Pharm HESI Exam 2026/2027 | HESI
Pharmacology Exam NCLEX-PN Practice
Questions & Verified Answers | Complete
Study Guide with Rationales | Medication
Administration, Drug Classes & Nursing
Safety Review | Graded A+ HESI Prep
EXAM OVERVIEW
Exam Detail Information
Exam Name HESI Pharmacology Exam
Target
Practical Nursing (PN/LPN) Students
Audience
Question
Multiple Choice, Select All That Apply, NGN Case Studies
Format
Key Content Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Endocrine, Neurological, Psychiatric, Gastrointestinal
Areas Medications, Medication Administration, Nursing Safety
SECTION 1: CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICATIONS (Questions 1-
15)
Question 1:
A client is prescribed digoxin 0.25 mg daily. Which instruction by the practical
,nurse (PN) is correct?
A) "Take the medication in the morning before rising."
B) "Do not take the medication if the heartbeat is irregular or slow."
C) "Expect some vision changes due to the medication."
D) "Increase intake of foods rich in vitamin K."
Answer: B
Rationale: Monitoring the pulse rate for 1 minute is essential when taking digoxin. The
client should report pulse rates lower than 60 or greater than 110 beats/min, withhold
the dosage, and consult with the healthcare provider in such cases. Vision changes,
specifically yellow-green halos, can indicate digoxin toxicity requiring immediate
evaluation .
Question 2:
A patient is prescribed amiodarone for atrial fibrillation. Which adverse effect is
most likely to be irreversible even after drug discontinuation?
A) Pulmonary fibrosis
B) Corneal microdeposits
C) Thyroid dysfunction
D) Photosensitivity
Answer: A
Rationale: Amiodarone-induced pulmonary fibrosis can be irreversible and potentially
fatal. Corneal microdeposits are common but reversible upon discontinuation. Thyroid
dysfunction is usually reversible with treatment. Photosensitivity resolves after stopping
the drug. New cough and dyspnea require immediate evaluation for pulmonary toxicity .
,Question 3:
A client is receiving an IV infusion of an antineoplastic medication. During the
infusion, the client complains of pain at the insertion site. The nurse notes redness
and swelling and that the rate of infusion has slowed. What is the appropriate
action?
A) Notify the registered nurse
B) Administer pain medication to reduce discomfort
C) Apply ice and maintain the infusion rate
D) Elevate the extremity and slow the infusion
Answer: A
Rationale: When antineoplastic medications are administered via IV, great care must be
taken to prevent extravasation. The nurse monitors for signs such as redness, swelling,
and a decreased infusion rate. If extravasation occurs, the registered nurse needs to be
notified immediately so the provider can be contacted .
Question 4:
A client is prescribed warfarin. Which laboratory value indicates the medication is
at a therapeutic level?
A) INR of 1.0
B) INR of 2.5
C) aPTT of 60 seconds
D) Platelet count of 150,000
Answer: B
Rationale: The therapeutic INR target for warfarin is typically 2.0 to 3.0. An INR of 2.5
indicates the medication is at a therapeutic level. If INR is elevated above 3.0, the nurse
should hold the dose and notify the provider before administering vitamin K .
, Question 5:
A client is receiving IV heparin. Which laboratory value indicates the medication is
at a therapeutic level?
A) INR of 2.5
B) aPTT of 2 times the control
C) Platelet count of 100,000
D) PT of 15 seconds
Answer: B
Rationale: The therapeutic aPTT target for heparin is 1.5 to 2.5 times the control value.
An aPTT of 110 seconds indicates high bleeding risk requiring infusion stop and
protamine sulfate preparation. Protamine sulfate is the antidote for heparin .
Question 6:
A client prescribed metoprolol for hypertension has a history of asthma. What is
the nurse's priority concern?
A) Hypoglycemia
B) Bronchospasm
C) Hyperkalemia
D) Tachycardia
Answer: B
Rationale: Metoprolol is a beta-blocker that should be used with caution in clients with
asthma or COPD due to the risk of bronchospasm. Beta-blockers can cause
bronchoconstriction by blocking beta-2 receptors in the lungs .
