HESI PHARMACOLOGY COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔The client has a PRN prescription for loperamide hydrochloride (Imodium). The
nurse understands that this medication is used for which condition?
1. Constipation
2. Abdominal pain
3. An episode of diarrhea
4. Hematest-positive nasogastric tube drainage - ✔✔3. An episode of diarrhea
Rationale:
Loperamide is an antidiarrheal agent. It is used to manage acute and also chronic
diarrhea in conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease. Loperamide also can be
used to reduce the volume of drainage from an ileostomy. It is not used for the
conditions in options 1, 2, and 4.
✔✔The client has a PRN prescription for ondansetron (Zofran). For which condition
should this medication be administered to the postoperative client?
1. Paralytic ileus
2. Incisional pain
3. Urinary retention
4. Nausea and vomiting - ✔✔4. Nausea and vomiting
Rationale:
Ondansetron is an antiemetic used to treat postoperative nausea and vomiting, as well
as nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. The other options are incorrect.
✔✔The client has begun medication therapy with pancrelipase (Pancrease MT). The
nurse evaluates that the medication is having the optimal intended benefit if which effect
is observed?
1. Weight loss
2. Relief of heartburn
3. Reduction of steatorrhea
4. Absence of abdominal pain - ✔✔3. Reduction of steatorrhea
Rationale:
Pancrelipase (Pancrease MT) is a pancreatic enzyme used in clients with pancreatitis
as a digestive aid. The medication should reduce the amount of fatty stools
(steatorrhea). Another intended effect could be improved nutritional status. It is not used
to treat abdominal pain or heartburn. Its use could result in weight gain but should not
result in weight loss if it is aiding in digestion.
✔✔An older client recently has been taking cimetidine (Tagamet). The nurse monitors
the client for which most frequent central nervous system side effect of this medication?
1. Tremors
,2. Dizziness
3. Confusion
4. Hallucinations - ✔✔3.Confusion
Rationale:
Cimetidine is a histamine 2 (H2)-receptor antagonist. Older clients are especially
susceptible to central nervous system side effects of cimetidine. The most frequent of
these is confusion. Less common central nervous system side effects include
headache, dizziness, drowsiness, and hallucinations.
✔✔The client with a gastric ulcer has a prescription for sucralfate (Carafate), 1 g by
mouth four times daily. The nurse schedules the medication for which times?
1. With meals and at bedtime
2. Every 6 hours around the clock
3. One hour after meals and at bedtime
4. One hour before meals and at bedtime - ✔✔4. One hour before meals and at bedtime
Rationale:
Sucralfate is a gastric protectant. The medication should be scheduled for
administration 1 hour before meals and at bedtime. The medication is timed to allow it to
form a protective coating over the ulcer before food intake stimulates gastric acid
production and mechanical irritation. The other options are incorrect.
✔✔The client who chronically uses nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has been
taking misoprostol (Cytotec). The nurse determines that the medication is having the
intended therapeutic effect if which of the following is noted?
1. Resolved diarrhea
2. Relief of epigastric pain
3. Decreased platelet count
4. Decreased white blood cell count - ✔✔2. Relief of epigastric pain
Rationale:
The client who chronically uses nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is prone
to gastric mucosal injury. Misoprostol is a gastric protectant and is given specifically to
prevent this occurrence. Diarrhea can be a side effect of the medication, but is not an
intended effect. Options 3 and 4 are incorrect
✔✔The client has been taking omeprazole (Prilosec) for 4 weeks. The ambulatory care
nurse evaluates that the client is receiving optimal intended effect of the medication if
the client reports the absence of which symptom?
1. Diarrhea
2. Heartburn
3. Flatulence
4. Constipation - ✔✔2.Heartburn
, Rationale:
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor classified as an antiulcer agent. The intended
effect of the medication is relief of pain from gastric irritation, often called heartburn by
clients. Omeprazole is not used to treat the conditions identified in options 1, 3, and 4.
