PN HESI Pharmacology Exam
2026: 180 Practice Questions &
Rationales, Exams of Nursing
woman lives with her deceased husband's brother and his family, which
includes the brother-in-law's children and the widow's adult children. Each
family member speaks fluent English. Surgery was recommended for the
client. What is the best plan to obtain consent for surgery for this client? -
ANSWER//D. Tell the surgeon that the brother-in-law will decide after
explanation of the proposed surgery is provided to him and the widow. Which
response by a client with a nursing diagnosis of "Spiritual distress," indicates
to the nurse that a desired outcome measure has been met? A. Expresses
concern about the meaning and importance of life. B. Remains angry at God
for the continuation of the illness. C. Accepts that punishment from God is not
related to illness. D. Refuses to participate in religious rituals that have no
meaning. - ANSWER//C. Accepts that punishment from God is not related to
illness. (Acceptance that she is not being punished by God indicates a desired
outcome (C) for some degree of resolution of spiritual distress. (A, B, and D)
do NOT support the concept of grief, loss, and cultural/spiritual acceptance.)
During shift change report, the nurse receives report that a client has
abnormal heart sounds. Which placement of the stethoscope should the nurse
use to hear the client's heart sounds? - ANSWER//B. Use the stethoscope bell
over the valvular areas of the anterior chest. A nurse is preparing to give
medications through a nasogastric feeding tube. Which action should prevent
complications during administration? A. Mix each medication individually B.
Use sterile gloves for the procedure C. Monitor vital signs before giving
medications D. Mix all medications together to facilitate administration -
ANSWER//A. Mix each medication individually (Medications should be mixed
separately (A) to prevent clumping.) During the admission interview, which
technique is most efficient for the nurse to use when obtaining information
about signs and symptoms of a client's primary health problem? -
ANSWER//Close-ended questions (Lay descriptors of health problems can be
vague and nonspecific. To efficiently obtain specific information, the nurse
should use close-ended questions (C) that focus on common signs and
symptoms about the client's health problem. (A, B, and D) are used when
therapeutically interacting and should be used after specific information is
obtained from the client) The nurse witnesses the signature of a client who
has signed an informed consent. Which statement best explains this nursing
responsibility? A. The client voluntarily signed the form. B. The client fully
understands the procedure. C. The client agrees with the procedure to be
done. D. The client authorizes continued treatment. - ANSWER//A. The client
voluntarily signed the form. (The nurse signs the consent form to witness that
the client voluntarily signs the consent (A), that the client signature is
authentic, and that the client is otherwise competent to give consent. It is the
HCP responsibility to ensure the client fully understands the procedure.) An
older client who is a resident in a long term care facility has been bedridden
,for a week. Which finding should the nurse identify as a client risk factor for
pressure ulcers? A. Generalized dry skin B. Localized dry skin on lower
extremities C. Red flush over entire skin surface. D. Rashes in axillary, groin,
and skin fold regions. - ANSWER//D. Rashes in the axillary, groin, and skin
fold regions. (Immobility, constant contact with bed, clothing, and excessive
heat and moisture in areas where are flow is limited contributes to bacterial
and fungal growth, which increases the risk for rashes (D), skin breakdown,
and the development of pressure ulcers.) During a visit to the outpatient clinic,
the nurse assesses a client with severe osteoarthritis using a goniometer.
Which finding should the nurse expect to measure? A. Adequate venous
blood flow to the lower extremities. B. Estimated amount of body fat by an
underarm skinfold. C. Degree of flexion and extension of the client's knee joint.
D. Change in the circumference of the joint in centimeters. - ANSWER//C.
Degree of flexion and extension of the client's knee joint. (The goniometer is a
two-piece ruler that is jointed in the middle with a protractor-type measuring
device that is placed over a joint as the individual extends or flees the joint to
measure the degrees of flexion and extension on the protractor (C). A doppler
is used to measure blood flow (A). Calipers are used to measure body fat (B).