Pharmacology Exam NCLEX-PN Practice
Questions & Verified Answers | Complete
Study Guide with Rationales | Medication
Administration, Drug Classes & Nursing
Safety Review | Graded A+ HESI Prep
EXAM OVERVIEW
Exam Detail Information
Exam Name HESI Pharmacology Exam
Target
Practical Nursing (PN/LPN) Students
Audience
Question
Multiple Choice, Select All That Apply, NGN Case Studies
Format
Key Content Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Endocrine, Neurological, Psychiatric, Gastrointestinal
Areas Medications, Medication Administration, Nursing Safety
SECTION 1: CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICATIONS (Questions 1-
15)
Question 1:
A client is prescribed digoxin 0.25 mg daily. Which instruction by the practical
,nurse (PN) is correct?
A) "Take the medication in the morning before rising."
B) "Do not take the medication if the heartbeat is irregular or slow."
C) "Expect some vision changes due to the medication."
D) "Increase intake of foods rich in vitamin K."
Answer: B
Rationale: Monitoring the pulse rate for 1 minute is essential when taking digoxin. The
client should report pulse rates lower than 60 or greater than 110 beats/min, withhold
the dosage, and consult with the healthcare provider in such cases. Vision changes,
specifically yellow-green halos, can indicate digoxin toxicity requiring immediate
evaluation .
Question 2:
A patient is prescribed amiodarone for atrial fibrillation. Which adverse effect is
most likely to be irreversible even after drug discontinuation?
A) Pulmonary fibrosis
B) Corneal microdeposits
C) Thyroid dysfunction
D) Photosensitivity
Answer: A
Rationale: Amiodarone-induced pulmonary fibrosis can be irreversible and potentially
fatal. Corneal microdeposits are common but reversible upon discontinuation. Thyroid
dysfunction is usually reversible with treatment. Photosensitivity resolves after stopping
the drug. New cough and dyspnea require immediate evaluation for pulmonary toxicity .
,Question 3:
A client is receiving an IV infusion of an antineoplastic medication. During the
infusion, the client complains of pain at the insertion site. The nurse notes redness
and swelling and that the rate of infusion has slowed. What is the appropriate
action?
A) Notify the registered nurse
B) Administer pain medication to reduce discomfort
C) Apply ice and maintain the infusion rate
D) Elevate the extremity and slow the infusion
Answer: A
Rationale: When antineoplastic medications are administered via IV, great care must be
taken to prevent extravasation. The nurse monitors for signs such as redness, swelling,
and a decreased infusion rate. If extravasation occurs, the registered nurse needs to be
notified immediately so the provider can be contacted .
Question 4:
A client is prescribed warfarin. Which laboratory value indicates the medication is
at a therapeutic level?
A) INR of 1.0
B) INR of 2.5
C) aPTT of 60 seconds
D) Platelet count of 150,000
Answer: B
Rationale: The therapeutic INR target for warfarin is typically 2.0 to 3.0. An INR of 2.5
indicates the medication is at a therapeutic level. If INR is elevated above 3.0, the nurse
should hold the dose and notify the provider before administering vitamin K .
, Question 5:
A client is receiving IV heparin. Which laboratory value indicates the medication is
at a therapeutic level?
A) INR of 2.5
B) aPTT of 2 times the control
C) Platelet count of 100,000
D) PT of 15 seconds
Answer: B
Rationale: The therapeutic aPTT target for heparin is 1.5 to 2.5 times the control value.
An aPTT of 110 seconds indicates high bleeding risk requiring infusion stop and
protamine sulfate preparation. Protamine sulfate is the antidote for heparin .
Question 6:
A client prescribed metoprolol for hypertension has a history of asthma. What is
the nurse's priority concern?
A) Hypoglycemia
B) Bronchospasm
C) Hyperkalemia
D) Tachycardia
Answer: B
Rationale: Metoprolol is a beta-blocker that should be used with caution in clients with
asthma or COPD due to the risk of bronchospasm. Beta-blockers can cause
bronchoconstriction by blocking beta-2 receptors in the lungs .
