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HESI Pharmacology/ Exam
Practice/Questions &Answers/100% Correct
2025/2026
A healthcare provider prescribes cephalexin monohydrate (Keflex) for a client with a
postoperative infection. It is most important for the nurse to assess for what additional drug
allergy before administering this prescription?
A) Penicillins.
B) Aminoglycosides.
C) Erythromycins.
D) Sulfonamides.
Correct ans - A) Penicillins.
Cross-allergies exist between penicillins (A) and cephalosporins, such as cephalexin
monohydrate (Keflex), so checking for penicillin allergy is a wise precaution before
administering this drug.
, Which nursing intervention is most important when caring for a client receiving the
antimetabolite cytosine arabinoside (Arc-C) for chemotherapy?
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A) Hydrate the client with IV fluids before and after infusion.
B) Assess the client for numbness and tingling of extremities.
C) Inspect the client's oral mucosa for ulcerations.
D) Monitor the client's urine pH for increased acidity.
Correct ans - C) Inspect the client's oral mucosa for ulcerations.
Cytosine arabinoside (Arc-C) affects the rapidly growing cells of the body, therefore stomatitis
and mucosal ulcerations are key signs of antimetabolite toxicity (C). (A, B, and D) are not
typical interventions associated with the administration of antimetabolites.
When assessing an adolescent who recently overdosed on acetaminophen (Tylenol), it is most
important for the nurse to assess for pain in which area of the body?
A) Flank.
B) Abdomen.
C) Chest.
D) Head.
Correct ans - B) Abdomen.
, Acetaminophen toxicity can result in liver damage; therefore, it is especially important for the
nurse to assess for pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen (B), which might indicate
liver damage. (A, C, and D) are not areas where pain would be anticipated.
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An adult client is given a prescription for a scopolamine patch (Transderm Scop) to prevent
motion sickness while on a cruise. Which information should the nurse provide to the client?
A) Apply the patch at least 4 hours prior to departure.
B) Change the patch every other day while on the cruise.
C) Place the patch on a hairless area at the base of the skull.
D) Drink no more than 2 alcoholic drinks during the cruise. Correct ans - A) Apply the
patch at least 4 hours prior to departure.
Scopolamine, an anticholinergic agent, is used to prevent motion sickness and has a peak onset
in 6 hours, so the client should be instructed to apply the patch at least 4 hours before departure
(A) on the cruise ship. The duration of the transdermal patch is 72 hours, so (B) is not needed.
Scolopamine blocks muscarinic receptors in the inner ear and to the vomiting center, so the best
application site of the patch is behind the ear, not at the base of the skull (C). Anticholinergic
medications are CNS depressants, so the client should be instructed to avoid alcohol (D) while
using the patch.
The nurse is reviewing the use of the patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump with a client in
the immediate postoperative period. The client will receive morphine 1 mg IV per hour basal rate
, with 1 mg IV every 15 minutes per PCA to total 5 mg IV maximally per hour. What assessment
has the highest priority before initiating the PCA pump?
A) The expiration date on the morphine syringe in the pump.
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B) The rate and depth of the client's respirations.
C) The type of anesthesia used during the surgical procedure.
D) The client's subjective and objective signs of pain. Correct ans - B) The rate and depth
of the client's respirations.
A life-threatening side effect of intravenous administration of morphine sulfate, an opiate
narcotic, is respiratory depression (B). The PCA pump should be stopped and the healthcare
provider notified if the client's respiratory rate falls below 12 breaths per minute, and the nurse
should anticipate adjustments in the client's dosage before the PCA pump is restarted. (A, C, and
D) provide helpful information, but are not as high a priority as the assessment described in (B).
A medication that is classified as a beta-1 agonist is most commonly prescribed for a client with
which condition?
A) Glaucoma.
B) Hypertension.
C) Heart failure.
D) Asthma. Correct ans - C) Heart failure.
Beta-1 agonists improve cardiac output by increasing the heart rate and blood pressure and are
indicated in heart failure (C), shock, atrioventricular block dysrhythmias, and cardiac arrest.
