BSN 315 HESI
PHARMACOLOGY V1 EXAM
Nightingale College
Actual Qs & Verified Ans to Pass the Exam
,This Hesi test contains:
passing score Guarantee
Format Set of Multiple-choice
questions with incorporating Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) and Case
scenarios questions
Expert-Verified Explanations & Solutions
1. The nurse provides discharge instructions to a client who has been prescribed gabapentin 300
mg by mouth three times a day for postherpetic neuralgia. Which symptoms should the nurse tell
the client to report to the healthcare provider?
Answer Choices:
A. Sexual dysfunction
B. Gastric irritation
,C. Rapid weight gain
D. Photosensitivity
Correct Answer: B. Gastric irritation
Expert Rationale:
Gastric irritation, though less common than neurologic side effects, can signal intolerance or predispose to
GI bleeding, especially in older adults or those on other GI-risk medications. The nurse should instruct the
client to report persistent GI symptoms promptly.
2. A client with chronic lower back pain has been taking NSAID ibuprofen orally twice a day for
several months. Which assessment is most important for the nurse to complete?
Answer Choices:
A. Assess back pain using numeric scale
B. Palpate volume of pedal pulses
C. Determine presence of abdominal pain
D. Evaluate ongoing sleep patterns
Correct Answer: C. Determine presence of abdominal pain
Expert Rationale:
Given chronic NSAID use, the most critical and potentially life-threatening side effect is GI ulcer/bleed,
often presenting as abdominal pain. Early detection may prevent major complications such as perforation
and hemorrhage.
3. NGN - Complex Case
Patient Data:
History: 36-year-old female, moderate persistent asthma. Rx: fluticasone/salmeterol 250/50 mcg &
albuterol 2 puffs q4-6h PRN.
Current status: Increased asthma symptoms over a week, FEV1 60-65% despite frequent albuterol,
dizziness, lightheadedness, palpitations. 99% O₂ sat. No wheezes auscultated.
Answer Choices:
Potential Condition:
- Methemoglobinemia
Actions to Take:
- 1. Draw blood for a complete blood count
- 2. Administer methylene blue
Parameters to Monitor:
- 1. Methemoglobin level
- 2. Heart rate and rhythm
NGN Context:
The client presents with unexplained symptoms (dizziness, palpitations) despite adequate O₂ sat. Changes
in O₂ sat, abnormal response to beta-agonists, and limited physical findings prompt consideration of
atypical causes (e.g., methemoglobinemia).
, Expert Rationale:
Asthma should respond to albuterol; if not, and symptoms such as pallor, dizziness, and palpitations occur,
methemoglobinemia (seen with certain drug exposures) can impair oxygen delivery despite normal O₂
readings. Checking methemoglobin and CBC, with treatment and cardiac monitoring, is essential for safety.
4. A client taking atorvastatin develops an increased serum creatine phosphokinase (CK) level. The
nurse should assess the client for the onset of which problem?
Answer Choices:
A. Muscle tenderness.
B. Nausea and vomiting.
C. Excessive bruising.
D. Peripheral edema.
Correct Answer: A. Muscle tenderness.
Expert Rationale:
An elevated CK in a client on a statin strongly suggests muscle injury. Statins can precipitate myopathy,
which presents as muscle pain or tenderness and, in severe cases, rhabdomyolysis. The nurse should
specifically assess for muscle symptoms to catch complications early and ensure prompt management.
5. An increase in which serum laboratory value indicates to the nurse that a prescription for
atorvastatin is having the desired effect for a client at risk for coronary artery disease?
Answer Choices:
A. LDL (Low-density lipoprotein)
B. Triglycerides (Type of fat)
C. HDL (High-density lipoprotein)
D. VLDL (Very low-density lipoprotein)
Correct Answer: C. HDL (High-density lipoprotein)
Expert Rationale:
The desired effect of statin therapy is to lower LDL and triglycerides, but an especially beneficial effect is to
*increase* levels of HDL, which has a protective effect against coronary artery disease. Monitoring for
increased HDL confirms positive medication effects.
6. The nurse administers risedronate to a client with osteoporosis at 0700. The client asks for a
glass of milk to drink with the medication. Which action should the nurse take?
Answer Choices:
A. Instruct the client that it is necessary to take nothing but water with the medication.
B. Assign a UAP to bring a glass of low-fat milk.
C. Withhold the medication until breakfast is available.
D. Consult a pharmacist about scheduling after breakfast.
Correct Answer: A. Instruct the client that it is necessary to take nothing but water with the medication.