A tape measure is used to measure circumference of body parts (D).) The
nurse is completing a mental assessment for a client who is demonstrating
slow thought processes, personality changes, and emotional lability. Which
area of the brain controls these neuro-cognitive functions? A. Thalamus. B.
Hypothalamus. C. Frontal lobe. D. Parietal lobe. - ANSWER//C. Frontal Lobe
(The frontal lobe (C) of the cerebrum controls higher mental activities, such as
memory, intellect, language, emotions, and personality. (A) is an afferent relay
center in the brain that directs impulses to the cerebral cortex. (B) regulates
body temperature, appetite, maintains a wakeful state, and links higher
centers with the autonomic nervous and endocrine systems, such as pituitary.
(D) is the location of sensory and motor functions. ) An unlicensed assistive
personnel (UAP) places a client in a left lateral position prior to administering
a soap suds enema. Which instruction should the nurse provide the UAP? A.
Position the client on the right side of the bed in reverse Trendelenburg. B. Fill
the enema container with 1000 ml of warm water and 5 ml of castile soap. C.
Reposition in a Sim's position with the client's weight on the anterior ilium. D.
Raise the side rails on both sides of the bed and elevate the bed to waist level.
- ANSWER//C. Reposition the client in a Sim's position with the client's weight
on the anterior ilium. (The left sided Sim's position allows the enema solution
to follow the anatomical course of the intestines and allows the best overall
results, so the UAP should reposition the client in the Sim's position, which
distributes the client's weight to the anterior ilium (C). (B and D should be
implemented once the client is positioned.) A young mother of three children
complains of increased anxiety during her annual physical exam. What
information should the
The nurse observes that a male client has removed the covering from an ice
park applied to his knee. What action should the nurse take first? A. Observe
the appearance of the skin under the ice pack. B. Instruct the client regarding
the need for the covering. C. Reapply the covering after filling with fresh ice. D.
Ask the client how long the ice was applied to the skin. - ANSWER//Observe
the appearance of the skin under the ice pack (The first action taken by the
, nurse should be to assess the skin for any possible thermal injury. If no injury
to the skin has occurred, the nurse can take the other actions.) The nurse
mixes 50 mg of Nipride in 250 mL of D5W and plans to administer the solution
at a rate of 5 mcg/kg/min to a client weighting 182 lbs. Using a drip factor of
60 gtt/mL, how many drops per minute should the client receive? -
ANSWER//124 gtt/min The healthcare provider prescribes an IV infusion of
1000 ml of Ringer's Lactate w/ 30 units of Pitocin to run in over 4 hours for a
client who has just delivered a 10 pound infant by cesarean section. The
tubing has been changed to a 20 gtt/ml administration set. The nurse plans to
set the flow rate at how many gtt/min? - ANSWER//83 gtt/min Which
assessment data provides the most accurate determination of proper
placement of a nasogastric tube? - ANSWER//Examining a chest x-ray
obtained after the tubing was inserted Three days following a surgery, a male
client observes his colostomy for the first time. He becomes quite upset and
tells the nurse that it is much bigger than he expected. What is the best
response by the nurse? A. Reassure the client that he will become
accustomed to the stoma appearance in time. B. Instruct the client that the
stoma will become much smaller when the initial swelling diminishes. C. Offer
to contact a member of the local ostomy support group to help him with his
concerns. D. Encourage the client to handle the stoma equipment to gain
confidence with the procedure. - ANSWER//B. Instruct the client that the
stoma will become smaller when the initial swelling diminishes (Postoperative
swelling causes enlargement of the stoma. The nurse can teach the client that
the stoma will become smaller when swelling is diminished (B). This will help
reduce the client's anxiety and promote acceptance of the colostomy. (A)
does not provide helpful teaching or support. (C) is a useful action, and may
be taken after the nurse provides pertinent teaching. The client is not yet
demonstrating readiness to learn colostomy care. (D) A female client with a
nasogastric tube attached to low suction states that she is nauseated. The
nurse assesses that there has been no drainage through the nasogastric tube
in the last two hours. What action should the nurse take first? A. Irrigate the
nasogastric tube with sterile normal saline. B. Reposition the client on her side.
