Pharmacology Bestseller 2025-2026: Practice Questions with
Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales – Katzung, Saunders &
UWorld-Style Qbank for NCLEX, ATI, HESI & USMLE Prep
A client is prescribed digoxin for heart failure. Which finding indicates digoxin toxicity?
○ A. Heart rate of 72 beats/min
○ B. Serum potassium of 4.0 mEq/L
○ C. Nausea and vomiting
○ D. Blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Nausea and vomiting
RATIONALE: Nausea and vomiting are early signs of digoxin toxicity. Bradycardia, not a
normal heart rate, is more common. Hypokalemia predisposes to toxicity. Normal potassium
and blood pressure do not indicate toxicity.
A client is prescribed warfarin. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor?
○ A. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
○ B. Prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR)
○ C. Platelet count
○ D. Bleeding time
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR)
RATIONALE: Warfarin is monitored using PT and INR, with a therapeutic INR typically between
2-3. aPTT is used for heparin. Platelet count and bleeding time are not specific for warfarin
monitoring.
A client is prescribed metformin for type 2 diabetes. Which side effect should the nurse
educate the client about?
○ A. Weight gain
○ B. Lactic acidosis
,○ C. Hypoglycemia
○ D. Hyperglycemia
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Lactic acidosis
RATIONALE: Metformin can cause lactic acidosis, a rare but serious side effect, especially in
clients with renal impairment. Weight gain is not typical. Hypoglycemia is rare with metformin
alone. Hyperglycemia is not a side effect.
A client is prescribed an ACE inhibitor for hypertension. Which side effect should the nurse
monitor for?
○ A. Dry cough
○ B. Hyperkalemia
○ C. Angioedema
○ D. All of the above
CORRECT ANSWER: D. All of the above
RATIONALE: ACE inhibitors can cause a dry cough, hyperkalemia, and angioedema. All are
important side effects to monitor.
A client is prescribed a beta-blocker for hypertension. Which side effect should the nurse
monitor for?
○ A. Tachycardia
○ B. Bradycardia
○ C. Hypotension
○ D. Both B and C
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Both B and C
RATIONALE: Beta-blockers lower blood pressure and heart rate. Bradycardia and hypotension
are common side effects. Tachycardia is not expected.
A client is prescribed an opioid for chronic pain. Which side effect is most common?
,○ A. Diarrhea
○ B. Tachycardia
○ C. Constipation
○ D. Hyperglycemia
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Constipation
RATIONALE: Constipation is the most common side effect of opioid therapy due to decreased
gastrointestinal motility. Diarrhea, tachycardia, and hyperglycemia are not typical side effects.
A client is prescribed a statin for hyperlipidemia. Which side effect should the nurse monitor
for?
○ A. Muscle pain
○ B. Liver dysfunction
○ C. Increased blood glucose
○ D. All of the above
CORRECT ANSWER: D. All of the above
RATIONALE: Statins can cause muscle pain, liver dysfunction, and increased blood glucose. All
are important side effects to monitor.
A client is prescribed furosemide for heart failure. Which side effect should the nurse monitor
for?
○ A. Hyperkalemia
○ B. Hypokalemia
○ C. Hyperglycemia
○ D. Hypocalcemia
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Hypokalemia
RATIONALE: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause hypokalemia. Hyperkalemia is
associated with potassium-sparing diuretics. Hyperglycemia and hypocalcemia are not typical.
A client is prescribed spironolactone for heart failure. Which side effect should the nurse
monitor for?
, ○ A. Hyperkalemia
○ B. Hypokalemia
○ C. Hypoglycemia
○ D. Hypercalcemia
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Hyperkalemia
RATIONALE: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that can cause hyperkalemia.
Hypokalemia is associated with other diuretics. Hypoglycemia and hypercalcemia are not
typical.
A client is prescribed albuterol for asthma. Which side effect should the nurse monitor for?
○ A. Bradycardia
○ B. Tachycardia
○ C. Hypotension
○ D. Hyperglycemia
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Tachycardia
RATIONALE: Albuterol is a beta-agonist bronchodilator that can cause tachycardia.
Bradycardia, hypotension, and hyperglycemia are not typical.
A client is prescribed a calcium channel blocker for hypertension. Which side effect should the
nurse monitor for?
○ A. Peripheral edema
○ B. Bradycardia
○ C. Tachycardia
○ D. Both A and B
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Both A and B
RATIONALE: Calcium channel blockers can cause peripheral edema and bradycardia.
Tachycardia is less common.
A client is prescribed an SSRI for depression. Which side effect should the nurse monitor for?
Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales – Katzung, Saunders &
UWorld-Style Qbank for NCLEX, ATI, HESI & USMLE Prep
A client is prescribed digoxin for heart failure. Which finding indicates digoxin toxicity?
○ A. Heart rate of 72 beats/min
○ B. Serum potassium of 4.0 mEq/L
○ C. Nausea and vomiting
○ D. Blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Nausea and vomiting
RATIONALE: Nausea and vomiting are early signs of digoxin toxicity. Bradycardia, not a
normal heart rate, is more common. Hypokalemia predisposes to toxicity. Normal potassium
and blood pressure do not indicate toxicity.
A client is prescribed warfarin. Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor?
○ A. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
○ B. Prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR)
○ C. Platelet count
○ D. Bleeding time
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR)
RATIONALE: Warfarin is monitored using PT and INR, with a therapeutic INR typically between
2-3. aPTT is used for heparin. Platelet count and bleeding time are not specific for warfarin
monitoring.
A client is prescribed metformin for type 2 diabetes. Which side effect should the nurse
educate the client about?
○ A. Weight gain
○ B. Lactic acidosis
,○ C. Hypoglycemia
○ D. Hyperglycemia
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Lactic acidosis
RATIONALE: Metformin can cause lactic acidosis, a rare but serious side effect, especially in
clients with renal impairment. Weight gain is not typical. Hypoglycemia is rare with metformin
alone. Hyperglycemia is not a side effect.
A client is prescribed an ACE inhibitor for hypertension. Which side effect should the nurse
monitor for?
○ A. Dry cough
○ B. Hyperkalemia
○ C. Angioedema
○ D. All of the above
CORRECT ANSWER: D. All of the above
RATIONALE: ACE inhibitors can cause a dry cough, hyperkalemia, and angioedema. All are
important side effects to monitor.
A client is prescribed a beta-blocker for hypertension. Which side effect should the nurse
monitor for?
○ A. Tachycardia
○ B. Bradycardia
○ C. Hypotension
○ D. Both B and C
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Both B and C
RATIONALE: Beta-blockers lower blood pressure and heart rate. Bradycardia and hypotension
are common side effects. Tachycardia is not expected.
A client is prescribed an opioid for chronic pain. Which side effect is most common?
,○ A. Diarrhea
○ B. Tachycardia
○ C. Constipation
○ D. Hyperglycemia
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Constipation
RATIONALE: Constipation is the most common side effect of opioid therapy due to decreased
gastrointestinal motility. Diarrhea, tachycardia, and hyperglycemia are not typical side effects.
A client is prescribed a statin for hyperlipidemia. Which side effect should the nurse monitor
for?
○ A. Muscle pain
○ B. Liver dysfunction
○ C. Increased blood glucose
○ D. All of the above
CORRECT ANSWER: D. All of the above
RATIONALE: Statins can cause muscle pain, liver dysfunction, and increased blood glucose. All
are important side effects to monitor.
A client is prescribed furosemide for heart failure. Which side effect should the nurse monitor
for?
○ A. Hyperkalemia
○ B. Hypokalemia
○ C. Hyperglycemia
○ D. Hypocalcemia
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Hypokalemia
RATIONALE: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can cause hypokalemia. Hyperkalemia is
associated with potassium-sparing diuretics. Hyperglycemia and hypocalcemia are not typical.
A client is prescribed spironolactone for heart failure. Which side effect should the nurse
monitor for?
, ○ A. Hyperkalemia
○ B. Hypokalemia
○ C. Hypoglycemia
○ D. Hypercalcemia
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Hyperkalemia
RATIONALE: Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic that can cause hyperkalemia.
Hypokalemia is associated with other diuretics. Hypoglycemia and hypercalcemia are not
typical.
A client is prescribed albuterol for asthma. Which side effect should the nurse monitor for?
○ A. Bradycardia
○ B. Tachycardia
○ C. Hypotension
○ D. Hyperglycemia
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Tachycardia
RATIONALE: Albuterol is a beta-agonist bronchodilator that can cause tachycardia.
Bradycardia, hypotension, and hyperglycemia are not typical.
A client is prescribed a calcium channel blocker for hypertension. Which side effect should the
nurse monitor for?
○ A. Peripheral edema
○ B. Bradycardia
○ C. Tachycardia
○ D. Both A and B
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Both A and B
RATIONALE: Calcium channel blockers can cause peripheral edema and bradycardia.
Tachycardia is less common.
A client is prescribed an SSRI for depression. Which side effect should the nurse monitor for?
