HESI RN PHARMACOLOGY V2 EXAM 2026
EXAMINATION TEST WITH VERIFIED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for
lithium carbonate. When teaching the client about ways to prevent
lithium toxicity, the nurse should advise the client to do which of the
following?
A. Avoid the use of acetaminophen for headaches.
B. Restrict the intake of foods rich in sodium.
C. Decrease fluid intake to less than 1,500 mL daily.
D. Limit aerobic activity in hot weather. Answer: ANS: D
The client should avoid activities that have potential to cause
sodium/water depletion, which can increase toxicity risk.
The client should use acetaminophen, rather than NSAIDs, such as
ibuprofen, for headaches because NSAIDs interact with lithium and
can cause increased blood levels of lithium. The client should
increase sodium intake to reduce risk for toxicity.
◉ A nurse in a primary care clinic is assessing a client who takes
lithium carbonate for the treatment of bipolar disorder. The nurse
should recognize which of the following findings as a possible
indication of toxicity to this medication?
,A. Severe hypertension
B. Coarse tremors
C. Constipation
D. Urinary retention Answer: ANS: B
Severe hypotension, diarrhea, and polyuria are indications of
toxicity.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for
valproic acid. The nurse should instruct the client that while taking
this medication he will need to have to which of the following
laboratory tests completed periodically? (Select all that apply.)
A. Thrombocyte count
B. Hematocrit
C. Amylase
D. Liver function test
E. Potassium Answer: ANS:A, C, D
Treatment with valproic acid can result in thrombocytopenia,
pancreatitis (monitoring amylase), and hepatotoxicity. It is not
known to have an effect on hematocrit or potassium.
◉ A nurse is teaching a female client who has bipolar disorder about
her new prescription for lithium carbonate. Which of the following is
,appropriate for the nurse to include in the teaching? (Select all that
apply.)
A. An adverse effect of this medication is amenorrhea.
B. An antidepressant is combined with lithium therapy during
phases of mania.
C. Take this medication with food or a glass of milk.
D. Avoid pregnancy while taking this medication.
E. Thyroid function is assessed prior to lithium therapy. Answer:
ANS: C, D, E
Taking lithium with food or a glass of milk can help reduce GI
distress. Lithium is a Pregnancy Risk Category D medication that is
teratogenic, especially during the first trimester. Because lithium can
cause goiter and hypothyroidism, the client's thyroid function is
assessed prior to lithium therapy.
Lithium does not cause amenorrhea. An antidepressant, combined
with lithium, is effective during phases of depression.
◉ A nurse is teaching a client who has schizophrenia strategies to
cope with anticholinergic effects of fluphenazine. Which of the
following should the nurse suggest to the client to minimize
anticholinergic effects?
A. Take the medication in the morning to prevent insomnia.
B. Chew sugarless gum to moisten the mouth.
C. Use cooling measures to decrease fever.
, D. Take an antacid to relieve nausea. Answer: ANS: B
Chewing sugarless gum can help the client cope with dry mouth, a
potential anticholinergic effect.
Insomnia, fever, and nausea are not anticholinergic effects.
◉ A nurse is assessing a male client who recently began taking
haloperidol. Which of the following findings is the highest priority to
report to the provider?
A. Shuffling gait
B. Neck spasms
C. Drowsiness
D. Impotence Answer: ANS: B
Neck spasms are an indication of acute dystonia which is a crisis
situation requiring rapid treatment.
Shuffling gait is an indication of parkinsonism and should be
reported to the provider, however, it is not the greatest risk.
◉ A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who has a new
prescription for clozapine. Which of the following statements is
appropriate for the nurse to include in the teaching?
A. "You should have a high-carbohydrate snack between meals and
at bedtime."
EXAMINATION TEST WITH VERIFIED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for
lithium carbonate. When teaching the client about ways to prevent
lithium toxicity, the nurse should advise the client to do which of the
following?
A. Avoid the use of acetaminophen for headaches.
B. Restrict the intake of foods rich in sodium.
C. Decrease fluid intake to less than 1,500 mL daily.
D. Limit aerobic activity in hot weather. Answer: ANS: D
The client should avoid activities that have potential to cause
sodium/water depletion, which can increase toxicity risk.
The client should use acetaminophen, rather than NSAIDs, such as
ibuprofen, for headaches because NSAIDs interact with lithium and
can cause increased blood levels of lithium. The client should
increase sodium intake to reduce risk for toxicity.
◉ A nurse in a primary care clinic is assessing a client who takes
lithium carbonate for the treatment of bipolar disorder. The nurse
should recognize which of the following findings as a possible
indication of toxicity to this medication?
,A. Severe hypertension
B. Coarse tremors
C. Constipation
D. Urinary retention Answer: ANS: B
Severe hypotension, diarrhea, and polyuria are indications of
toxicity.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for
valproic acid. The nurse should instruct the client that while taking
this medication he will need to have to which of the following
laboratory tests completed periodically? (Select all that apply.)
A. Thrombocyte count
B. Hematocrit
C. Amylase
D. Liver function test
E. Potassium Answer: ANS:A, C, D
Treatment with valproic acid can result in thrombocytopenia,
pancreatitis (monitoring amylase), and hepatotoxicity. It is not
known to have an effect on hematocrit or potassium.
◉ A nurse is teaching a female client who has bipolar disorder about
her new prescription for lithium carbonate. Which of the following is
,appropriate for the nurse to include in the teaching? (Select all that
apply.)
A. An adverse effect of this medication is amenorrhea.
B. An antidepressant is combined with lithium therapy during
phases of mania.
C. Take this medication with food or a glass of milk.
D. Avoid pregnancy while taking this medication.
E. Thyroid function is assessed prior to lithium therapy. Answer:
ANS: C, D, E
Taking lithium with food or a glass of milk can help reduce GI
distress. Lithium is a Pregnancy Risk Category D medication that is
teratogenic, especially during the first trimester. Because lithium can
cause goiter and hypothyroidism, the client's thyroid function is
assessed prior to lithium therapy.
Lithium does not cause amenorrhea. An antidepressant, combined
with lithium, is effective during phases of depression.
◉ A nurse is teaching a client who has schizophrenia strategies to
cope with anticholinergic effects of fluphenazine. Which of the
following should the nurse suggest to the client to minimize
anticholinergic effects?
A. Take the medication in the morning to prevent insomnia.
B. Chew sugarless gum to moisten the mouth.
C. Use cooling measures to decrease fever.
, D. Take an antacid to relieve nausea. Answer: ANS: B
Chewing sugarless gum can help the client cope with dry mouth, a
potential anticholinergic effect.
Insomnia, fever, and nausea are not anticholinergic effects.
◉ A nurse is assessing a male client who recently began taking
haloperidol. Which of the following findings is the highest priority to
report to the provider?
A. Shuffling gait
B. Neck spasms
C. Drowsiness
D. Impotence Answer: ANS: B
Neck spasms are an indication of acute dystonia which is a crisis
situation requiring rapid treatment.
Shuffling gait is an indication of parkinsonism and should be
reported to the provider, however, it is not the greatest risk.
◉ A nurse is providing discharge teaching for a client who has a new
prescription for clozapine. Which of the following statements is
appropriate for the nurse to include in the teaching?
A. "You should have a high-carbohydrate snack between meals and
at bedtime."
