PHARMACOLOGY HESI COMPREHENSIVE
REVIEW FOR THE NCLEX-PN EXAM 6TH
EDITION | PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales Included
,A client has been prescribed losartan. Which change in d. Blood pressure reduced from 160/90 to 130/80 mm Hg.
data indicates to the practical nurse (PN) that the desired Rationale:
effect of this medication has been achieved? Losartan is prescribed for the treatment of hypertension. The desired effect is a
a. Dependent edema reduced from +3 to +1. decrease in blood pressure.
b. Serum HDL increased from 35 to 55 mg/dL.
c. Pulse rate reduced from 150 to 90 beats/min.
d. Blood pressure reduced from 160/90 to 130/80 mm Hg.
A child is admitted to the emergency department for c. A 16 month old who drank 2 ounces of acetaminophen elixir
accidental ingestion of a poison. The practical nurse (PN) Rationale:
should know that inducing vomiting is recommended for Emesis should be induced for the child who drank the large dose of
which child? acetaminophen elixir because this medication is hepatotoxic. Vomiting is
a. An 8 month old who ate four to six ibuprofen tablets contraindicated for children younger than 1 year of age. Inducing vomiting of
b. A 3 year old who drank an unknown amount of corrosives such as dishwasher detergents and lighter fluid is contraindicated.
charcoal lighter fluid
c. A 16 month old who drank 2 ounces of acetaminophen
elixir
d. A 2 year old who ate a handful of automatic dishwasher
detergent
A practical nurse (PN) is reviewing teaching with the c. The benztropine is used to control the side effects of olanzapine.
client and/or significant others about the concurrent use Rationale:
of benztropine and olanzapine to manage psychotic Benztropine, an anticholinergic drug, is used to control extrapyramidal symptoms
behavior. What information should the PN reinforce? associated with olanzapine use. Caution is required in the dosage of benztropine
a. Benztropine will reduce the olanzapine's side effect of used in conjunction with olanzapine.
urinary retention.
b. Benztropine potentiates the effect of olanzapine.
c. The benztropine is used to control the side effects of
olanzapine.
d. The combined effect of these drugs will modify
psychotic behavior.
A client diagnosed with a herniated disc is prescribed c. Administer analgesia as requested by the client.
hydrocodone/acetaminophen 10 mg/300 mg prn every 4 Rationale:
to 6 hours. As the practical nurse (PN) enters the client's The medication should be administered as per client's request. The client's self-
room to administer their requested medication, the client report of pain is the single most reliable indication of the existence, character, and
is seen talking and laughing with his visiting family. Which intensity of pain. Analgesics should be administered as soon as pain occurs and
action should the PN implement? before it increases in intensity. The PN should consult with the charge nurse after
a. Hold the pain medication until after the visitors leave. administering the medication about the situation.
b. Notify the health care provider of the client's drug-
seeking behavior.
c. Administer analgesia as requested by the client.
d. Inform the client based on their display behavior, the
medication is not needed.
, The nurse is assisting with evaluating the effectiveness of d. "I do not notice as many irregular heartbeats as before I started taking this
the drug amiodarone. Which client statement best medication."
indicates the drug has been effective? Rationale:
a. "I have not had as many spells of angina." Amiodarone is the first choice drugs to treat ventricular dysrhythmias. It will not
b. "I have not had as much swelling in my ankles lately." reduce angina spells, reduce ankle swelling, or improve cholesterol levels.
c. "My doctor told me my cholesterol levels were getting
better every visit."
d. "I do not notice as many irregular heartbeats as before
I started taking this medication."
A client who is prescribed sildenafil for pulmonary a. The client is experiencing vision and hearing loss.
hypertension calls the clinic for advice. Which condition Rationale:
should the practical nurse notify the health care provider The client should be instructed to discontinue the use of the medication and
immediately and instruct the client to stop taking the notify the health care provider immediately if the client is experiencing vision
medication? and/or hearing loss or an erection lasting more than 4 hours.
a. The client is experiencing vision and hearing loss.
b. The client has an erection lasting longer than 2 hours.
c. The client is complaining about nasal congestion.
d. The client is complaining about feeling flushed.
