HESI Pharmacology FINAL EXAM
questions with answers
A healthcare provider prescribes cephalexin monohydrate (Keflex)
for a client with a postoperative infection. It is most important for the
nurse to assess for what additional drug allergy before administering
this prescription?
A) Penicillins.
B) Aminoglycosides.
C) Erythromycins.
D) Sulfonamides. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔A) Penicillins.
Cross-allergies exist between penicillins (A) and cephalosporins,
such as cephalexin monohydrate (Keflex), so checking for penicillin
allergy is a wise precaution before administering this drug.
Which nursing intervention is most important when caring for a
client receiving the antimetabolite cytosine arabinoside (Arc-C) for
chemotherapy?
A) Hydrate the client with IV fluids before and after infusion.
B) Assess the client for numbness and tingling of extremities.
C) Inspect the client's oral mucosa for ulcerations.
,D) Monitor the client's urine pH for increased acidity. - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔C) Inspect the client's oral mucosa for ulcerations.
Cytosine arabinoside (Arc-C) affects the rapidly growing cells of the
body, therefore stomatitis and mucosal ulcerations are key signs of
antimetabolite toxicity (C). (A, B, and D) are not typical interventions
associated with the administration of antimetabolites.
When assessing an adolescent who recently overdosed on
acetaminophen (Tylenol), it is most important for the nurse to assess
for pain in which area of the body?
A) Flank.
B) Abdomen.
C) Chest.
D) Head. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔B) Abdomen.
Acetaminophen toxicity can result in liver damage; therefore, it is
especially important for the nurse to assess for pain in the right
upper quadrant of the abdomen (B), which might indicate liver
damage. (A, C, and D) are not areas where pain would be
anticipated.
,An adult client is given a prescription for a scopolamine patch
(Transderm Scop) to prevent motion sickness while on a cruise.
Which information should the nurse provide to the client?
A) Apply the patch at least 4 hours prior to departure.
B) Change the patch every other day while on the cruise.
C) Place the patch on a hairless area at the base of the skull.
D) Drink no more than 2 alcoholic drinks during the cruise. -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔A) Apply the patch at least 4 hours prior
to departure.
Scopolamine, an anticholinergic agent, is used to prevent motion
sickness and has a peak onset in 6 hours, so the client should be
instructed to apply the patch at least 4 hours before departure (A) on
the cruise ship. The duration of the transdermal patch is 72 hours, so
(B) is not needed. Scolopamine blocks muscarinic receptors in the
inner ear and to the vomiting center, so the best application site of
the patch is behind the ear, not at the base of the skull (C).
Anticholinergic medications are CNS depressants, so the client
should be instructed to avoid alcohol (D) while using the patch.
The nurse is reviewing the use of the patient-controlled analgesia
(PCA) pump with a client in the immediate postoperative period.
The client will receive morphine 1 mg IV per hour basal rate with 1
mg IV every 15 minutes per PCA to total 5 mg IV maximally per
, hour. What assessment has the highest priority before initiating the
PCA pump?
A) The expiration date on the morphine syringe in the pump.
B) The rate and depth of the client's respirations.
C) The type of anesthesia used during the surgical procedure.
D) The client's subjective and objective signs of pain. - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔B) The rate and depth of the client's respirations.
A life-threatening side effect of intravenous administration of
morphine sulfate, an opiate narcotic, is respiratory depression (B).
The PCA pump should be stopped and the healthcare provider
notified if the client's respiratory rate falls below 12 breaths per
minute, and the nurse should anticipate adjustments in the client's
dosage before the PCA pump is restarted. (A, C, and D) provide
helpful information, but are not as high a priority as the assessment
described in (B).
A medication that is classified as a beta-1 agonist is most commonly
prescribed for a client with which condition?
A) Glaucoma.
B) Hypertension.
C) Heart failure.
D) Asthma. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔C) Heart failure.
questions with answers
A healthcare provider prescribes cephalexin monohydrate (Keflex)
for a client with a postoperative infection. It is most important for the
nurse to assess for what additional drug allergy before administering
this prescription?
A) Penicillins.
B) Aminoglycosides.
C) Erythromycins.
D) Sulfonamides. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔A) Penicillins.
Cross-allergies exist between penicillins (A) and cephalosporins,
such as cephalexin monohydrate (Keflex), so checking for penicillin
allergy is a wise precaution before administering this drug.
Which nursing intervention is most important when caring for a
client receiving the antimetabolite cytosine arabinoside (Arc-C) for
chemotherapy?
A) Hydrate the client with IV fluids before and after infusion.
B) Assess the client for numbness and tingling of extremities.
C) Inspect the client's oral mucosa for ulcerations.
,D) Monitor the client's urine pH for increased acidity. - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔C) Inspect the client's oral mucosa for ulcerations.
Cytosine arabinoside (Arc-C) affects the rapidly growing cells of the
body, therefore stomatitis and mucosal ulcerations are key signs of
antimetabolite toxicity (C). (A, B, and D) are not typical interventions
associated with the administration of antimetabolites.
When assessing an adolescent who recently overdosed on
acetaminophen (Tylenol), it is most important for the nurse to assess
for pain in which area of the body?
A) Flank.
B) Abdomen.
C) Chest.
D) Head. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔B) Abdomen.
Acetaminophen toxicity can result in liver damage; therefore, it is
especially important for the nurse to assess for pain in the right
upper quadrant of the abdomen (B), which might indicate liver
damage. (A, C, and D) are not areas where pain would be
anticipated.
,An adult client is given a prescription for a scopolamine patch
(Transderm Scop) to prevent motion sickness while on a cruise.
Which information should the nurse provide to the client?
A) Apply the patch at least 4 hours prior to departure.
B) Change the patch every other day while on the cruise.
C) Place the patch on a hairless area at the base of the skull.
D) Drink no more than 2 alcoholic drinks during the cruise. -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔A) Apply the patch at least 4 hours prior
to departure.
Scopolamine, an anticholinergic agent, is used to prevent motion
sickness and has a peak onset in 6 hours, so the client should be
instructed to apply the patch at least 4 hours before departure (A) on
the cruise ship. The duration of the transdermal patch is 72 hours, so
(B) is not needed. Scolopamine blocks muscarinic receptors in the
inner ear and to the vomiting center, so the best application site of
the patch is behind the ear, not at the base of the skull (C).
Anticholinergic medications are CNS depressants, so the client
should be instructed to avoid alcohol (D) while using the patch.
The nurse is reviewing the use of the patient-controlled analgesia
(PCA) pump with a client in the immediate postoperative period.
The client will receive morphine 1 mg IV per hour basal rate with 1
mg IV every 15 minutes per PCA to total 5 mg IV maximally per
, hour. What assessment has the highest priority before initiating the
PCA pump?
A) The expiration date on the morphine syringe in the pump.
B) The rate and depth of the client's respirations.
C) The type of anesthesia used during the surgical procedure.
D) The client's subjective and objective signs of pain. - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔B) The rate and depth of the client's respirations.
A life-threatening side effect of intravenous administration of
morphine sulfate, an opiate narcotic, is respiratory depression (B).
The PCA pump should be stopped and the healthcare provider
notified if the client's respiratory rate falls below 12 breaths per
minute, and the nurse should anticipate adjustments in the client's
dosage before the PCA pump is restarted. (A, C, and D) provide
helpful information, but are not as high a priority as the assessment
described in (B).
A medication that is classified as a beta-1 agonist is most commonly
prescribed for a client with which condition?
A) Glaucoma.
B) Hypertension.
C) Heart failure.
D) Asthma. - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔C) Heart failure.
