PHARMACOLOGY HESI V2 PREPARATION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2024/2025
UPDATED GRADED A+.
A client is prescribed phenobarbital sodium (Luminal) for a seizure
disorder. The medication has a long half-life of 4 days. Based on this half-
life, the medication will most likely be prescribed
A. once a day.
B. twice a day.
C. three times a day.
D. four times a day. - Precise answer ANS: A
Medication with long half-lives remain at their therapeutic levels between
doses for long periods of time. Therefore, this medication can be
administered once a day.
A nurse educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that
influence medication metabolism with a group of nurses. Medication
dosages may need to be decreased for which of the following reasons?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Increased renal excretion
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
C. Liver failure
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication metabolized by the same pathway -
Precise answer ANS: C, E
Liver failure decreases metabolism and thus increase the concentration of
medication. This may require decreasing the dosage of medication. When
two medications are metabolized in the same way, they may compete for
metabolism, thereby increasing the concentration of one or both
medications.
Increased renal excretion may decrease concentration of the medication,
requiring increased dosage. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
can decrease the concentration of the medication. The dose might need
increased. Peripheral vascular disease may impair distribution, and more of
the medication may be needed.
,A nurse s preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which of the
following are appropriate nursing interventions related to this procedure?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Using medical aseptic technique
B. Asking the client to look up at the ceiling
C. Having the client lie in a side-lying position
D. Dropping medication into the center of the client's conjunctival sac
E. Instructing the client to close the eye gently - Precise answer ANS:B, D,
E
The medication should be dropped into the center of the conjunctival sac to
promote better distribution of the medication. The client should close the
eye gently to allow improved distribution of the medication.
Surgical aseptic technique is used to administer eye drops. The client
should be sitting or in a supine position to facilitate proper administration of
eye drops.
A nurse is completing discharge teaching to a client who has a new
prescription for a transdermal medication. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates understanding of the teaching?
A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab prior to applying the patch."
B. "I will rotate the application site weekly."
C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
D. "I will place the new patch on the site of the old patch." - Precise
answer ANS: C
Transdermal medication should be applied to a hairless area of skin to
promote absorption of medication.
The skin should be washed with soap and water and dried thoroughly
before applying a transdermal patch. Application sites should be rotated on
a daily basis to prevent skin irritation.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription
by the provider to verify the trough level of the client's medication. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Have a blood specimen obtained immediately prior to the next dose of
medication.
B. Verify that the client has been on the medication for 24 hr before
ordering a blood specimen.
,C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose of
medication.
D. Begin administering the medication, and obtain a blood specimen. -
Precise answer ANS: A
To verify trough levels of a medication, a blood specimen is obtained
immediately before the next dose of medication.
A nurse is preparing a client's medication. Which of the following are legal
responsibilities of the nurse? (Select all that apply.)
A. Maintaining skill competency
B. Determining the dosage
C. Monitoring for adverse effects
D. Safeguarding medications
E. Identifying the client's diagnosis - Precise answer ANS: A, C, D
Determining medication dosage and identifying a diagnosis is the
role/responsibility of the provider. The nurse should be informed about a
client's diagnosis.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription
by the provider for lisinopril (Zestril) 10 mg PO every day. The nurse should
recognize this as which of the following types of prescription?
A. Single prescription
B. Stat prescription
C. Routine prescription
D. Standing prescription - Precise answer ANS: C
A routine prescription identifies a medication that is given on a regular
schedule. This medication is administered every day until discontinued.
A single prescription is to be given once at a specified time or as soon as
possible. A stat prescription is only given once, and it is given immediately.
A standing prescription is written for specific circumstances or a specific
unit.
A nurse is reviewing a new prescription for ondansetron (Zofran) 4 mg PO
PRN nausea and vomiting for a client who has hyperemesis gravidarum.
The nurse should clarify which of the following parts of the prescription with
the provider?
A. Name
B. Dosage
C. Route
, D. Time - Precise answer ANS: D
The time and frequency of medication administration is not included and
should be clarified with the provider.
A nurse is orienting a newly hired nurse and discussing how to take
telephone prescription. Which of the following statements by the newly
hired nurse indicates understanding of the discussion?
A. "A second nurse enters the prescription into the client's health record."
B. "Another nurse should listen to the phone call."
C. "The provider can clarify the prescription when he signs the health
record."
D. "The 'read back' is omitted if this is a one-time prescription." - Precise
answer ANS: B
The second nurse should listen to a telephone prescription to prevent
errors in communication.
The nurse who takes the telephone prescription should enter it into the
client's health record to prevent errors in translation. The nurse verifies the
prescription is complete and accurate at the time it is given by reading it
back to the provider. A telephone prescription includes reading back all
types of medication prescription.
A nurse on a medical unit is admitting a client and completing a
preassessment before administration of medications. Which of the following
data should the nurse include in the preassessment? (Select all that apply.)
A. Use of herbal teas
B. Daily fluid intake
C. Current health status
D. Previous surgical history
E. Food allergies - Precise answer ANS: A, C, E
Use of herbal product,s which often contains caffeine, should be assessed
prior to medication administration because caffeine can affect medication
biotransformation. Current health status should be reviewed because new
prescriptions can cause alterations in current health status. Food allergies
should be included in the preassessment that is completed prior to
medication administration to identify any potential interactions.
