HESI PHARMACOLOGY V1 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
CORRECT ANSWERS & RATIONALE LATEST UPDATE 2025
The client has begun medication therapy with pancrelipase (Pancrease MT).
The nurse evaluates that the medication is having the optimal intended
benefit if which effect is observed?
1. Weight loss
2. Relief of heartburn
3. Reduction of steatorrhea
4. Absence of abdominal pain ---Answer---3. Reduction of steatorrhea
Rationale:
Pancrelipase (Pancrease MT) is a pancreatic enzyme used in clients with
pancreatitis as a digestive aid. The medication should reduce the amount of
fatty stools (steatorrhea). Another intended effect could be improved
nutritional status. It is not used to treat abdominal pain or heartburn. Its use
could result in weight gain but should not result in weight loss if it is aiding in
digestion.
An older client recently has been taking cimetidine (Tagamet). The nurse
monitors the client for which most frequent central nervous system side effect
of this medication?
1. Tremors
2. Dizziness
3. Confusion
4. Hallucinations ---Answer---3.Confusion
Rationale:
,Cimetidine is a histamine 2 (H2)-receptor antagonist. Older clients are
especially susceptible to central nervous system side effects of cimetidine. The
most frequent of these is confusion. Less common central nervous system side
effects include headache, dizziness, drowsiness, and hallucinations.
The client with a gastric ulcer has a prescription for sucralfate (Carafate), 1 g
by mouth four times daily. The nurse schedules the medication for which
times?
1. With meals and at bedtime
2. Every 6 hours around the clock
3. One hour after meals and at bedtime
4. One hour before meals and at bedtime ---Answer---4. One hour before
meals and at bedtime
Rationale:
Sucralfate is a gastric protectant. The medication should be scheduled for
administration 1 hour before meals and at bedtime. The medication is timed
to allow it to form a protective coating over the ulcer before food intake
stimulates gastric acid production and mechanical irritation. The other
options are incorrect.
The client who chronically uses nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has
been taking misoprostol (Cytotec). The nurse determines that the medication
is having the intended therapeutic effect if which of the following is noted?
1. Resolved diarrhea
2. Relief of epigastric pain
3. Decreased platelet count
4. Decreased white blood cell count ---Answer---2. Relief of epigastric pain
,Rationale:
The client who chronically uses nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) is prone to gastric mucosal injury. Misoprostol is a gastric protectant
and is given specifically to prevent this occurrence. Diarrhea can be a side
effect of the medication, but is not an intended effect. Options 3 and 4 are
incorrect
The client has been taking omeprazole (Prilosec) for 4 weeks. The ambulatory
care nurse evaluates that the client is receiving optimal intended effect of the
medication if the client reports the absence of which symptom?
1. Diarrhea
2. Heartburn
3. Flatulence
4. Constipation ---Answer---2.Heartburn
Rationale:
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor classified as an antiulcer agent. The
intended effect of the medication is relief of pain from gastric irritation, often
called heartburn by clients. Omeprazole is not used to treat the conditions
identified in options 1, 3, and 4.
42.) A client with a peptic ulcer is diagnosed with a Helicobacter pylori
infection. The nurse is reinforcing teaching for the client about the
medications prescribed, including clarithromycin (Biaxin), esomeprazole
(Nexium), and amoxicillin (Amoxil). Which statement by the client indicates
the best understanding of the medication regimen?
1. "My ulcer will heal because these medications will kill the bacteria."
2. "These medications are only taken when I have pain from my ulcer."
3. "The medications will kill the bacteria and stop the acid production."
, 4. "These medications will coat the ulcer and decrease the acid production in
my stomach." ---Answer---3. "The medications will kill the bacteria and stop
the acid production."
Rationale:
Triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection usually includes two
antibacterial drugs and a proton pump inhibitor. Clarithromycin and
amoxicillin are antibacterials. Esomeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor. These
medications will kill the bacteria and decrease acid production.
A histamine (H2)-receptor antagonist will be prescribed for a client. The nurse
understands that which medications are H2-receptor antagonists? Select all
that apply.
1. Nizatidine (Axid)
2. Ranitidine (Zantac)
3. Famotidine (Pepcid)
4. Cimetidine (Tagamet)
5. Esomeprazole (Nexium)
6. Lansoprazole (Prevacid) ---Answer---1. Nizatidine (Axid)
2. Ranitidine (Zantac)
3. Famotidine (Pepcid)
4. Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Rationale:
H2-receptor antagonists suppress secretion of gastric acid, alleviate
symptoms of heartburn, and assist in preventing complications of peptic ulcer
disease. These medications also suppress gastric acid secretions and are used
in active ulcer disease, erosive esophagitis, and pathological hypersecretory
CORRECT ANSWERS & RATIONALE LATEST UPDATE 2025
The client has begun medication therapy with pancrelipase (Pancrease MT).