HESI Pharmacology/ Exam
Practice/Questions &Answers/100% Correct
2025/2026
A healthcare provider prescribes cephalexin monohydrate (Keflex) for a client with a
postoperative infection. It is most important for the nurse to assess for what additional drug
allergy before administering this prescription?
A) Penicillins.
B) Aminoglycosides.
C) Erythromycins.
D) Sulfonamides.
Correct ans - A) Penicillins.
Cross-allergies exist between penicillins (A) and cephalosporins, such as cephalexin
monohydrate (Keflex), so checking for penicillin allergy is a wise precaution before
administering this drug.
, Which nursing intervention is most important when caring for a client receiving the
antimetabolite cytosine arabinoside (Arc-C) for chemotherapy?
Page | 2
A) Hydrate the client with IV fluids before and after infusion.
B) Assess the client for numbness and tingling of extremities.
C) Inspect the client's oral mucosa for ulcerations.
D) Monitor the client's urine pH for increased acidity.
Correct ans - C) Inspect the client's oral mucosa for ulcerations.
Cytosine arabinoside (Arc-C) affects the rapidly growing cells of the body, therefore stomatitis
and mucosal ulcerations are key signs of antimetabolite toxicity (C). (A, B, and D) are not
typical interventions associated with the administration of antimetabolites.
When assessing an adolescent who recently overdosed on acetaminophen (Tylenol), it is most
important for the nurse to assess for pain in which area of the body?
A) Flank.
B) Abdomen.
C) Chest.
D) Head.
Correct ans - B) Abdomen.
, Acetaminophen toxicity can result in liver damage; therefore, it is especially important for the
nurse to assess for pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen (B), which might indicate
liver damage. (A, C, and D) are not areas where pain would be anticipated.
Page | 3
An adult client is given a prescription for a scopolamine patch (Transderm Scop) to prevent
motion sickness while on a cruise. Which information should the nurse provide to the client?
A) Apply the patch at least 4 hours prior to departure.
B) Change the patch every other day while on the cruise.
C) Place the patch on a hairless area at the base of the skull.
D) Drink no more than 2 alcoholic drinks during the cruise. Correct ans - A) Apply the
patch at least 4 hours prior to departure.
Scopolamine, an anticholinergic agent, is used to prevent motion sickness and has a peak onset
in 6 hours, so the client should be instructed to apply the patch at least 4 hours before departure
(A) on the cruise ship. The duration of the transdermal patch is 72 hours, so (B) is not needed.
Scolopamine blocks muscarinic receptors in the inner ear and to the vomiting center, so the best
application site of the patch is behind the ear, not at the base of the skull (C). Anticholinergic
medications are CNS depressants, so the client should be instructed to avoid alcohol (D) while
using the patch.
The nurse is reviewing the use of the patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump with a client in
the immediate postoperative period. The client will receive morphine 1 mg IV per hour basal rate
, with 1 mg IV every 15 minutes per PCA to total 5 mg IV maximally per hour. What assessment
has the highest priority before initiating the PCA pump?
A) The expiration date on the morphine syringe in the pump.
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B) The rate and depth of the client's respirations.
C) The type of anesthesia used during the surgical procedure.
D) The client's subjective and objective signs of pain. Correct ans - B) The rate and depth
of the client's respirations.
A life-threatening side effect of intravenous administration of morphine sulfate, an opiate
narcotic, is respiratory depression (B). The PCA pump should be stopped and the healthcare
provider notified if the client's respiratory rate falls below 12 breaths per minute, and the nurse
should anticipate adjustments in the client's dosage before the PCA pump is restarted. (A, C, and
D) provide helpful information, but are not as high a priority as the assessment described in (B).
A medication that is classified as a beta-1 agonist is most commonly prescribed for a client with
which condition?
A) Glaucoma.
B) Hypertension.
C) Heart failure.
D) Asthma. Correct ans - C) Heart failure.
Beta-1 agonists improve cardiac output by increasing the heart rate and blood pressure and are
indicated in heart failure (C), shock, atrioventricular block dysrhythmias, and cardiac arrest.