Expert Rationale:
PHARMACOLOGY V1 EXAM
Nightingale College
Actual Qs & Verified Ans to Pass the Exam
,This Hesi test contains:
passing score Guarantee
Format Set of Multiple-choice
questions with incorporating Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) and Case
scenarios questions
Expert-Verified Explanations & Solutions
1. The nurse provides discharge instructions to a client who has been prescribed gabapentin 300
mg by mouth three times a day for postherpetic neuralgia. Which symptoms should the nurse tell
the client to report to the healthcare provider?
Answer Choices:
A. Sexual dysfunction
B. Gastric irritation
,C. Rapid weight gain
D. Photosensitivity
Correct Answer: B. Gastric irritation
Expert Rationale:
Gastric irritation, though less common than neurologic side effects, can signal intolerance or predispose to
GI bleeding, especially in older adults or those on other GI-risk medications. The nurse should instruct the
client to report persistent GI symptoms promptly.
2. A client with chronic lower back pain has been taking NSAID ibuprofen orally twice a day for
several months. Which assessment is most important for the nurse to complete?
Answer Choices:
A. Assess back pain using numeric scale
B. Palpate volume of pedal pulses
C. Determine presence of abdominal pain
D. Evaluate ongoing sleep patterns
Correct Answer: C. Determine presence of abdominal pain
Expert Rationale:
Given chronic NSAID use, the most critical and potentially life-threatening side effect is GI ulcer/bleed,
often presenting as abdominal pain. Early detection may prevent major complications such as perforation
and hemorrhage.
3. NGN - Complex Case
Patient Data:
History: 36-year-old female, moderate persistent asthma. Rx: fluticasone/salmeterol 250/50 mcg &
albuterol 2 puffs q4-6h PRN.
Current status: Increased asthma symptoms over a week, FEV1 60-65% despite frequent albuterol,
dizziness, lightheadedness, palpitations. 99% O₂ sat. No wheezes auscultated.
Answer Choices:
Potential Condition:
- Methemoglobinemia
Actions to Take:
- 1. Draw blood for a complete blood count
- 2. Administer methylene blue
Parameters to Monitor:
- 1. Methemoglobin level
- 2. Heart rate and rhythm
NGN Context:
The client presents with unexplained symptoms (dizziness, palpitations) despite adequate O₂ sat. Changes
in O₂ sat, abnormal response to beta-agonists, and limited physical findings prompt consideration of
atypical causes (e.g., methemoglobinemia).
, Expert Rationale:
Asthma should respond to albuterol; if not, and symptoms such as pallor, dizziness, and palpitations occur,
methemoglobinemia (seen with certain drug exposures) can impair oxygen delivery despite normal O₂
readings. Checking methemoglobin and CBC, with treatment and cardiac monitoring, is essential for safety.
4. A client taking atorvastatin develops an increased serum creatine phosphokinase (CK) level. The
nurse should assess the client for the onset of which problem?
Answer Choices:
A. Muscle tenderness.
B. Nausea and vomiting.
C. Excessive bruising.
D. Peripheral edema.
Correct Answer: A. Muscle tenderness.
Expert Rationale:
An elevated CK in a client on a statin strongly suggests muscle injury. Statins can precipitate myopathy,
which presents as muscle pain or tenderness and, in severe cases, rhabdomyolysis. The nurse should
specifically assess for muscle symptoms to catch complications early and ensure prompt management.
5. An increase in which serum laboratory value indicates to the nurse that a prescription for
atorvastatin is having the desired effect for a client at risk for coronary artery disease?
Answer Choices:
A. LDL (Low-density lipoprotein)
B. Triglycerides (Type of fat)
C. HDL (High-density lipoprotein)
D. VLDL (Very low-density lipoprotein)
Correct Answer: C. HDL (High-density lipoprotein)
Expert Rationale:
The desired effect of statin therapy is to lower LDL and triglycerides, but an especially beneficial effect is to
*increase* levels of HDL, which has a protective effect against coronary artery disease. Monitoring for
increased HDL confirms positive medication effects.
6. The nurse administers risedronate to a client with osteoporosis at 0700. The client asks for a
glass of milk to drink with the medication. Which action should the nurse take?
Answer Choices:
A. Instruct the client that it is necessary to take nothing but water with the medication.
B. Assign a UAP to bring a glass of low-fat milk.
C. Withhold the medication until breakfast is available.
D. Consult a pharmacist about scheduling after breakfast.
Correct Answer: A. Instruct the client that it is necessary to take nothing but water with the medication.
Expert Rationale:
