NURS 1150 | NCLEX-STYLE PHARMACOLOGY
NURS 1150 NCLEX-STYLE PHARMACOLOGY
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
2026–2027 | Answer Key & Detailed Rationales
This original practice set reviews medication safety, pharmacologic principles, adverse effects,
patient teaching, and nursing priorities. It is not an official NCLEX exam, a leaked test, or a
guarantee of NURS 1150 course coverage. Course content varies by institution; use your
syllabus, lecture materials, and instructor guidance as the final guide.
Instructions
Choose the single best answer for each item. Complete the questions before reviewing the
answer key and rationales. Use clinical judgment and follow current medication references,
prescriber orders, and institutional policies in practice.
Practice Questions
Question 1. A client taking lisinopril reports swelling of the tongue and difficulty swallowing.
What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Arrange emergency assessment for possible angioedema
B. Offer water and reassess in 30 minutes
C. Give the next scheduled dose with food
D. Ask the client to record symptoms at home
Correct Answer: A. Arrange emergency assessment for possible angioedema
Detailed Rationale: Tongue swelling and difficulty swallowing can signal ACE-inhibitor-
associated angioedema and airway compromise. Activate emergency care and follow local
protocol.
Why the other options are incorrect:
B. Waiting can allow airway swelling to progress.
Original educational practice resource • 2026–2027
, NURS 1150 | NCLEX-STYLE PHARMACOLOGY
C. Further exposure may worsen the reaction.
D. Home monitoring is unsafe when airway symptoms are present.
Question 2. A client receiving furosemide has potassium of 2.8 mEq/L and reports
palpitations. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Promptly notify the prescriber and assess cardiac status
B. Administer the next dose without delay
C. Encourage strenuous exercise
D. Document the findings as an expected harmless effect
Correct Answer: A. Promptly notify the prescriber and assess cardiac status
Detailed Rationale: Furosemide can cause potassium loss. Severe hypokalemia with
palpitations raises concern for dysrhythmia and requires prompt assessment and escalation.
Why the other options are incorrect:
B. Another dose may worsen potassium loss.
C. Strenuous activity is not an appropriate response to possible dysrhythmia.
D. The finding is potentially dangerous and should not be dismissed.
Question 3. Before giving digoxin, the nurse measures an apical pulse of 54/min. What
should the nurse do?
A. Follow prescribed hold parameters and notify the prescriber as indicated
B. Give the dose because the blood pressure is normal
C. Give double the dose tomorrow
D. Ask the client to walk briskly before rechecking
Correct Answer: A. Follow prescribed hold parameters and notify the prescriber as
indicated
Detailed Rationale: Digoxin can slow heart rate. A pulse of 54/min may fall below the prescribed
administration threshold; follow the order and facility policy and assess for toxicity.
Why the other options are incorrect:
Original educational practice resource • 2026–2027
, NURS 1150 | NCLEX-STYLE PHARMACOLOGY
B. A normal blood pressure does not eliminate concern about bradycardia.
C. Doubling a later dose is unsafe.
D. Exercise is not a safe way to override a medication hold parameter.
Question 4. A client taking warfarin reports black, tarry stools. Which response is best?
A. Arrange urgent evaluation for possible gastrointestinal bleeding
B. Explain that this is an expected harmless effect
C. Recommend an over-the-counter NSAID for discomfort
D. Tell the client to skip monitoring appointments
Correct Answer: A. Arrange urgent evaluation for possible gastrointestinal bleeding
Detailed Rationale: Melena can indicate gastrointestinal bleeding, a serious complication of
anticoagulation. The client needs urgent evaluation and should not self-treat or ignore the
symptom.
Why the other options are incorrect:
B. Black, tarry stool is a bleeding warning sign, not a routine effect to dismiss.
C. NSAIDs can increase bleeding risk.
D. INR monitoring is important when prescribed.
Question 5. A conscious client with diabetes has a glucose reading of 54 mg/dL and can
swallow safely. What should the nurse do first?
A. Give fast-acting carbohydrate per protocol and recheck glucose
B. Administer the scheduled rapid-acting insulin
C. Encourage a walk to lower stress
D. Wait an hour and repeat the reading
Correct Answer: A. Give fast-acting carbohydrate per protocol and recheck glucose
Detailed Rationale: A glucose of 54 mg/dL is hypoglycemia. If the client is alert and can swallow,
give fast-acting carbohydrate according to the care plan or protocol and recheck promptly,
commonly after 15 minutes.
Original educational practice resource • 2026–2027
, NURS 1150 | NCLEX-STYLE PHARMACOLOGY
Why the other options are incorrect:
B. Insulin can lower glucose further.
C. Activity may worsen hypoglycemia.
D. Delaying treatment can allow symptoms to worsen.
Question 6. Which teaching is most important for a client taking metformin who is
scheduled for imaging with iodinated contrast?
A. Tell the imaging and prescribing teams and follow their instructions about holding and
restarting it
B. Take extra metformin before the scan
C. Stop all diabetes monitoring permanently
D. Take metformin with a potassium supplement
Correct Answer: A. Tell the imaging and prescribing teams and follow their instructions
about holding and restarting it
Detailed Rationale: Metformin management around iodinated contrast depends on kidney
function and the clinical situation. The client should disclose use and follow specific instructions
about interruption and restart.
Why the other options are incorrect:
B. Extra dosing is unsafe and does not prevent contrast-related complications.
C. Glucose monitoring may remain part of the care plan.
D. Potassium supplementation is not a standard contrast precaution for metformin.
Question 7. A client taking levothyroxine also takes an iron supplement at breakfast. What
teaching is appropriate?
A. Separate iron and levothyroxine according to clinician or product guidance
B. Take both together to improve thyroid hormone absorption
C. Stop levothyroxine when energy improves
D. Take levothyroxine only when fatigue returns
Original educational practice resource • 2026–2027
NURS 1150 NCLEX-STYLE PHARMACOLOGY
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
2026–2027 | Answer Key & Detailed Rationales
This original practice set reviews medication safety, pharmacologic principles, adverse effects,
patient teaching, and nursing priorities. It is not an official NCLEX exam, a leaked test, or a
guarantee of NURS 1150 course coverage. Course content varies by institution; use your
syllabus, lecture materials, and instructor guidance as the final guide.
Instructions
Choose the single best answer for each item. Complete the questions before reviewing the
answer key and rationales. Use clinical judgment and follow current medication references,
prescriber orders, and institutional policies in practice.
Practice Questions
Question 1. A client taking lisinopril reports swelling of the tongue and difficulty swallowing.
What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Arrange emergency assessment for possible angioedema
B. Offer water and reassess in 30 minutes
C. Give the next scheduled dose with food
D. Ask the client to record symptoms at home
Correct Answer: A. Arrange emergency assessment for possible angioedema
Detailed Rationale: Tongue swelling and difficulty swallowing can signal ACE-inhibitor-
associated angioedema and airway compromise. Activate emergency care and follow local
protocol.
Why the other options are incorrect:
B. Waiting can allow airway swelling to progress.
Original educational practice resource • 2026–2027
, NURS 1150 | NCLEX-STYLE PHARMACOLOGY
C. Further exposure may worsen the reaction.
D. Home monitoring is unsafe when airway symptoms are present.
Question 2. A client receiving furosemide has potassium of 2.8 mEq/L and reports
palpitations. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Promptly notify the prescriber and assess cardiac status
B. Administer the next dose without delay
C. Encourage strenuous exercise
D. Document the findings as an expected harmless effect
Correct Answer: A. Promptly notify the prescriber and assess cardiac status
Detailed Rationale: Furosemide can cause potassium loss. Severe hypokalemia with
palpitations raises concern for dysrhythmia and requires prompt assessment and escalation.