A client is receiving heparin to treat a deep vein c. Partial thromboplastin time
thrombosis. The nurse should monitor which laboratory Rationale:
result to assist in evaluating the efficacy of the drug? The nurse should monitor the partial thromboplastin time to evaluate the efficacy
a. Platelet count of heparin. The platelet count does not monitor heparin efficacy. A client who is
b. Prothrombin time taking warfarin should have the prothrombin time monitored. Protamine sulfate
c. Partial thromboplastin time levels do not monitor efficacy of heparin.
d. Serum levels of protamine sulfate
A client who is being discharged to home asks the d. Ask him to describe the location and severity of the pain and to rate it on a
practical nurse (PN) for a dose of hydrocodone before scale from 1 to 10.
leaving the hospital. How should the PN respond to this Rationale:
client's request? Hydrocodone is a narcotic analgesic, and the practical nurse should gather more
a. Determine if a take-home prescription for data from the client about the pain he is experiencing before giving the
hydrocodone was provided and, if so, tell him to take one medication. The client's need for pain medication should be addressed, and pain
of them. medication should not be withheld because he is going home.
b. Encourage him to wait until he is at home to take a
medication that might impair reasoning.
c. Give him a tablet from the hospital stock and tell him to
wait until he is almost home to take it.
d. Ask him to describe the location and severity of the
pain and to rate it on a scale from 1 to 10.
A client is prescribed clonidine 0.1 mg/24 hour via d. Blood pressure changes from 180/120 to 140/70 mm Hg
transdermal patch. Which client outcome would indicate Rationale:
the medication is effective? Clonidine acts as a centrally acting analgesic and antihypertensive agent. The
a. No complaints of recent episodes of angina decrease in the blood pressure indicates a reduction in hypertension.
b. Change in peripheral edema from +3 to +1
c. No complaints of new onset of nausea or vomiting
d. Blood pressure changes from 180/120 to 140/70 mm
Hg
REVIEW FOR THE NCLEX-PN EXAM 6TH
EDITION | PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales Included
,A client has been prescribed losartan. Which change in d. Blood pressure reduced from 160/90 to 130/80 mm Hg.
data indicates to the practical nurse (PN) that the desired Rationale:
effect of this medication has been achieved? Losartan is prescribed for the treatment of hypertension. The desired effect is a
a. Dependent edema reduced from +3 to +1. decrease in blood pressure.
b. Serum HDL increased from 35 to 55 mg/dL.
c. Pulse rate reduced from 150 to 90 beats/min.
d. Blood pressure reduced from 160/90 to 130/80 mm Hg.
A child is admitted to the emergency department for c. A 16 month old who drank 2 ounces of acetaminophen elixir
accidental ingestion of a poison. The practical nurse (PN) Rationale:
should know that inducing vomiting is recommended for Emesis should be induced for the child who drank the large dose of
which child? acetaminophen elixir because this medication is hepatotoxic. Vomiting is
a. An 8 month old who ate four to six ibuprofen tablets contraindicated for children younger than 1 year of age. Inducing vomiting of
b. A 3 year old who drank an unknown amount of corrosives such as dishwasher detergents and lighter fluid is contraindicated.
charcoal lighter fluid
c. A 16 month old who drank 2 ounces of acetaminophen
elixir
d. A 2 year old who ate a handful of automatic dishwasher
detergent
A practical nurse (PN) is reviewing teaching with the c. The benztropine is used to control the side effects of olanzapine.
client and/or significant others about the concurrent use Rationale:
of benztropine and olanzapine to manage psychotic Benztropine, an anticholinergic drug, is used to control extrapyramidal symptoms
behavior. What information should the PN reinforce? associated with olanzapine use. Caution is required in the dosage of benztropine
a. Benztropine will reduce the olanzapine's side effect of used in conjunction with olanzapine.
urinary retention.
b. Benztropine potentiates the effect of olanzapine.
c. The benztropine is used to control the side effects of
olanzapine.
d. The combined effect of these drugs will modify
psychotic behavior.
