Pharmacology HESI V2 exam questions and
answers with rationales 2025\2026 rated
grade A+
A client is prescribed phenobarbital sodium (Luminal) for a seizure disorder. The
medication has a long half-life of 4 days. Based on this half-life, the medication
will most likely be prescribed
A. once a day.
B. twice a day.
C. three times a day.
D. four times a day. correct answer ANS: A
Medication with long half-lives remain at their therapeutic levels between doses
for long periods of time. Therefore, this medication can be administered once a
day.
A nurse educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence
medication metabolism with a group of nurses. Medication dosages may need to
be decreased for which of the following reasons? (Select all that apply.)
A. Increased renal excretion
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
C. Liver failure
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication metabolized by the same pathway correct
answer ANS: C, E
Liver failure decreases metabolism and thus increase the concentration of
medication. This may require decreasing the dosage of medication. When two
medications are metabolized in the same way, they may compete for metabolism,
thereby increasing the concentration of one or both medications.
,Increased renal excretion may decrease concentration of the medication,
requiring increased dosage. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes can
decrease the concentration of the medication. The dose might need increased.
Peripheral vascular disease may impair distribution, and more of the medication
may be needed.
A nurse s preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which of the following are
appropriate nursing interventions related to this procedure? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Using medical aseptic technique
B. Asking the client to look up at the ceiling
C. Having the client lie in a side-lying position
D. Dropping medication into the center of the client's conjunctival sac
E. Instructing the client to close the eye gently correct answer ANS:B, D, E
The medication should be dropped into the center of the conjunctival sac to
promote better distribution of the medication. The client should close the eye
gently to allow improved distribution of the medication.
Surgical aseptic technique is used to administer eye drops. The client should be
sitting or in a supine position to facilitate proper administration of eye drops.
A nurse is completing discharge teaching to a client who has a new prescription
for a transdermal medication. Which of the following statements by the client
indicates understanding of the teaching?
A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab prior to applying the patch."
B. "I will rotate the application site weekly."
C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
,D. "I will place the new patch on the site of the old patch." correct answer ANS: C
Transdermal medication should be applied to a hairless area of skin to promote
absorption of medication.
The skin should be washed with soap and water and dried thoroughly before
applying a transdermal patch. Application sites should be rotated on a daily basis
to prevent skin irritation.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription by the
provider to verify the trough level of the client's medication. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Have a blood specimen obtained immediately prior to the next dose of
medication.
B. Verify that the client has been on the medication for 24 hr before ordering a
blood specimen.
C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose of medication.
D. Begin administering the medication, and obtain a blood specimen. correct
answer ANS: A
To verify trough levels of a medication, a blood specimen is obtained immediately
before the next dose of medication.
A nurse is preparing a client's medication. Which of the following are legal
responsibilities of the nurse? (Select all that apply.)
A. Maintaining skill competency
B. Determining the dosage
C. Monitoring for adverse effects
D. Safeguarding medications
, E. Identifying the client's diagnosis correct answer ANS: A, C, D
Determining medication dosage and identifying a diagnosis is the
role/responsibility of the provider. The nurse should be informed about a client's
diagnosis.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription by the
provider for lisinopril (Zestril) 10 mg PO every day. The nurse should recognize
this as which of the following types of prescription?
A. Single prescription
B. Stat prescription
C. Routine prescription
D. Standing prescription correct answer ANS: C
A routine prescription identifies a medication that is given on a regular schedule.
This medication is administered every day until discontinued.
A single prescription is to be given once at a specified time or as soon as possible.
A stat prescription is only given once, and it is given immediately. A standing
prescription is written for specific circumstances or a specific unit.
A nurse is reviewing a new prescription for ondansetron (Zofran) 4 mg PO PRN
nausea and vomiting for a client who has hyperemesis gravidarum. The nurse
should clarify which of the following parts of the prescription with the provider?
