HESI PHARMACOLOGY EXAM
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2025
GRADED A+
A client is ordered 22 mg of gentamicin by IM injection. The drug is available
in 20 mg/2 mL. How many milliliters should be administered? _____ mL
( correct answers ) 2.2
Dopamine is administered to a client who is hypotensive. Which finding
should the nurse identify as a therapeutic response? ( correct answers )
Increase in urine output
The health care provider prescribes ipratropium for a client. An allergic
reaction to which other medication would cause the nurse to question the
prescription for ipratropium? ( correct answers ) Atropine sulfate
The nurse is teaching a student about the dynamics of medication
administration. Which physiologic mechanism will the nurse include in the
teaching which explains a drug's increased metabolism triggered by a
disease process? ( correct answers ) Pharmacokinetics
A client is taking famotidine. Which client statement should the nurse further
assess because it may indicate that the client is experiencing a side effect of
this drug? ( correct answers ) "I seem to be having difficulty thinking
clearly."
A client has a positive skin test for tuberculosis. Which prophylactic drug
should the nurse expect to administer to this client? ( correct answers )
Isoniazid
GRADED A+
,In addition to nitrate therapy, a client is receiving nifedipine, 10 mg PO every
6 hours. The nurse should plan to observe for which common side effect of
this treatment regimen? ( correct answers ) Hypotension
A client with chronic gouty arthritis is talking allopurinol, 100 mg PO daily.
Which laboratory serum level should the nurse report to the health care
provider to determine the therapeutic outcome? ( correct answers ) Uric
acid level
The health care provider prescribes the anticonvulsant carbamazepine for an
adolescent client with a seizure disorder. The nurse should instruct the client
to notify the health care provider if which condition occurs? ( correct
answers ) Develops a sore throat
Methylphenidate is prescribed for daily administration to a 10-year-old child
with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In preparing a teaching
plan for the parents of this child newly diagnosed with ADHD, which
instruction is most important for the nurse to provide to the parents?
( correct answers ) Administer the medication in the morning before the
child goes to school.
A client with metastatic cancer reports severe continuous pain. Which route
of administration should the nurse use to provide the most effective
continuous analgesia? ( correct answers ) Transdermal
A client is receiving antiinfective drug therapy for a postoperative infection.
Which complaint should alert the nurse to the possibility that the client has
contracted a superinfection? ( correct answers ) "My mouth feels sore."
A client receives an antihypertensive agent daily. Which action is most
important for the nurse to implement prior to administering the medication?
( correct answers ) Obtain the client's blood pressure.
GRADED A+
, A male client asks the nurse why condoms should not be lubricated with the
spermicide nonoxynol-9. Which response is best for the nurse to provide?
( correct answers ) Nonoxynol-9 provides no protection from STDs and has
been linked to the transmission of HIV.
A client who is HIV-positive is receiving combination therapy with the
antiviral medication zidovudine. Which instruction should the nurse include
in this client's teaching plan? ( correct answers ) Return to the clinic every
2 weeks for blood counts.
A female client is receiving tamoxifen following surgery for breast cancer.
She reports to the nurse the onset of hot flashes. Which is the best nursing
action? ( correct answers ) Instruct the client that hot flashes are a side
effect that often occurs with the use of this medication.
A client with angina pectoris is instructed to take sublingual nitroglycerin
tablets PRN for chest pain. Which instruction should the nurse include in the
client's teaching plan? ( correct answers ) Take one tablet at the onset of
angina and stop activity.
A client who has chronic back pain is on long-term pain medication
management and asks the nurse why his pain relief therapy is not as
effective as it was 2 months ago. How should the nurse respond? ( correct
answers ) "Tolerance to medication requires increased drug levels to
achieve the same effect."
A client with metastatic cancer who has been receiving fentanyl for several
weeks reports to the nurse that the medication is not effectively controlling
the pain. Which action should the nurse initiate? ( correct answers ) Notify
the health care provider of the need to increase the dose.
A client who is experiencing an acute attack of gouty arthritis is prescribed
colchicine USP, 1 mg PO daily. Which information is most important for the
nurse to provide the client? ( correct answers ) Report any vomiting to the
clinic.