The nurse evaluates that the medication is having the optimal intended
benefit if which effect is observed?
1. Weight loss
2. Relief of heartburn
3. Reduction of steatorrhea
4. Absence of abdominal pain ---Answer---3. Reduction of steatorrhea
Rationale:
Pancrelipase (Pancrease MT) is a pancreatic enzyme used in clients with
pancreatitis as a digestive aid. The medication should reduce the amount of
fatty stools (steatorrhea). Another intended effect could be improved
nutritional status. It is not used to treat abdominal pain or heartburn. Its use
could result in weight gain but should not result in weight loss if it is aiding in
digestion.
An older client recently has been taking cimetidine (Tagamet). The nurse
monitors the client for which most frequent central nervous system side effect
of this medication?
1. Tremors
2. Dizziness
3. Confusion
4. Hallucinations ---Answer---3.Confusion
Rationale:
,Cimetidine is a histamine 2 (H2)-receptor antagonist. Older clients are
especially susceptible to central nervous system side effects of cimetidine. The
most frequent of these is confusion. Less common central nervous system side
effects include headache, dizziness, drowsiness, and hallucinations.
The client with a gastric ulcer has a prescription for sucralfate (Carafate), 1 g
by mouth four times daily. The nurse schedules the medication for which
times?
1. With meals and at bedtime
2. Every 6 hours around the clock
3. One hour after meals and at bedtime
4. One hour before meals and at bedtime ---Answer---4. One hour before
meals and at bedtime
Rationale:
Sucralfate is a gastric protectant. The medication should be scheduled for
administration 1 hour before meals and at bedtime. The medication is timed
to allow it to form a protective coating over the ulcer before food intake
stimulates gastric acid production and mechanical irritation. The other
options are incorrect.
The client who chronically uses nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has
been taking misoprostol (Cytotec). The nurse determines that the medication
is having the intended therapeutic effect if which of the following is noted?
1. Resolved diarrhea
2. Relief of epigastric pain
3. Decreased platelet count
4. Decreased white blood cell count ---Answer---2. Relief of epigastric pain
,Rationale:
The client who chronically uses nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) is prone to gastric mucosal injury. Misoprostol is a gastric protectant
and is given specifically to prevent this occurrence. Diarrhea can be a side
effect of the medication, but is not an intended effect. Options 3 and 4 are
incorrect
The client has been taking omeprazole (Prilosec) for 4 weeks. The ambulatory
care nurse evaluates that the client is receiving optimal intended effect of the
medication if the client reports the absence of which symptom?
1. Diarrhea
2. Heartburn
3. Flatulence
4. Constipation ---Answer---2.Heartburn
Rationale:
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor classified as an antiulcer agent. The
intended effect of the medication is relief of pain from gastric irritation, often
called heartburn by clients. Omeprazole is not used to treat the conditions
identified in options 1, 3, and 4.
42.) A client with a peptic ulcer is diagnosed with a Helicobacter pylori
infection. The nurse is reinforcing teaching for the client about the
medications prescribed, including clarithromycin (Biaxin), esomeprazole
(Nexium), and amoxicillin (Amoxil). Which statement by the client indicates
the best understanding of the medication regimen?
1. "My ulcer will heal because these medications will kill the bacteria."
2. "These medications are only taken when I have pain from my ulcer."
3. "The medications will kill the bacteria and stop the acid production."
, 4. "These medications will coat the ulcer and decrease the acid production in
my stomach." ---Answer---3. "The medications will kill the bacteria and stop
the acid production."
Rationale:
Triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection usually includes two
antibacterial drugs and a proton pump inhibitor. Clarithromycin and
amoxicillin are antibacterials. Esomeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor. These
medications will kill the bacteria and decrease acid production.
A histamine (H2)-receptor antagonist will be prescribed for a client. The nurse
understands that which medications are H2-receptor antagonists? Select all
that apply.
1. Nizatidine (Axid)
2. Ranitidine (Zantac)
3. Famotidine (Pepcid)
4. Cimetidine (Tagamet)
5. Esomeprazole (Nexium)
6. Lansoprazole (Prevacid) ---Answer---1. Nizatidine (Axid)
2. Ranitidine (Zantac)
3. Famotidine (Pepcid)
4. Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Rationale:
H2-receptor antagonists suppress secretion of gastric acid, alleviate
symptoms of heartburn, and assist in preventing complications of peptic ulcer
disease. These medications also suppress gastric acid secretions and are used
in active ulcer disease, erosive esophagitis, and pathological hypersecretory