A client diagnosed with a herniated disc is prescribed c. Administer analgesia as requested by the client.
hydrocodone/acetaminophen 10 mg/300 mg prn every 4 Rationale:
to 6 hours. As the practical nurse (PN) enters the client's The medication should be administered as per client's request. The client's self-
room to administer their requested medication, the client report of pain is the single most reliable indication of the existence, character, and
is seen talking and laughing with his visiting family. Which intensity of pain. Analgesics should be administered as soon as pain occurs and
action should the PN implement? before it increases in intensity. The PN should consult with the charge nurse after
a. Hold the pain medication until after the visitors leave. administering the medication about the situation.
b. Notify the health care provider of the client's drug-
seeking behavior.
c. Administer analgesia as requested by the client.
d. Inform the client based on their display behavior, the
medication is not needed.
, The nurse is assisting with evaluating the effectiveness of d. "I do not notice as many irregular heartbeats as before I started taking this
the drug amiodarone. Which client statement best medication."
indicates the drug has been effective? Rationale:
a. "I have not had as many spells of angina." Amiodarone is the first choice drugs to treat ventricular dysrhythmias. It will not
b. "I have not had as much swelling in my ankles lately." reduce angina spells, reduce ankle swelling, or improve cholesterol levels.
c. "My doctor told me my cholesterol levels were getting
better every visit."
d. "I do not notice as many irregular heartbeats as before
I started taking this medication."
A client who is prescribed sildenafil for pulmonary a. The client is experiencing vision and hearing loss.
hypertension calls the clinic for advice. Which condition Rationale:
should the practical nurse notify the health care provider The client should be instructed to discontinue the use of the medication and
immediately and instruct the client to stop taking the notify the health care provider immediately if the client is experiencing vision
medication? and/or hearing loss or an erection lasting more than 4 hours.
a. The client is experiencing vision and hearing loss.
b. The client has an erection lasting longer than 2 hours.
c. The client is complaining about nasal congestion.
d. The client is complaining about feeling flushed.
A client is receiving heparin to treat a deep vein c. Partial thromboplastin time
thrombosis. The nurse should monitor which laboratory Rationale:
result to assist in evaluating the efficacy of the drug? The nurse should monitor the partial thromboplastin time to evaluate the efficacy
a. Platelet count of heparin. The platelet count does not monitor heparin efficacy. A client who is
b. Prothrombin time taking warfarin should have the prothrombin time monitored. Protamine sulfate
c. Partial thromboplastin time levels do not monitor efficacy of heparin.
d. Serum levels of protamine sulfate
A client who is being discharged to home asks the d. Ask him to describe the location and severity of the pain and to rate it on a
practical nurse (PN) for a dose of hydrocodone before scale from 1 to 10.
leaving the hospital. How should the PN respond to this Rationale:
client's request? Hydrocodone is a narcotic analgesic, and the practical nurse should gather more
a. Determine if a take-home prescription for data from the client about the pain he is experiencing before giving the
hydrocodone was provided and, if so, tell him to take one medication. The client's need for pain medication should be addressed, and pain
of them. medication should not be withheld because he is going home.
b. Encourage him to wait until he is at home to take a
medication that might impair reasoning.
c. Give him a tablet from the hospital stock and tell him to
wait until he is almost home to take it.
d. Ask him to describe the location and severity of the
pain and to rate it on a scale from 1 to 10.
A client is prescribed clonidine 0.1 mg/24 hour via d. Blood pressure changes from 180/120 to 140/70 mm Hg
transdermal patch. Which client outcome would indicate Rationale:
the medication is effective? Clonidine acts as a centrally acting analgesic and antihypertensive agent. The
a. No complaints of recent episodes of angina decrease in the blood pressure indicates a reduction in hypertension.
b. Change in peripheral edema from +3 to +1
c. No complaints of new onset of nausea or vomiting
d. Blood pressure changes from 180/120 to 140/70 mm
Hg
