2024 HESI Pharmacology (Pharm) Exam
Version 1 (V1) Questions and Answers
(Verified Answers)
1. The nurse is completing the admission assessment of a 3-year old who is
admitted with bacterial meningitis and hydrocephalus. Which assessment finding
is evidence that the child is experiencing increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?
A. Tachycardia and tachypnea
B. Sluggish and unequal pupillary responses
C. Increased head circumference and bulging fontanels
D. Blood pressure fluctuations and syncope
- ANSWER: B. Sluggish and unequal pupillary responses
2. A client with acute pancreatitis is admitted with severe, piercing abdominal pain
and an elevated serum amylase. Which additional information is the client most
likely to report to the nurse?
A. Abdominal pain decreases when lying supine
B. Pain lasts an hour and leaves the abdomen tender
C. Right upper quadrant pain refers to right scapula
D. Drinks alcohol until intoxicated at least twice weekly.
- ANSWER: A. Abdominal pain decreases when lying supine
3. A child newly diagnosed with sickle cell anemia (SCA) is being discharged from
the hospital. Which information is most important for the nurse to provide the
parents prior to discharge?
A. Instructions about how much fluid the child should drink daily.
B. Signs of addiction to opioid pain medications
C. Information about non-pharmaceutical pain relief measures
D. Referral for social services for the child and family
- ANSWER: A. Instructions about how much fluid the child should drink
daily
4. To auscultate for a carotid bruit, the nurse places the stethoscope at what
location. (Select the location on the image with a red dot).
- ANSWER: I placed the red dot on the base of the neck on the right side
5. After receiving report on an inpatient acute care unit, which client should the
nurse assess first?
A. The client with an obstruction of the large intestine who is experiencing
abdominal distention
B. The client who had surgery yesterday and is experiencing a paralytic ileus
with absent bowel sounds
C. The client with a small bowel obstruction who has a nasogastric tube that
is draining greenish fluid
,2024 HESI Pharmacology (Pharm) Exam
Version 1 (V1) Questions and Answers
(Verified Answers)
D. The client with a bowel obstruction due to a volvulus who is experiencing
abdominal rigidity
- ANSWER: D. The client with a bowel obstruction due to a volvulus
who is experiencing abdominal rigidity
6. A teenager presents to the emergency department with palpitations after vaping
at a party. The client is anxious, fearful, and hyperventilating. The nurse
anticipates the client developing which acid base imbalance?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
- ANSWER: D. Respiratory alkalosis
7. A client with dyspnea is being admitted to the medical unit. To best prepare for
the client's arrival, the nurse should ensure that the client's bed is in which
position?
A. Supine
B. supine; feet elevated higher than head
C. supine; head elevated higher than feet
D. Fowlers
- ANSWER: Fowlers
8. The nurse is taking the blood pressure measurement of a client with Parkinson's
disease. Which information in the client's admission assessment is relevant to
the nurse's plan for taking the blood pressure reading? (Select all the apply)
A. Frequent syncope
B. Occasional nocturia
C. Flat affect
D. Blurred vision
E. Frequent drooling
- ANSWER: A. Frequent syncope
C. Flat affect
D. Blurred vision
9. While caring for a client's postoperative dressing, the nurse observes purulent
drainage at the wound. Before reporting this finding to the healthcare provider,
the nurse should review which of the client's laboratory values?
A. Serum albumin
B. Culture for sensitive organisms
,2024 HESI Pharmacology (Pharm) Exam
Version 1 (V1) Questions and Answers
(Verified Answers)
C. Serum blood glucose level
D. Creatinine level
- ANSWER: B. Culture for sensitive organisms
10. A preschool-aged boy is admitted to the pediatric unit following successful
resuscitation from a near-drowning incident. While providing care to the child, the
nurse begins talking with his preadolescent brother who rescued the child from
the swimming pool and initiated resuscitation. The nurse notices the older boy
becomes withdrawn when asked about what happened. Which action should the
nurse take?
A. Develop a water safety teaching plan for the family
B. Ask the older brother how he felt during the incident
C. Tell the older brother that he seems depressed
D. Commend the older brother for his heroic actions
- ANSWER: B. Ask the older brother how he felt during the incident
11. A male client with cirrhosis has jaundice and pruritus. He tells the nurse that he
has been soaking in hot baths at night with no relief of his discomfort. Which
action should the nurse take?