✔✔42.) A client with a peptic ulcer is diagnosed with a Helicobacter pylori infection. The
nurse is reinforcing teaching for the client about the medications prescribed, including
clarithromycin (Biaxin), esomeprazole (Nexium), and amoxicillin (Amoxil). Which
statement by the client indicates the best understanding of the medication regimen?
1. "My ulcer will heal because these medications will kill the bacteria."
2. "These medications are only taken when I have pain from my ulcer."
3. "The medications will kill the bacteria and stop the acid production."
4. "These medications will coat the ulcer and decrease the acid production in my
stomach." - ✔✔3. "The medications will kill the bacteria and stop the acid production."
Rationale:
Triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection usually includes two antibacterial drugs
and a proton pump inhibitor. Clarithromycin and amoxicillin are antibacterials.
Esomeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor. These medications will kill the bacteria and
decrease acid production.
✔✔A histamine (H2)-receptor antagonist will be prescribed for a client. The nurse
understands that which medications are H2-receptor antagonists? Select all that apply.
1. Nizatidine (Axid)
2. Ranitidine (Zantac)
3. Famotidine (Pepcid)
4. Cimetidine (Tagamet)
5. Esomeprazole (Nexium)
6. Lansoprazole (Prevacid) - ✔✔1. Nizatidine (Axid)
2. Ranitidine (Zantac)
3. Famotidine (Pepcid)
4. Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Rationale:
H2-receptor antagonists suppress secretion of gastric acid, alleviate symptoms of
heartburn, and assist in preventing complications of peptic ulcer disease. These
medications also suppress gastric acid secretions and are used in active ulcer disease,
erosive esophagitis, and pathological hypersecretory conditions. The other medications
listed are proton pump inhibitors.H2-receptor antagonists medication names end with -
dine.Proton pump inhibitors medication names end with -zole.
✔✔A client is receiving acetylcysteine (Mucomyst), 20% solution diluted in 0.9% normal
saline by nebulizer. The nurse should have which item available for possible use after
giving this medication?
1. Ambu bag
2. Intubation tray
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔The client has a PRN prescription for loperamide hydrochloride (Imodium). The
nurse understands that this medication is used for which condition?
1. Constipation
2. Abdominal pain
3. An episode of diarrhea
4. Hematest-positive nasogastric tube drainage - ✔✔3. An episode of diarrhea
Rationale:
Loperamide is an antidiarrheal agent. It is used to manage acute and also chronic
diarrhea in conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease. Loperamide also can be
used to reduce the volume of drainage from an ileostomy. It is not used for the
conditions in options 1, 2, and 4.
✔✔The client has a PRN prescription for ondansetron (Zofran). For which condition
should this medication be administered to the postoperative client?
1. Paralytic ileus
2. Incisional pain
3. Urinary retention
4. Nausea and vomiting - ✔✔4. Nausea and vomiting
Rationale:
Ondansetron is an antiemetic used to treat postoperative nausea and vomiting, as well
as nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. The other options are incorrect.
✔✔The client has begun medication therapy with pancrelipase (Pancrease MT). The
nurse evaluates that the medication is having the optimal intended benefit if which effect
is observed?
1. Weight loss
2. Relief of heartburn
3. Reduction of steatorrhea
4. Absence of abdominal pain - ✔✔3. Reduction of steatorrhea
Rationale:
Pancrelipase (Pancrease MT) is a pancreatic enzyme used in clients with pancreatitis
as a digestive aid. The medication should reduce the amount of fatty stools
(steatorrhea). Another intended effect could be improved nutritional status. It is not used
to treat abdominal pain or heartburn. Its use could result in weight gain but should not
result in weight loss if it is aiding in digestion.
✔✔An older client recently has been taking cimetidine (Tagamet). The nurse monitors
the client for which most frequent central nervous system side effect of this medication?
1. Tremors
,2. Dizziness
3. Confusion
4. Hallucinations - ✔✔3.Confusion
Rationale:
Cimetidine is a histamine 2 (H2)-receptor antagonist. Older clients are especially
susceptible to central nervous system side effects of cimetidine. The most frequent of
these is confusion. Less common central nervous system side effects include
headache, dizziness, drowsiness, and hallucinations.