Why the other options are incorrect:
B. Another dose may worsen potassium loss.
C. Strenuous activity is not an appropriate response to possible dysrhythmia.
D. The finding is potentially dangerous and should not be dismissed.
Question 3. Before giving digoxin, the nurse measures an apical pulse of 54/min. What
should the nurse do?
A. Follow prescribed hold parameters and notify the prescriber as indicated
B. Give the dose because the blood pressure is normal
C. Give double the dose tomorrow
D. Ask the client to walk briskly before rechecking
Correct Answer: A. Follow prescribed hold parameters and notify the prescriber as
indicated
Detailed Rationale: Digoxin can slow heart rate. A pulse of 54/min may fall below the prescribed
administration threshold; follow the order and facility policy and assess for toxicity.
Why the other options are incorrect:
Original educational practice resource • 2026–2027
, NURS 1150 | NCLEX-STYLE PHARMACOLOGY
B. A normal blood pressure does not eliminate concern about bradycardia.
C. Doubling a later dose is unsafe.
D. Exercise is not a safe way to override a medication hold parameter.
Question 4. A client taking warfarin reports black, tarry stools. Which response is best?
A. Arrange urgent evaluation for possible gastrointestinal bleeding
B. Explain that this is an expected harmless effect
C. Recommend an over-the-counter NSAID for discomfort
D. Tell the client to skip monitoring appointments
Correct Answer: A. Arrange urgent evaluation for possible gastrointestinal bleeding
Detailed Rationale: Melena can indicate gastrointestinal bleeding, a serious complication of
anticoagulation. The client needs urgent evaluation and should not self-treat or ignore the
symptom.
Why the other options are incorrect:
B. Black, tarry stool is a bleeding warning sign, not a routine effect to dismiss.
C. NSAIDs can increase bleeding risk.
D. INR monitoring is important when prescribed.
Question 5. A conscious client with diabetes has a glucose reading of 54 mg/dL and can
swallow safely. What should the nurse do first?
A. Give fast-acting carbohydrate per protocol and recheck glucose
B. Administer the scheduled rapid-acting insulin
C. Encourage a walk to lower stress
D. Wait an hour and repeat the reading
Correct Answer: A. Give fast-acting carbohydrate per protocol and recheck glucose
Detailed Rationale: A glucose of 54 mg/dL is hypoglycemia. If the client is alert and can swallow,
give fast-acting carbohydrate according to the care plan or protocol and recheck promptly,
commonly after 15 minutes.
Original educational practice resource • 2026–2027
, NURS 1150 | NCLEX-STYLE PHARMACOLOGY
Why the other options are incorrect:
B. Insulin can lower glucose further.
C. Activity may worsen hypoglycemia.
D. Delaying treatment can allow symptoms to worsen.
Question 6. Which teaching is most important for a client taking metformin who is
scheduled for imaging with iodinated contrast?
A. Tell the imaging and prescribing teams and follow their instructions about holding and
restarting it
B. Take extra metformin before the scan
C. Stop all diabetes monitoring permanently
D. Take metformin with a potassium supplement
Correct Answer: A. Tell the imaging and prescribing teams and follow their instructions
about holding and restarting it
Detailed Rationale: Metformin management around iodinated contrast depends on kidney
function and the clinical situation. The client should disclose use and follow specific instructions
about interruption and restart.
Why the other options are incorrect:
B. Extra dosing is unsafe and does not prevent contrast-related complications.
C. Glucose monitoring may remain part of the care plan.
D. Potassium supplementation is not a standard contrast precaution for metformin.
Question 7. A client taking levothyroxine also takes an iron supplement at breakfast. What
teaching is appropriate?
A. Separate iron and levothyroxine according to clinician or product guidance
B. Take both together to improve thyroid hormone absorption
C. Stop levothyroxine when energy improves
D. Take levothyroxine only when fatigue returns
Original educational practice resource • 2026–2027