A. Encourage the client to use cooler water and apply calamine lotion after
soaking
B. Obtain a PRN prescription for an analgesic that the client can use for
symptom relief
C. Suggest that the client take brief showers and apply oil-based lotion after
showering
D. Explain that the symptoms are caused by liver damage and cannot be
relieved
- ANSWER: A. Encourage the client to use cooler water and apply
calamine lotion after soaking
12. An older client with a long history of coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension
(HTN), and heart failure (HF) arrives in the Emergency Department (ED) in
respiratory distress. The healthcare provider prescribes furosemide IV. Which
therapeutic response to furosemide should the nurse expected in the client with
acute HF?
A. Increased cardiac contractility
B. Reduced preload
C. Relaxed vascular tone
D. Decreased afterload
- ANSWER: B. Reduced preload
, 2024 HESI Pharmacology (Pharm) Exam
Version 1 (V1) Questions and Answers
(Verified Answers)
13. Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care for a child with
tetanus?
A. Encourage coughing and deep breathing
B. Minimize the amount of stimuli in the room
C. Reposition from side to side every hour
D. Open window shades to provide natural light
- ANSWER: B. Minimize the amount of stimuli in the room
14. An adolescent who was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus Type 1 at the age of 9,
is admitted to the hospital in diabetic ketoacidosis. Which occurrence is the most
likely cause of the ketoacidosis?
A. Ate an extra peanut butter sandwich before gym class
B. incorrectly administered too much insulin
C. Had a cold and ear infection for the past two days
D. Skipped eating lunch
- ANSWER: C. Had a cold and ear infection for the past two days
15. A client with a prescription for "do not resuscitate" (DNR) begins to manifest
signs of impending death. After notifying the family of the client's status, what
priority action should the nurse implement?
A. The impending signs of death should be documented
B. The client's status should be conveyed to the chaplain
C. The client's need for pain medication should be determined
D. The nurse manager should be updated on the client's status
- ANSWER: C. The client's need for pain medication should be
determined
16. Which self care measure is most important for the nurse to include in the plan of
care of a client recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus?
A. Self-injection techniques
B. Blood glucose monitoring
C. Diabetic diet meal planning
D. A realistic exercise plan
- ANSWER: B. Blood glucose monitoring
17. A client who gave birth 48 hours ago has decided to bottle feed the infant. During
the assessment, the nurse observes that both breasts are swollen, warm, and
tender on palpation. Which instruction should the nurse provide?
A. Apply ice to the breasts for comfort
Version 1 (V1) Questions and Answers
(Verified Answers)
1. The nurse is completing the admission assessment of a 3-year old who is
admitted with bacterial meningitis and hydrocephalus. Which assessment finding
is evidence that the child is experiencing increased intracranial pressure (ICP)?
A. Tachycardia and tachypnea
B. Sluggish and unequal pupillary responses
C. Increased head circumference and bulging fontanels
D. Blood pressure fluctuations and syncope
- ANSWER: B. Sluggish and unequal pupillary responses
2. A client with acute pancreatitis is admitted with severe, piercing abdominal pain
and an elevated serum amylase. Which additional information is the client most
likely to report to the nurse?
A. Abdominal pain decreases when lying supine
B. Pain lasts an hour and leaves the abdomen tender
C. Right upper quadrant pain refers to right scapula
D. Drinks alcohol until intoxicated at least twice weekly.
- ANSWER: A. Abdominal pain decreases when lying supine
3. A child newly diagnosed with sickle cell anemia (SCA) is being discharged from
the hospital. Which information is most important for the nurse to provide the
parents prior to discharge?
A. Instructions about how much fluid the child should drink daily.
B. Signs of addiction to opioid pain medications
C. Information about non-pharmaceutical pain relief measures
D. Referral for social services for the child and family
- ANSWER: A. Instructions about how much fluid the child should drink
daily
4. To auscultate for a carotid bruit, the nurse places the stethoscope at what
location. (Select the location on the image with a red dot).
- ANSWER: I placed the red dot on the base of the neck on the right side
5. After receiving report on an inpatient acute care unit, which client should the
nurse assess first?
A. The client with an obstruction of the large intestine who is experiencing
abdominal distention
B. The client who had surgery yesterday and is experiencing a paralytic ileus
with absent bowel sounds
C. The client with a small bowel obstruction who has a nasogastric tube that
is draining greenish fluid
,2024 HESI Pharmacology (Pharm) Exam
Version 1 (V1) Questions and Answers
(Verified Answers)
D. The client with a bowel obstruction due to a volvulus who is experiencing
abdominal rigidity
- ANSWER: D. The client with a bowel obstruction due to a volvulus
who is experiencing abdominal rigidity
6. A teenager presents to the emergency department with palpitations after vaping
at a party. The client is anxious, fearful, and hyperventilating. The nurse
anticipates the client developing which acid base imbalance?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Metabolic alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
- ANSWER: D. Respiratory alkalosis
7. A client with dyspnea is being admitted to the medical unit. To best prepare for
the client's arrival, the nurse should ensure that the client's bed is in which
position?
