HESI Exit Exam Pharmacology Practice Questions
80 NCLEX-Style Multiple-Choice Questions on Pharmacology
1. A patient is prescribed digoxin for heart failure. Which class of medication is digoxin?
A. Beta-blocker
B. Cardiac glycoside
C. ACE inhibitor
D. Diuretic
Correct Answer: B (Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside used to increase cardiac contractility.)
2. What is a common side effect of lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Dry cough
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Weight gain
Correct Answer: B (A dry cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors.)
3. A nurse is administering heparin. What should the nurse monitor to assess its effectiveness?
A. INR
B. aPTT
C. Platelet count
D. Blood glucose
Correct Answer: B (Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) monitors heparin ther-
apy.)
4. A patient is ordered 500 mg of amoxicillin every 8 hours. The pharmacy provides 250 mg
capsules. How many capsules should the nurse give per dose?
A. 1 capsule
B. 2 capsules
C. 3 capsules
D. 4 capsules
Correct Answer: B (500 mg œ 250 mg/capsule = 2 capsules per dose.)
5. What should a nurse teach a patient taking warfarin about dietary considerations?
A. Increase intake of green leafy vegetables
B. Maintain consistent vitamin K intake
C. Avoid all dairy products
D. Increase sodium intake
Correct Answer: B (Consistent vitamin K intake prevents fluctuations in warfarins antico-
agulant effect.)
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, 6. Which medication is classified as a loop diuretic?
A. Furosemide
B. Hydrochlorothiazide
C. Spironolactone
D. Mannitol
Correct Answer: A (Furosemide is a loop diuretic used to treat edema and hypertension.)
7. A patient taking metformin reports nausea. What should the nurse advise?
A. Take the medication on an empty stomach
B. Take the medication with food
C. Stop the medication immediately
D. Increase the dose to reduce nausea
Correct Answer: B (Taking metformin with food reduces gastrointestinal side effects.)
8. A nurse is preparing to administer 0.9 mg of enoxaparin subcutaneously. The vial contains
100 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A. 0.009 mL
B. 0.09 mL
C. 0.9 mL
D. 9 mL
Correct Answer: B (0.9 mg œ 100 mg/mL = 0.009 mL = 0.09 mL.)
9. What is a potential side effect of opioid analgesics like morphine?
A. Hypertension
B. Respiratory depression
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Increased appetite
Correct Answer: B (Opioids can cause respiratory depression, a serious side effect.)
10. A patient is prescribed albuterol for asthma. What class of medication is albuterol?
A. Anticholinergic
B. Beta-2 agonist
C. Corticosteroid
D. Leukotriene modifier
Correct Answer: B (Albuterol is a beta-2 agonist that relaxes bronchial smooth muscles.)
11. A nurse is administering insulin lispro. When does this medication typically begin to work?
A. 1530 minutes
B. 12 hours
C. 34 hours
D. 68 hours
Correct Answer: A (Insulin lispro is a rapid-acting insulin with an onset of 1530 minutes.)
12. What should a nurse monitor in a patient taking statins, such as atorvastatin?
A. Liver function tests
B. Blood glucose levels
C. Thyroid function
D. Platelet count
Correct Answer: A (Statins can cause liver toxicity, requiring liver function monitoring.)
13. A patient is prescribed 2 g of vancomycin IV every 12 hours. The pharmacy provides a 500
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80 NCLEX-Style Multiple-Choice Questions on Pharmacology
1. A patient is prescribed digoxin for heart failure. Which class of medication is digoxin?
A. Beta-blocker
B. Cardiac glycoside
C. ACE inhibitor
D. Diuretic
Correct Answer: B (Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside used to increase cardiac contractility.)
2. What is a common side effect of lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Dry cough
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Weight gain
Correct Answer: B (A dry cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors.)
3. A nurse is administering heparin. What should the nurse monitor to assess its effectiveness?
A. INR
B. aPTT
C. Platelet count
D. Blood glucose
Correct Answer: B (Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) monitors heparin ther-
apy.)
4. A patient is ordered 500 mg of amoxicillin every 8 hours. The pharmacy provides 250 mg
capsules. How many capsules should the nurse give per dose?
A. 1 capsule
B. 2 capsules
C. 3 capsules
D. 4 capsules
Correct Answer: B (500 mg œ 250 mg/capsule = 2 capsules per dose.)
5. What should a nurse teach a patient taking warfarin about dietary considerations?
A. Increase intake of green leafy vegetables
B. Maintain consistent vitamin K intake
C. Avoid all dairy products
D. Increase sodium intake
Correct Answer: B (Consistent vitamin K intake prevents fluctuations in warfarins antico-
agulant effect.)
1
, 6. Which medication is classified as a loop diuretic?
A. Furosemide
B. Hydrochlorothiazide
C. Spironolactone
D. Mannitol
Correct Answer: A (Furosemide is a loop diuretic used to treat edema and hypertension.)
7. A patient taking metformin reports nausea. What should the nurse advise?
A. Take the medication on an empty stomach
B. Take the medication with food
C. Stop the medication immediately
D. Increase the dose to reduce nausea
Correct Answer: B (Taking metformin with food reduces gastrointestinal side effects.)
8. A nurse is preparing to administer 0.9 mg of enoxaparin subcutaneously. The vial contains
100 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A. 0.009 mL
B. 0.09 mL
C. 0.9 mL
D. 9 mL
Correct Answer: B (0.9 mg œ 100 mg/mL = 0.009 mL = 0.09 mL.)
9. What is a potential side effect of opioid analgesics like morphine?
A. Hypertension
B. Respiratory depression
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Increased appetite
Correct Answer: B (Opioids can cause respiratory depression, a serious side effect.)
10. A patient is prescribed albuterol for asthma. What class of medication is albuterol?
A. Anticholinergic
B. Beta-2 agonist
C. Corticosteroid
D. Leukotriene modifier
Correct Answer: B (Albuterol is a beta-2 agonist that relaxes bronchial smooth muscles.)
11. A nurse is administering insulin lispro. When does this medication typically begin to work?
A. 1530 minutes
B. 12 hours
C. 34 hours
D. 68 hours
Correct Answer: A (Insulin lispro is a rapid-acting insulin with an onset of 1530 minutes.)
12. What should a nurse monitor in a patient taking statins, such as atorvastatin?
A. Liver function tests
B. Blood glucose levels
C. Thyroid function
D. Platelet count
Correct Answer: A (Statins can cause liver toxicity, requiring liver function monitoring.)
13. A patient is prescribed 2 g of vancomycin IV every 12 hours. The pharmacy provides a 500
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