GRADED A+
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2025
GRADED A+
A client is ordered 22 mg of gentamicin by IM injection. The drug is available
in 20 mg/2 mL. How many milliliters should be administered? _____ mL
( correct answers ) 2.2
Dopamine is administered to a client who is hypotensive. Which finding
should the nurse identify as a therapeutic response? ( correct answers )
Increase in urine output
The health care provider prescribes ipratropium for a client. An allergic
reaction to which other medication would cause the nurse to question the
prescription for ipratropium? ( correct answers ) Atropine sulfate
The nurse is teaching a student about the dynamics of medication
administration. Which physiologic mechanism will the nurse include in the
teaching which explains a drug's increased metabolism triggered by a
disease process? ( correct answers ) Pharmacokinetics
A client is taking famotidine. Which client statement should the nurse further
assess because it may indicate that the client is experiencing a side effect of
this drug? ( correct answers ) "I seem to be having difficulty thinking
clearly."
A client has a positive skin test for tuberculosis. Which prophylactic drug
should the nurse expect to administer to this client? ( correct answers )
Isoniazid
GRADED A+
,In addition to nitrate therapy, a client is receiving nifedipine, 10 mg PO every
6 hours. The nurse should plan to observe for which common side effect of
this treatment regimen? ( correct answers ) Hypotension
A client with chronic gouty arthritis is talking allopurinol, 100 mg PO daily.
Which laboratory serum level should the nurse report to the health care
provider to determine the therapeutic outcome? ( correct answers ) Uric
acid level
The health care provider prescribes the anticonvulsant carbamazepine for an
adolescent client with a seizure disorder. The nurse should instruct the client
to notify the health care provider if which condition occurs? ( correct
answers ) Develops a sore throat
Methylphenidate is prescribed for daily administration to a 10-year-old child
with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In preparing a teaching
plan for the parents of this child newly diagnosed with ADHD, which
instruction is most important for the nurse to provide to the parents?
( correct answers ) Administer the medication in the morning before the
child goes to school.
A client with metastatic cancer reports severe continuous pain. Which route
of administration should the nurse use to provide the most effective
continuous analgesia? ( correct answers ) Transdermal
A client is receiving antiinfective drug therapy for a postoperative infection.
Which complaint should alert the nurse to the possibility that the client has
contracted a superinfection? ( correct answers ) "My mouth feels sore."
A client receives an antihypertensive agent daily. Which action is most
important for the nurse to implement prior to administering the medication?
( correct answers ) Obtain the client's blood pressure.
GRADED A+
, A male client asks the nurse why condoms should not be lubricated with the
spermicide nonoxynol-9. Which response is best for the nurse to provide?
( correct answers ) Nonoxynol-9 provides no protection from STDs and has
been linked to the transmission of HIV.
A client who is HIV-positive is receiving combination therapy with the
antiviral medication zidovudine. Which instruction should the nurse include
in this client's teaching plan? ( correct answers ) Return to the clinic every
2 weeks for blood counts.
A female client is receiving tamoxifen following surgery for breast cancer.
She reports to the nurse the onset of hot flashes. Which is the best nursing
action? ( correct answers ) Instruct the client that hot flashes are a side
effect that often occurs with the use of this medication.
A client with angina pectoris is instructed to take sublingual nitroglycerin
tablets PRN for chest pain. Which instruction should the nurse include in the
client's teaching plan? ( correct answers ) Take one tablet at the onset of
angina and stop activity.
A client who has chronic back pain is on long-term pain medication
management and asks the nurse why his pain relief therapy is not as
effective as it was 2 months ago. How should the nurse respond? ( correct
answers ) "Tolerance to medication requires increased drug levels to
achieve the same effect."
A client with metastatic cancer who has been receiving fentanyl for several
weeks reports to the nurse that the medication is not effectively controlling
the pain. Which action should the nurse initiate? ( correct answers ) Notify
the health care provider of the need to increase the dose.
A client who is experiencing an acute attack of gouty arthritis is prescribed
colchicine USP, 1 mg PO daily. Which information is most important for the
nurse to provide the client? ( correct answers ) Report any vomiting to the
clinic.
GRADED A+