Daily fluid intake and surgical history is important, but it is not part of the
presassessment that is completed prior to medication administration.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2024/2025
UPDATED GRADED A+.
A client is prescribed phenobarbital sodium (Luminal) for a seizure
disorder. The medication has a long half-life of 4 days. Based on this half-
life, the medication will most likely be prescribed
A. once a day.
B. twice a day.
C. three times a day.
D. four times a day. - Precise answer ANS: A
Medication with long half-lives remain at their therapeutic levels between
doses for long periods of time. Therefore, this medication can be
administered once a day.
A nurse educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that
influence medication metabolism with a group of nurses. Medication
dosages may need to be decreased for which of the following reasons?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Increased renal excretion
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
C. Liver failure
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication metabolized by the same pathway -
Precise answer ANS: C, E
Liver failure decreases metabolism and thus increase the concentration of
medication. This may require decreasing the dosage of medication. When
two medications are metabolized in the same way, they may compete for
metabolism, thereby increasing the concentration of one or both
medications.
Increased renal excretion may decrease concentration of the medication,
requiring increased dosage. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
can decrease the concentration of the medication. The dose might need
increased. Peripheral vascular disease may impair distribution, and more of
the medication may be needed.
,A nurse s preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which of the
following are appropriate nursing interventions related to this procedure?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Using medical aseptic technique
B. Asking the client to look up at the ceiling
C. Having the client lie in a side-lying position
D. Dropping medication into the center of the client's conjunctival sac
E. Instructing the client to close the eye gently - Precise answer ANS:B, D,
E
The medication should be dropped into the center of the conjunctival sac to
promote better distribution of the medication. The client should close the
eye gently to allow improved distribution of the medication.
Surgical aseptic technique is used to administer eye drops. The client
should be sitting or in a supine position to facilitate proper administration of
eye drops.
A nurse is completing discharge teaching to a client who has a new
prescription for a transdermal medication. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates understanding of the teaching?
A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab prior to applying the patch."
B. "I will rotate the application site weekly."
C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
D. "I will place the new patch on the site of the old patch." - Precise
answer ANS: C
Transdermal medication should be applied to a hairless area of skin to
promote absorption of medication.
The skin should be washed with soap and water and dried thoroughly
before applying a transdermal patch. Application sites should be rotated on
a daily basis to prevent skin irritation.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription
by the provider to verify the trough level of the client's medication. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Have a blood specimen obtained immediately prior to the next dose of
medication.
B. Verify that the client has been on the medication for 24 hr before
ordering a blood specimen.
,C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose of
medication.
D. Begin administering the medication, and obtain a blood specimen. -
Precise answer ANS: A
To verify trough levels of a medication, a blood specimen is obtained
immediately before the next dose of medication.
A nurse is preparing a client's medication. Which of the following are legal
responsibilities of the nurse? (Select all that apply.)
A. Maintaining skill competency
B. Determining the dosage
C. Monitoring for adverse effects
D. Safeguarding medications
E. Identifying the client's diagnosis - Precise answer ANS: A, C, D
Determining medication dosage and identifying a diagnosis is the
role/responsibility of the provider. The nurse should be informed about a
client's diagnosis.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription
by the provider for lisinopril (Zestril) 10 mg PO every day. The nurse should
recognize this as which of the following types of prescription?
A. Single prescription
B. Stat prescription
C. Routine prescription
D. Standing prescription - Precise answer ANS: C
A routine prescription identifies a medication that is given on a regular
schedule. This medication is administered every day until discontinued.
A single prescription is to be given once at a specified time or as soon as
possible. A stat prescription is only given once, and it is given immediately.
A standing prescription is written for specific circumstances or a specific
unit.
A nurse is reviewing a new prescription for ondansetron (Zofran) 4 mg PO
PRN nausea and vomiting for a client who has hyperemesis gravidarum.
The nurse should clarify which of the following parts of the prescription with
the provider?
A. Name
B. Dosage
C. Route
, D. Time - Precise answer ANS: D
The time and frequency of medication administration is not included and
should be clarified with the provider.
A nurse is orienting a newly hired nurse and discussing how to take
telephone prescription. Which of the following statements by the newly
hired nurse indicates understanding of the discussion?
A. "A second nurse enters the prescription into the client's health record."
B. "Another nurse should listen to the phone call."
C. "The provider can clarify the prescription when he signs the health
record."
D. "The 'read back' is omitted if this is a one-time prescription." - Precise
answer ANS: B
The second nurse should listen to a telephone prescription to prevent
errors in communication.
The nurse who takes the telephone prescription should enter it into the
client's health record to prevent errors in translation. The nurse verifies the
prescription is complete and accurate at the time it is given by reading it
back to the provider. A telephone prescription includes reading back all
types of medication prescription.
A nurse on a medical unit is admitting a client and completing a
preassessment before administration of medications. Which of the following
data should the nurse include in the preassessment? (Select all that apply.)
A. Use of herbal teas
B. Daily fluid intake
C. Current health status
D. Previous surgical history
E. Food allergies - Precise answer ANS: A, C, E
Use of herbal product,s which often contains caffeine, should be assessed
prior to medication administration because caffeine can affect medication
biotransformation. Current health status should be reviewed because new
prescriptions can cause alterations in current health status. Food allergies
should be included in the preassessment that is completed prior to
medication administration to identify any potential interactions.
Daily fluid intake and surgical history is important, but it is not part of the
presassessment that is completed prior to medication administration.
