HESI RN Pharmacology Practice Exam
Which nursing diagnosis is important to
include in the plan of care for a client C. Risk for injury.
receiving the angiotensin-2 receptor an-
tagonist irbesartan (Avapro)? - Avapro is an antihypertensive agent,
which acts by blocking vasoconstrictor
A. Fluid volume deficit. effects at various receptor sites. This can
B. Risk for infection. cause hypotension and dizziness, plac-
C. Risk for injury. ing the client at high risk for injury.
D. Impaired sleep patterns.
Which instruction(s) should the nurse
give to a female client who just received ( A, D, E, F )
a prescription for oral metronidazole
(Flagyl) for treatment of trichomonas Increased fluid intake and cranberry
vaginalis? (Select all that apply.) juice are recommended for prevention
and treatment of urinary tract infections,
which frequently accompany vaginal in-
A. Increase fluid intake, especially cran- fections. It is not necessary to taper use
berry juice. of this drug or to check the blood pres-
B. Do not abruptly discontinue the med- sure daily, as this condition is not relat-
ication; taper use. ed to hypertension. Flagyl can cause a
C. Check blood pressure daily to detect disulfiram-like reaction if taken in con-
hypertension. junction with ingestion of alcohol, so the
D. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this client should be instructed to avoid alco-
medication. hol. All sexual partners should be treated
E. Use condoms until treatment is com- at the same time and condoms should be
pleted. used until after treatment is completed to
F. Ensure that all sexual partners are avoid reinfection.
treated at the same time.
A client is receiving clonidine (Cat-
apres) 0.1 mg/24hr via transdermal
patch. Which assessment finding indi- D. Blood pressure has changed from
cates that the desired effect of the med- 180/120 to 140/70 mmHg.
ication has been achieved?
- Catapres acts as a centrally-acting
A. Client denies recent episodes of angi- analgesic and antihypertensive agent. A
na. reduction of the blood pressure to 140/70
B. Change in peripheral edema from +3
to +1.
, HESI RN Pharmacology Practice Exam
C. Client denies recent nausea or vomit-
ing. mmHg indicates a reduction in hyperten-
D. Blood pressure has changed from sion.
180/120 to 140/70 mmHg.
A client with coronary artery disease
who is taking digoxin (Lanoxin) receives
a new prescription for atorvastatin (Lipi-
D. Vomiting.
tor). Two weeks after initiation of the Lip-
itor prescription, the nurse assesses the
- Vomiting, anorexia and abdominal pain
client. Which finding requires the most
are early indications of digitalis toxicity.
immediate intervention?
Since Lipitor increases the risk for digital-
is toxicity, this finding requires the most
A. Heartburn.
immediate intervention by the nurse.
B. Headache.
C. Constipation.
D. Vomiting.
C. Heart failure.
- Beta-1 agonists improve cardiac out-
put by increasing the heart rate and
A medication that is classified as a
blood pressure and are indicated in heart
beta-1 agonist is most commonly pre-
failure, shock, atrioventricular block dys-
scribed for a client with which condition?
rhythmias, and cardiac arrest. In con-
trast, glaucoma is managed using adren-
A. Glaucoma.
ergic agents and beta-adrenergic block-
B. Hypertension.
ing agents. Beta-1 blocking agents are
C. Heart failure.
used in the management of hyperten-
D. Asthma.
sion. Medications that stimulate beta-2
receptors in the bronchi are effective for
bronchoconstriction in respiratory disor-
ders, such as asthma.
C. Epinephrine.
The nurse is assessing a client who
- Epinephrine is an adrenergic agent that
is experiencing anaphylaxis from an in-
stimulates beta receptors to increase
sect sting. Which prescription should the
cardiac automaticity in cardiac arrest and
nurse prepare to administer this client?
relax bronchospasms in anaphylaxis. On
the ither hand, dopamine is a vaso-
, HESI RN Pharmacology Practice Exam
pressor used to treat clients with shock.
Ephedrine causes peripheral vasocon-
striction and is used in the treatment
A. Dopamine. of nasal congestion. Diphenhydramine is
B. Ephedrine. an antihistamine decongestant used in
C. Epinephrine. the treatment of mild allergic reactions
D. Diphenhydramine. and motion sickness. Epinephrine is the
medication of choice in treating anaphy-
laxis.
B. Benzodiazepines.
- Respiratory depression increases with
Which medications should the nurse
the concurrent use of opioid analgesics
caution the client about taking while re-
and other central nervous system de-
ceiving an opioid analgesic?
pressant agents, such as alcohol, barbi-
turates, and benzodiazepines. Antacids
A. Antacids.
and antidiabetic agents do not inter-
B. Benzodiazepines.
act with opiates to produce adverse ef-
C. Antihypertensives.
fects. Antihypertensives may cause mor-
D. Oral antidiabetics.
phine-induced hypotension, but should
not be withheld without notifying the
healthcare provider.
A. q6h.
A client with a dysrhythmia is to receive
procainamide (Pronestyl) in 4 divided
- Pronestyl is a class 1A antidysrhythmic.
doses over the next 24 hours. What dos-
It should be taken around-the-clock, so
ing schedule is best for the nurse to im-
that a stable blood level of the drug can
plement?
be maintained, thereby decreasing the
possibility of hypotension (an adverse ef-
A. q6h.
fect) occurring because of too much of
B. QID.
the drug circulating systemically at any
C. AC and bedtime.
particular time of day. Pronestyl may be
D. PC and bedtime.
given with food if GI distress is a problem.
A client is receiving ampicillin sodium
A. Rash.
(Omnipen) for a sinus infection. The
nurse should instruct the client to noti-
- Rash is the most common adverse ef-
fy the healthcare provider immediately if
fect of all penicillins, indicating an aller-
which symptom occurs?
