RN HESI Pharmacology Exam
1. A female client with mild depression reports to B. Another form of con-
the nurse recently starting St. John's wort. Which traception is not need-
information provided by the client requires further ed.
instruction?
Rationale: St. John's
A. Hard candy can be used for a dry mouth. wort can reduce the
B. Another form of contraception is not needed. effectiveness of hor-
C. Insomnia may occur while taking the medica- monal contraceptives.
tion. Therefore, the client
D. Sensitivity to the sun can develop. should use an addi-
tional form of con-
traception to prevent
pregnancy.
2. A client who is taking an oral dose of a tetracycline D. Cold cereal with
reports gastrointestinal (GI) upset. Which snack skim milk.
should the nurse instruct the client to take with the
tetracycline? Rationale: Tetracycline
should be taken on an
A. Cheese and crackers. empty stomach, but if
B. Toasted wheat bread and jelly. GI upset occurs, tak-
C. Fruit-flavored yogurt. ing it with a snack that
D. Cold cereal with skim milk. includes some dairy
(like cold cereal with
milk) can help reduce
GI irritation.
Naxlex Answer:
B. Toasted wheat
bread and jelly.
Rationale: Toasted
wheat bread and jel-
ly are a suitable snack
to take with tetracy-
cline, because they do
not contain any dairy
products or iron, which
can also affect the
, RN HESI Pharmacology Exam
absorption of tetracy-
cline. Toasted bread
may also help to settle
the stomach and pre-
vent nausea.
3. To prevent deep vein thromboses following knee A. Platelet count of
replacement surgery, an adult male client is receiv- 100,000/mm³ (100 x
ing daily subcutaneous enoxaparin. Which lab- 10^9/L).
oratory result requires immediate action by the
nurse? Rationale: Enoxaparin
can cause thrombocy-
A. Platelet count of 100,000/mm³ (100 x 10^9/L). topenia (low platelet
B. Hematocrit 45% (0.45 volume fraction). count). A platelet count
C. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 20 mg/dL (7.1 of 100,000/mm³ is low
mmol/L). and requires immedi-
D. Serum creatinine 1.0 mg/dL (88.4 ¼
mol/L). ate assessment and
possible adjustment of
therapy.
4. A client who experiences migraine headaches re- B. Feverfew may in-
ports having fewer headaches since using the teract with aspirin or
herbal remedy feverfew. Which information is most non-steroidal anti-in-
important for the nurse to include in a teaching flammatory drugs.
plan for this client?
Rationale: Feverfew
A. Increased anxiety and nervousness have been can interact with med-
reported by those taking feverfew. ications like aspirin
B. Feverfew may interact with aspirin or or NSAIDs, potential-
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. ly reducing their effec-
C. Those with allergies to chamomile, ragweed, or tiveness or increasing
yarrow should not take feverfew. side effects. This in-
D. Abdominal pain, gas, nausea, vomiting, and di- teraction is important
arrhea can occur when taking feverfew. for the client to un-
derstand, especially if
they are using these
medications for pain
relief.
, RN HESI Pharmacology Exam
5. A client is receiving orlistat as part of a weight B. Body mass index.
management program. Which ongoing assess-
ment should be included in the plan of care to Rationale: Orlistat
determine the effectiveness of the medication? works by reducing fat
absorption, so moni-
A. Depression screening. toring changes in body
B. Body mass index. mass index (BMI) over
C. Daily calorie count. time helps assess its
D. Serum protein levels. effectiveness in weight
management.
6. A client with bulimia and depression who is taking C. Pepperoni pizza.
phenelzine 90 mg daily is admitted to an acute care
hospital for uncontrolled hypertension. Which di- Rationale: Phenelzine
etary choices should the nurse instruct the client is a monoamine oxi-
to avoid? dase inhibitor (MAOI)
that interacts with tyra-
A. Beef tips with gravy. mine-rich foods like
B. Deep-fried shrimp. pepperoni pizza, po-
C. Pepperoni pizza. tentially causing se-
D. Pan-seared catfish. vere hypertension and
other adverse effects.
7. Which assessment finding requires nursing inter- A. Apical pulse rate of
vention prior to the administration of a prescribed 50 beats/minute.
dose of digoxin to an adult?
Rationale: Apical
A. Apical pulse rate of 50 beats/minute. pulse rate of 50
B. Irregular apical pulse rhythm. beats/minute requires
C. Presence of a systolic heart murmur. nursing intervention
D. Apical pulse heard best at the pulmonic site. prior to the admin-
istration of digoxin,
which is a med-
ication that slows
down and strengthens
the heartbeat. Digox-
in can cause brady-
cardia, which is a
slow heart rate be-
1. A female client with mild depression reports to B. Another form of con-
the nurse recently starting St. John's wort. Which traception is not need-
information provided by the client requires further ed.
instruction?
Rationale: St. John's
A. Hard candy can be used for a dry mouth. wort can reduce the
B. Another form of contraception is not needed. effectiveness of hor-
C. Insomnia may occur while taking the medica- monal contraceptives.
tion. Therefore, the client
D. Sensitivity to the sun can develop. should use an addi-
tional form of con-
traception to prevent
pregnancy.
2. A client who is taking an oral dose of a tetracycline D. Cold cereal with
reports gastrointestinal (GI) upset. Which snack skim milk.
should the nurse instruct the client to take with the
tetracycline? Rationale: Tetracycline
should be taken on an
A. Cheese and crackers. empty stomach, but if
B. Toasted wheat bread and jelly. GI upset occurs, tak-
C. Fruit-flavored yogurt. ing it with a snack that
D. Cold cereal with skim milk. includes some dairy
(like cold cereal with
milk) can help reduce
GI irritation.
Naxlex Answer:
B. Toasted wheat
bread and jelly.
Rationale: Toasted
wheat bread and jel-
ly are a suitable snack
to take with tetracy-
cline, because they do
not contain any dairy
products or iron, which
can also affect the
, RN HESI Pharmacology Exam
absorption of tetracy-
cline. Toasted bread
may also help to settle
the stomach and pre-
vent nausea.
3. To prevent deep vein thromboses following knee A. Platelet count of
replacement surgery, an adult male client is receiv- 100,000/mm³ (100 x
ing daily subcutaneous enoxaparin. Which lab- 10^9/L).
oratory result requires immediate action by the
nurse? Rationale: Enoxaparin
can cause thrombocy-
A. Platelet count of 100,000/mm³ (100 x 10^9/L). topenia (low platelet
B. Hematocrit 45% (0.45 volume fraction). count). A platelet count
C. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 20 mg/dL (7.1 of 100,000/mm³ is low
mmol/L). and requires immedi-
D. Serum creatinine 1.0 mg/dL (88.4 ¼
mol/L). ate assessment and
possible adjustment of
therapy.
4. A client who experiences migraine headaches re- B. Feverfew may in-
ports having fewer headaches since using the teract with aspirin or
herbal remedy feverfew. Which information is most non-steroidal anti-in-
important for the nurse to include in a teaching flammatory drugs.
plan for this client?
Rationale: Feverfew
A. Increased anxiety and nervousness have been can interact with med-
reported by those taking feverfew. ications like aspirin
B. Feverfew may interact with aspirin or or NSAIDs, potential-
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. ly reducing their effec-
C. Those with allergies to chamomile, ragweed, or tiveness or increasing
yarrow should not take feverfew. side effects. This in-
D. Abdominal pain, gas, nausea, vomiting, and di- teraction is important
arrhea can occur when taking feverfew. for the client to un-
derstand, especially if
they are using these
medications for pain
relief.
, RN HESI Pharmacology Exam
5. A client is receiving orlistat as part of a weight B. Body mass index.
management program. Which ongoing assess-
ment should be included in the plan of care to Rationale: Orlistat
determine the effectiveness of the medication? works by reducing fat
absorption, so moni-
A. Depression screening. toring changes in body
B. Body mass index. mass index (BMI) over
C. Daily calorie count. time helps assess its
D. Serum protein levels. effectiveness in weight
management.
6. A client with bulimia and depression who is taking C. Pepperoni pizza.
phenelzine 90 mg daily is admitted to an acute care
hospital for uncontrolled hypertension. Which di- Rationale: Phenelzine
etary choices should the nurse instruct the client is a monoamine oxi-
to avoid? dase inhibitor (MAOI)
that interacts with tyra-
A. Beef tips with gravy. mine-rich foods like
B. Deep-fried shrimp. pepperoni pizza, po-
C. Pepperoni pizza. tentially causing se-
D. Pan-seared catfish. vere hypertension and
other adverse effects.
7. Which assessment finding requires nursing inter- A. Apical pulse rate of
vention prior to the administration of a prescribed 50 beats/minute.
dose of digoxin to an adult?
Rationale: Apical
A. Apical pulse rate of 50 beats/minute. pulse rate of 50
B. Irregular apical pulse rhythm. beats/minute requires
C. Presence of a systolic heart murmur. nursing intervention
D. Apical pulse heard best at the pulmonic site. prior to the admin-
istration of digoxin,
which is a med-
ication that slows
down and strengthens
the heartbeat. Digox-
in can cause brady-
cardia, which is a
slow heart rate be-
