?
orthostatic hypotension
confusion
GI irritation
nausea with visual changes
Rationale: A common adverse effect associated with digoxin is nausea with visual changes.
15. Which instruction should the nurse include when teaching a client about digoxin?
Avoid all fluids while taking the medication.
Stop the medication as soon as symptoms improve.
check apical pulse for 1 full minute
Take every dose with an antacid unless nausea occurs.
Rationale: An important teaching point for digoxin is to check apical pulse for 1 full minute.
16. Which complication should the nurse recognize as a serious concern requiring
prompt evaluation in a client receiving digoxin?
digoxin immune Fab
hepatotoxicity
naloxone
ototoxicity
Rationale: A serious concern with digoxin is digoxin immune Fab.
17. A client is prescribed furosemide. Which condition is the medication most directly
intended to treat?
persistent dry cough
bleeding
fluid overload and edema
muscle pain
Rationale: furosemide is a loop diuretic used for fluid overload and edema.
Original HESI-style pharmacology practice • Not an actual HESI exam Page 4
— 250 Original HESI-Style Practice Q&As;
Important: These are newly written practice questions modeled on common nursing-pharmacology learning objectives. They
are not leaked HESI items, screenshots, or proprietary exam content, and no exam resource can honestly guarantee a pass or
A+. The format uses large dots for distractors and a larger green tick inside an empty box for the correct choice.
1. A client is prescribed lisinopril. Which condition is the medication most directly
intended to treat?
hypertension and heart failure
increased appetite
flushing during rapid infusion
ankle edema
Rationale: lisinopril is a ACE inhibitor used for hypertension and heart failure.
2. Which finding is most consistent with a common adverse effect of lisinopril?
restlessness
photosensitivity
persistent dry cough
gynecomastia
Rationale: A common adverse effect associated with lisinopril is persistent dry cough.
IM injection concept
Use the prescribed site/needle and institutional technique.
Original clinical schematic: injection-site concept
3. Which instruction should the nurse include when teaching a client about lisinopril?
avoid potassium salt substitutes
Take every dose with an antacid unless nausea occurs.
Avoid all fluids while taking the medication.
Double the next dose if one dose is missed.
Rationale: An important teaching point for lisinopril is to avoid potassium salt substitutes.
Original HESI-style pharmacology practice • Not an actual HESI exam Page 1
, 4. Which complication should the nurse recognize as a serious concern requiring
prompt evaluation in a client receiving lisinopril?
agranulocytosis
hypoglycemia
angioedema
aplastic anemia/agranulocytosis
Rationale: A serious concern with lisinopril is angioedema.
5. A client is prescribed losartan. Which condition is the medication most directly
intended to treat?
hypertension
rigidity
nausea
GI irritation
Rationale: losartan is a ARB used for hypertension.
6. Which finding is most consistent with a common adverse effect of losartan?
dizziness
oral thrush
GI irritation
headache
Rationale: A common adverse effect associated with losartan is dizziness.
7. Which instruction should the nurse include when teaching a client about losartan?
avoid potassium supplements unless prescribed
Stop the medication as soon as symptoms improve.
Take every dose with an antacid unless nausea occurs.
Double the next dose if one dose is missed.
Rationale: An important teaching point for losartan is to avoid potassium supplements unless prescribed.
Medication-relevant heart landmarks
Right side → pulmonary circulation
Left side → systemic circulation
Assess pulse/BP with cardioactive drugs.
Original pharmacology study diagram: cardiovascular medication context
Original HESI-style pharmacology practice • Not an actual HESI exam Page 2
, 8. Which complication should the nurse recognize as a serious concern requiring
prompt evaluation in a client receiving losartan?
gynecomastia
rhabdomyolysis
angioedema
red man syndrome
Rationale: A serious concern with losartan is angioedema.
9. A client is prescribed metoprolol. Which condition is the medication most directly
intended to treat?
increased appetite
hot flashes
photosensitivity
hypertension and rate control
Rationale: metoprolol is a beta blocker used for hypertension and rate control.
10. Which finding is most consistent with a common adverse effect of metoprolol?
orthostatic hypotension
mouth sores
headache
bradycardia
Rationale: A common adverse effect associated with metoprolol is bradycardia.
11. Which instruction should the nurse include when teaching a client about
metoprolol?
Stop the medication as soon as symptoms improve.
check apical pulse before giving
Double the next dose if one dose is missed.
Take every dose with an antacid unless nausea occurs.
Rationale: An important teaching point for metoprolol is to check apical pulse before giving.
12. Which complication should the nurse recognize as a serious concern requiring
prompt evaluation in a client receiving metoprolol?
opioid toxicity
severe QT prolongation
severe bradycardia
aplastic anemia/agranulocytosis
Rationale: A serious concern with metoprolol is severe bradycardia.
Original HESI-style pharmacology practice • Not an actual HESI exam Page 3
, 13. A client is prescribed digoxin. Which condition is the medication most directly
intended to treat?
sedation
hypoglycemia
heart failure and atrial fibrillation rate control
muscle pain
Rationale: digoxin is a cardiac glycoside used for heart failure and atrial fibrillation rate control.
14. Which finding is most consistent with a common adverse effect of digoxin?
orthostatic hypotension
confusion
GI irritation
nausea with visual changes
Rationale: A common adverse effect associated with digoxin is nausea with visual changes.
15. Which instruction should the nurse include when teaching a client about digoxin?
Avoid all fluids while taking the medication.
Stop the medication as soon as symptoms improve.
check apical pulse for 1 full minute
Take every dose with an antacid unless nausea occurs.
Rationale: An important teaching point for digoxin is to check apical pulse for 1 full minute.
16. Which complication should the nurse recognize as a serious concern requiring
prompt evaluation in a client receiving digoxin?
digoxin immune Fab
hepatotoxicity
naloxone
ototoxicity
Rationale: A serious concern with digoxin is digoxin immune Fab.
17. A client is prescribed furosemide. Which condition is the medication most directly
intended to treat?
persistent dry cough
bleeding
fluid overload and edema
muscle pain
Rationale: furosemide is a loop diuretic used for fluid overload and edema.
Original HESI-style pharmacology practice • Not an actual HESI exam Page 4