Which nursing diagnosis is important to
include in the plan of care for a client C. Risk for injury.
receiving the angiotensin-2 receptor an-
tagonist irbesartan (Avapro)? - Avapro is an antihypertensive agent,
which acts by blocking vasoconstrictor
A. Fluid volume deficit. effects at various receptor sites. This can
B. Risk for infection. cause hypotension and dizziness, plac-
C. Risk for injury. ing the client at high risk for injury.
D. Impaired sleep patterns.
Which instruction(s) should the nurse
give to a female client who just received ( A, D, E, F )
a prescription for oral metronidazole
(Flagyl) for treatment of trichomonas Increased fluid intake and cranberry
vaginalis? (Select all that apply.) juice are recommended for prevention
and treatment of urinary tract infections,
which frequently accompany vaginal in-
A. Increase fluid intake, especially cran- fections. It is not necessary to taper use
berry juice. of this drug or to check the blood pres-
B. Do not abruptly discontinue the med- sure daily, as this condition is not relat-
ication; taper use. ed to hypertension. Flagyl can cause a
C. Check blood pressure daily to detect disulfiram-like reaction if taken in con-
hypertension. junction with ingestion of alcohol, so the
D. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this client should be instructed to avoid alco-
medication. hol. All sexual partners should be treated
E. Use condoms until treatment is com- at the same time and condoms should be
pleted. used until after treatment is completed to
F. Ensure that all sexual partners are avoid reinfection.
treated at the same time.
A client is receiving clonidine (Cat-
apres) 0.1 mg/24hr via transdermal
patch. Which assessment finding indi- D. Blood pressure has changed from
cates that the desired effect of the med- 180/120 to 140/70 mmHg.
ication has been achieved?
- Catapres acts as a centrally-acting
A. Client denies recent episodes of angi- analgesic and antihypertensive agent. A
na. reduction of the blood pressure to 140/70
B. Change in peripheral edema from +3
to +1.
, HESI RN Pharmacology Practice Exam
C. Client denies recent nausea or vomit-
ing. mmHg indicates a reduction in hyperten-
D. Blood pressure has changed from sion.
180/120 to 140/70 mmHg.
A client with coronary artery disease
who is taking digoxin (Lanoxin) receives
a new prescription for atorvastatin (Lipi-
D. Vomiting.
tor). Two weeks after initiation of the Lip-
itor prescription, the nurse assesses the
- Vomiting, anorexia and abdominal pain
client. Which finding requires the most
are early indications of digitalis toxicity.
immediate intervention?
Since Lipitor increases the risk for digital-
is toxicity, this finding requires the most
A. Heartburn.
immediate intervention by the nurse.
B. Headache.
C. Constipation.
D. Vomiting.
C. Heart failure.
- Beta-1 agonists improve cardiac out-
put by increasing the heart rate and
A medication that is classified as a
blood pressure and are indicated in heart
beta-1 agonist is most commonly pre-
failure, shock, atrioventricular block dys-
scribed for a client with which condition?
rhythmias, and cardiac arrest. In con-
trast, glaucoma is managed using adren-
A. Glaucoma.
ergic agents and beta-adrenergic block-
B. Hypertension.
ing agents. Beta-1 blocking agents are
C. Heart failure.
used in the management of hyperten-
D. Asthma.
sion. Medications that stimulate beta-2
receptors in the bronchi are effective for
bronchoconstriction in respiratory disor-
ders, such as asthma.
C. Epinephrine.
The nurse is assessing a client who
- Epinephrine is an adrenergic agent that
is experiencing anaphylaxis from an in-
stimulates beta receptors to increase
sect sting. Which prescription should the
cardiac automaticity in cardiac arrest and
nurse prepare to administer this client?
relax bronchospasms in anaphylaxis. On
the ither hand, dopamine is a vaso-
, HESI RN Pharmacology Practice Exam
pressor used to treat clients with shock.
Ephedrine causes peripheral vasocon-
striction and is used in the treatment
A. Dopamine. of nasal congestion. Diphenhydramine is
B. Ephedrine. an antihistamine decongestant used in
C. Epinephrine. the treatment of mild allergic reactions
D. Diphenhydramine. and motion sickness. Epinephrine is the
medication of choice in treating anaphy-
laxis.
B. Benzodiazepines.
- Respiratory depression increases with
Which medications should the nurse
the concurrent use of opioid analgesics
caution the client about taking while re-
and other central nervous system de-
ceiving an opioid analgesic?
pressant agents, such as alcohol, barbi-
turates, and benzodiazepines. Antacids
A. Antacids.
and antidiabetic agents do not inter-
B. Benzodiazepines.
act with opiates to produce adverse ef-
C. Antihypertensives.
fects. Antihypertensives may cause mor-
D. Oral antidiabetics.
phine-induced hypotension, but should
not be withheld without notifying the
healthcare provider.
A. q6h.
A client with a dysrhythmia is to receive
procainamide (Pronestyl) in 4 divided
- Pronestyl is a class 1A antidysrhythmic.
doses over the next 24 hours. What dos-
It should be taken around-the-clock, so
ing schedule is best for the nurse to im-
that a stable blood level of the drug can
plement?
be maintained, thereby decreasing the
possibility of hypotension (an adverse ef-
A. q6h.
fect) occurring because of too much of
B. QID.
the drug circulating systemically at any
C. AC and bedtime.
particular time of day. Pronestyl may be
D. PC and bedtime.
given with food if GI distress is a problem.
A client is receiving ampicillin sodium
A. Rash.
(Omnipen) for a sinus infection. The
nurse should instruct the client to noti-
- Rash is the most common adverse ef-
fy the healthcare provider immediately if
fect of all penicillins, indicating an aller-
which symptom occurs?
