PHARMACOLOGY AND EKG
TEST HCA NEW HIRE FOR
NURSES EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWER
LATEST 2025
Pharmacology
Q1. A patient is receiving morphine for pain. Which finding requires
immediate intervention?
A. Constipation
B. Drowsiness
C. Respiratory rate of 8/min
D. Nausea
Answer: C. Respiratory rate of 8/min
Rationale: Morphine can cause respiratory depression. RR < 10 is
critical. Constipation, drowsiness, and nausea are expected side
effects but not life-threatening. Antidote = naloxone.
,Q2. Which insulin has no peak and provides a steady 24-hour effect?
A. NPH
B. Regular
C. Lispro
D. Glargine
Answer: D. Glargine
Rationale: Glargine (Lantus) is a long-acting insulin with no peak →
steady basal coverage. NPH has a peak (4–12h), Regular is short-
acting, Lispro is rapid-acting.
Q3. A patient on warfarin (Coumadin) has an INR of 6.0. What
should the nurse anticipate?
A. Give vitamin K
B. Administer protamine sulfate
C. Increase the warfarin dose
D. No intervention is needed
Answer: A. Give vitamin K
Rationale: Therapeutic INR for warfarin = 2–3 (sometimes 2.5–3.5).
INR of 6 = high bleeding risk. Vitamin K is the antidote. Protamine
sulfate is antidote for heparin, not warfarin.
Q4. A patient is prescribed nitroglycerin. Which teaching is correct?
A. “Take it with milk to avoid stomach upset.”
B. “You may take up to 3 tablets, 5 minutes apart, if chest pain
persists.”
C. “If you get a headache, stop taking the medication.”
D. “Store in a pill organizer for convenience.”
, Answer: B.
Rationale: Sublingual nitroglycerin can be repeated every 5 minutes,
up to 3 doses. Headache is a common side effect. Tablets must be
stored in dark glass bottles (light/moisture sensitive).
Q5. Which abbreviation should the nurse never use in medication
documentation?
A. mg
B. IU
C. mL
D. PO
Answer: B. IU
Rationale: “IU” can be mistaken as “IV” or “10.” Always write
“international units.” Other unsafe abbreviations include U, QD,
QOD, trailing zeros, and missing leading zeros.
EKG
Q6. A rhythm strip shows a prolonged PR interval but every QRS is
present. What is this rhythm?
A. First-degree heart block
B. Second-degree Type I block
C. Ventricular tachycardia
D. Atrial fibrillation
Answer: A. First-degree heart block
Rationale: The hallmark is a consistently prolonged PR interval
(>0.20 sec) with no dropped beats.
TEST HCA NEW HIRE FOR
NURSES EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWER
LATEST 2025
Pharmacology
Q1. A patient is receiving morphine for pain. Which finding requires
immediate intervention?
A. Constipation
B. Drowsiness
C. Respiratory rate of 8/min
D. Nausea
Answer: C. Respiratory rate of 8/min
Rationale: Morphine can cause respiratory depression. RR < 10 is
critical. Constipation, drowsiness, and nausea are expected side
effects but not life-threatening. Antidote = naloxone.
,Q2. Which insulin has no peak and provides a steady 24-hour effect?
A. NPH
B. Regular
C. Lispro
D. Glargine
Answer: D. Glargine
Rationale: Glargine (Lantus) is a long-acting insulin with no peak →
steady basal coverage. NPH has a peak (4–12h), Regular is short-
acting, Lispro is rapid-acting.
Q3. A patient on warfarin (Coumadin) has an INR of 6.0. What
should the nurse anticipate?
A. Give vitamin K
B. Administer protamine sulfate
C. Increase the warfarin dose
D. No intervention is needed
Answer: A. Give vitamin K
Rationale: Therapeutic INR for warfarin = 2–3 (sometimes 2.5–3.5).
INR of 6 = high bleeding risk. Vitamin K is the antidote. Protamine
sulfate is antidote for heparin, not warfarin.
Q4. A patient is prescribed nitroglycerin. Which teaching is correct?
A. “Take it with milk to avoid stomach upset.”
B. “You may take up to 3 tablets, 5 minutes apart, if chest pain
persists.”
C. “If you get a headache, stop taking the medication.”
D. “Store in a pill organizer for convenience.”
, Answer: B.
Rationale: Sublingual nitroglycerin can be repeated every 5 minutes,
up to 3 doses. Headache is a common side effect. Tablets must be
stored in dark glass bottles (light/moisture sensitive).
Q5. Which abbreviation should the nurse never use in medication
documentation?
A. mg
B. IU
C. mL
D. PO
Answer: B. IU
Rationale: “IU” can be mistaken as “IV” or “10.” Always write
“international units.” Other unsafe abbreviations include U, QD,
QOD, trailing zeros, and missing leading zeros.
EKG
Q6. A rhythm strip shows a prolonged PR interval but every QRS is
present. What is this rhythm?
A. First-degree heart block
B. Second-degree Type I block
C. Ventricular tachycardia
D. Atrial fibrillation
Answer: A. First-degree heart block
Rationale: The hallmark is a consistently prolonged PR interval
(>0.20 sec) with no dropped beats.