A. Name
B. Dosage
C. Route
D. Time correct answer ANS: D
answers with rationales 2025\2026 rated
grade A+
A client is prescribed phenobarbital sodium (Luminal) for a seizure disorder. The
medication has a long half-life of 4 days. Based on this half-life, the medication
will most likely be prescribed
A. once a day.
B. twice a day.
C. three times a day.
D. four times a day. correct answer ANS: A
Medication with long half-lives remain at their therapeutic levels between doses
for long periods of time. Therefore, this medication can be administered once a
day.
A nurse educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence
medication metabolism with a group of nurses. Medication dosages may need to
be decreased for which of the following reasons? (Select all that apply.)
A. Increased renal excretion
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
C. Liver failure
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication metabolized by the same pathway correct
answer ANS: C, E
Liver failure decreases metabolism and thus increase the concentration of
medication. This may require decreasing the dosage of medication. When two
medications are metabolized in the same way, they may compete for metabolism,
thereby increasing the concentration of one or both medications.
,Increased renal excretion may decrease concentration of the medication,
requiring increased dosage. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes can
decrease the concentration of the medication. The dose might need increased.
Peripheral vascular disease may impair distribution, and more of the medication
may be needed.
A nurse s preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which of the following are
appropriate nursing interventions related to this procedure? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Using medical aseptic technique
B. Asking the client to look up at the ceiling
C. Having the client lie in a side-lying position
D. Dropping medication into the center of the client's conjunctival sac
E. Instructing the client to close the eye gently correct answer ANS:B, D, E
The medication should be dropped into the center of the conjunctival sac to
promote better distribution of the medication. The client should close the eye
gently to allow improved distribution of the medication.
Surgical aseptic technique is used to administer eye drops. The client should be
sitting or in a supine position to facilitate proper administration of eye drops.
A nurse is completing discharge teaching to a client who has a new prescription
for a transdermal medication. Which of the following statements by the client
indicates understanding of the teaching?
A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab prior to applying the patch."
B. "I will rotate the application site weekly."
C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
,D. "I will place the new patch on the site of the old patch." correct answer ANS: C
Transdermal medication should be applied to a hairless area of skin to promote
absorption of medication.
The skin should be washed with soap and water and dried thoroughly before
applying a transdermal patch. Application sites should be rotated on a daily basis
to prevent skin irritation.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription by the
provider to verify the trough level of the client's medication. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Have a blood specimen obtained immediately prior to the next dose of
medication.
B. Verify that the client has been on the medication for 24 hr before ordering a
blood specimen.
C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose of medication.
D. Begin administering the medication, and obtain a blood specimen. correct
answer ANS: A
To verify trough levels of a medication, a blood specimen is obtained immediately
before the next dose of medication.
A nurse is preparing a client's medication. Which of the following are legal
responsibilities of the nurse? (Select all that apply.)
A. Maintaining skill competency
B. Determining the dosage
C. Monitoring for adverse effects
D. Safeguarding medications
, E. Identifying the client's diagnosis correct answer ANS: A, C, D
Determining medication dosage and identifying a diagnosis is the
role/responsibility of the provider. The nurse should be informed about a client's
diagnosis.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription by the
provider for lisinopril (Zestril) 10 mg PO every day. The nurse should recognize
this as which of the following types of prescription?
A. Single prescription
B. Stat prescription
C. Routine prescription
D. Standing prescription correct answer ANS: C
A routine prescription identifies a medication that is given on a regular schedule.
This medication is administered every day until discontinued.
A single prescription is to be given once at a specified time or as soon as possible.
A stat prescription is only given once, and it is given immediately. A standing
prescription is written for specific circumstances or a specific unit.
A nurse is reviewing a new prescription for ondansetron (Zofran) 4 mg PO PRN
nausea and vomiting for a client who has hyperemesis gravidarum. The nurse
should clarify which of the following parts of the prescription with the provider?
A. Name
B. Dosage
C. Route
D. Time correct answer ANS: D