A. Supine
B. supine; feet elevated higher than head
C. supine; head elevated higher than feet
D. Fowlers
- ANSWER: Fowlers
8. The nurse is taking the blood pressure measurement of a client with Parkinson's
disease. Which information in the client's admission assessment is relevant to
the nurse's plan for taking the blood pressure reading? (Select all the apply)
A. Frequent syncope
B. Occasional nocturia
C. Flat affect
D. Blurred vision
E. Frequent drooling
- ANSWER: A. Frequent syncope
C. Flat affect
D. Blurred vision
9. While caring for a client's postoperative dressing, the nurse observes purulent
drainage at the wound. Before reporting this finding to the healthcare provider,
the nurse should review which of the client's laboratory values?
A. Serum albumin
B. Culture for sensitive organisms
,2024 HESI Pharmacology (Pharm) Exam
Version 1 (V1) Questions and Answers
(Verified Answers)
C. Serum blood glucose level
D. Creatinine level
- ANSWER: B. Culture for sensitive organisms
10. A preschool-aged boy is admitted to the pediatric unit following successful
resuscitation from a near-drowning incident. While providing care to the child, the
nurse begins talking with his preadolescent brother who rescued the child from
the swimming pool and initiated resuscitation. The nurse notices the older boy
becomes withdrawn when asked about what happened. Which action should the
nurse take?
A. Develop a water safety teaching plan for the family
B. Ask the older brother how he felt during the incident
C. Tell the older brother that he seems depressed
D. Commend the older brother for his heroic actions
- ANSWER: B. Ask the older brother how he felt during the incident
11. A male client with cirrhosis has jaundice and pruritus. He tells the nurse that he
has been soaking in hot baths at night with no relief of his discomfort. Which
action should the nurse take?
A. Encourage the client to use cooler water and apply calamine lotion after
soaking
B. Obtain a PRN prescription for an analgesic that the client can use for
symptom relief
C. Suggest that the client take brief showers and apply oil-based lotion after
showering
D. Explain that the symptoms are caused by liver damage and cannot be
relieved
- ANSWER: A. Encourage the client to use cooler water and apply
calamine lotion after soaking
12. An older client with a long history of coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension
(HTN), and heart failure (HF) arrives in the Emergency Department (ED) in
respiratory distress. The healthcare provider prescribes furosemide IV. Which
therapeutic response to furosemide should the nurse expected in the client with
acute HF?
A. Increased cardiac contractility
B. Reduced preload
C. Relaxed vascular tone
D. Decreased afterload
- ANSWER: B. Reduced preload
, 2024 HESI Pharmacology (Pharm) Exam
Version 1 (V1) Questions and Answers
(Verified Answers)
13. Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care for a child with
tetanus?
A. Encourage coughing and deep breathing
B. Minimize the amount of stimuli in the room
C. Reposition from side to side every hour
D. Open window shades to provide natural light
- ANSWER: B. Minimize the amount of stimuli in the room
14. An adolescent who was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus Type 1 at the age of 9,
is admitted to the hospital in diabetic ketoacidosis. Which occurrence is the most
likely cause of the ketoacidosis?
A. Ate an extra peanut butter sandwich before gym class
B. incorrectly administered too much insulin
C. Had a cold and ear infection for the past two days
D. Skipped eating lunch
- ANSWER: C. Had a cold and ear infection for the past two days
15. A client with a prescription for "do not resuscitate" (DNR) begins to manifest
signs of impending death. After notifying the family of the client's status, what
priority action should the nurse implement?
A. The impending signs of death should be documented
B. The client's status should be conveyed to the chaplain
C. The client's need for pain medication should be determined
D. The nurse manager should be updated on the client's status
- ANSWER: C. The client's need for pain medication should be
determined
16. Which self care measure is most important for the nurse to include in the plan of
care of a client recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus?
A. Self-injection techniques
B. Blood glucose monitoring
C. Diabetic diet meal planning
D. A realistic exercise plan
- ANSWER: B. Blood glucose monitoring
17. A client who gave birth 48 hours ago has decided to bottle feed the infant. During
the assessment, the nurse observes that both breasts are swollen, warm, and
tender on palpation. Which instruction should the nurse provide?
A. Apply ice to the breasts for comfort