✔✔The client with a gastric ulcer has a prescription for sucralfate (Carafate), 1 g by
mouth four times daily. The nurse schedules the medication for which times?
1. With meals and at bedtime
2. Every 6 hours around the clock
3. One hour after meals and at bedtime
4. One hour before meals and at bedtime - ✔✔4. One hour before meals and at bedtime
Rationale:
Sucralfate is a gastric protectant. The medication should be scheduled for
administration 1 hour before meals and at bedtime. The medication is timed to allow it to
form a protective coating over the ulcer before food intake stimulates gastric acid
production and mechanical irritation. The other options are incorrect.
✔✔The client who chronically uses nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has been
taking misoprostol (Cytotec). The nurse determines that the medication is having the
intended therapeutic effect if which of the following is noted?
1. Resolved diarrhea
2. Relief of epigastric pain
3. Decreased platelet count
4. Decreased white blood cell count - ✔✔2. Relief of epigastric pain
Rationale:
The client who chronically uses nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is prone
to gastric mucosal injury. Misoprostol is a gastric protectant and is given specifically to
prevent this occurrence. Diarrhea can be a side effect of the medication, but is not an
intended effect. Options 3 and 4 are incorrect
✔✔The client has been taking omeprazole (Prilosec) for 4 weeks. The ambulatory care
nurse evaluates that the client is receiving optimal intended effect of the medication if
the client reports the absence of which symptom?
1. Diarrhea
2. Heartburn
3. Flatulence
4. Constipation - ✔✔2.Heartburn
, Rationale:
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor classified as an antiulcer agent. The intended
effect of the medication is relief of pain from gastric irritation, often called heartburn by
clients. Omeprazole is not used to treat the conditions identified in options 1, 3, and 4.
✔✔42.) A client with a peptic ulcer is diagnosed with a Helicobacter pylori infection. The
nurse is reinforcing teaching for the client about the medications prescribed, including
clarithromycin (Biaxin), esomeprazole (Nexium), and amoxicillin (Amoxil). Which
statement by the client indicates the best understanding of the medication regimen?
1. "My ulcer will heal because these medications will kill the bacteria."
2. "These medications are only taken when I have pain from my ulcer."
3. "The medications will kill the bacteria and stop the acid production."
4. "These medications will coat the ulcer and decrease the acid production in my
stomach." - ✔✔3. "The medications will kill the bacteria and stop the acid production."
Rationale:
Triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection usually includes two antibacterial drugs
and a proton pump inhibitor. Clarithromycin and amoxicillin are antibacterials.
Esomeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor. These medications will kill the bacteria and
decrease acid production.
✔✔A histamine (H2)-receptor antagonist will be prescribed for a client. The nurse
understands that which medications are H2-receptor antagonists? Select all that apply.
1. Nizatidine (Axid)
2. Ranitidine (Zantac)
3. Famotidine (Pepcid)
4. Cimetidine (Tagamet)
5. Esomeprazole (Nexium)
6. Lansoprazole (Prevacid) - ✔✔1. Nizatidine (Axid)
2. Ranitidine (Zantac)
3. Famotidine (Pepcid)
4. Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Rationale:
H2-receptor antagonists suppress secretion of gastric acid, alleviate symptoms of
heartburn, and assist in preventing complications of peptic ulcer disease. These
medications also suppress gastric acid secretions and are used in active ulcer disease,
erosive esophagitis, and pathological hypersecretory conditions. The other medications
listed are proton pump inhibitors.H2-receptor antagonists medication names end with -
dine.Proton pump inhibitors medication names end with -zole.
✔✔A client is receiving acetylcysteine (Mucomyst), 20% solution diluted in 0.9% normal
saline by nebulizer. The nurse should have which item available for possible use after
giving this medication?
1. Ambu bag
2. Intubation tray