C. Advance the nasogastric tube an additional five centimeters. D. Administer
an intravenous antiemetic prescribed for PRN use. - ANSWER//B. Reposition
the client on her side. (The immediate priority is to determine if the tube is
functioning correctly, which would then relieve the client's nausea. The least
invasive intervention (B) should be attempted first, followed by (A and C),
unless either of these interventions is contraindicated. If these measures are
unsuccessful, the client may require an antiemetic (D)) A hospitalized male
client is receiving nasogastric tube feedings via a small-bore tube and a
continuous pump infusion. He reports that he had a bad bout of severe
coughing a few minutes ago, but feels fine now. What action is best for the
nurse to take? A. Record the coughing incident. No further action is required
at this time. B. Stop the feeding, explain to the family why it is being stopped,
and notify the HCP. C. After clearing the tube with 30 ml of air, check the pH
of fluid withdrawn from the tube. D. Inject 30 ml of air into the tube while
auscultating the epigastrium for gurgling. - ANSWER//C. After clearing the
tube with 30 ml of air, check the pH of fluid withdrawn from the tube. A male
client tells the nurse that he does not know where he is or what year it is.
What data should the nurse document that is most accurate? A. demonstrates
2026: 180 Practice Questions &
Rationales, Exams of Nursing
woman lives with her deceased husband's brother and his family, which
includes the brother-in-law's children and the widow's adult children. Each
family member speaks fluent English. Surgery was recommended for the
client. What is the best plan to obtain consent for surgery for this client? -
ANSWER//D. Tell the surgeon that the brother-in-law will decide after
explanation of the proposed surgery is provided to him and the widow. Which
response by a client with a nursing diagnosis of "Spiritual distress," indicates
to the nurse that a desired outcome measure has been met? A. Expresses
concern about the meaning and importance of life. B. Remains angry at God
for the continuation of the illness. C. Accepts that punishment from God is not
related to illness. D. Refuses to participate in religious rituals that have no
meaning. - ANSWER//C. Accepts that punishment from God is not related to
illness. (Acceptance that she is not being punished by God indicates a desired
outcome (C) for some degree of resolution of spiritual distress. (A, B, and D)
do NOT support the concept of grief, loss, and cultural/spiritual acceptance.)
During shift change report, the nurse receives report that a client has
abnormal heart sounds. Which placement of the stethoscope should the nurse
use to hear the client's heart sounds? - ANSWER//B. Use the stethoscope bell
over the valvular areas of the anterior chest. A nurse is preparing to give
medications through a nasogastric feeding tube. Which action should prevent
complications during administration? A. Mix each medication individually B.
Use sterile gloves for the procedure C. Monitor vital signs before giving
medications D. Mix all medications together to facilitate administration -
ANSWER//A. Mix each medication individually (Medications should be mixed
separately (A) to prevent clumping.) During the admission interview, which
technique is most efficient for the nurse to use when obtaining information
about signs and symptoms of a client's primary health problem? -
ANSWER//Close-ended questions (Lay descriptors of health problems can be
vague and nonspecific. To efficiently obtain specific information, the nurse
should use close-ended questions (C) that focus on common signs and
symptoms about the client's health problem. (A, B, and D) are used when
therapeutically interacting and should be used after specific information is
obtained from the client) The nurse witnesses the signature of a client who
has signed an informed consent. Which statement best explains this nursing
responsibility? A. The client voluntarily signed the form. B. The client fully
understands the procedure. C. The client agrees with the procedure to be
done. D. The client authorizes continued treatment. - ANSWER//A. The client
voluntarily signed the form. (The nurse signs the consent form to witness that
the client voluntarily signs the consent (A), that the client signature is
authentic, and that the client is otherwise competent to give consent. It is the
HCP responsibility to ensure the client fully understands the procedure.) An
older client who is a resident in a long term care facility has been bedridden
,for a week. Which finding should the nurse identify as a client risk factor for
pressure ulcers? A. Generalized dry skin B. Localized dry skin on lower
extremities C. Red flush over entire skin surface. D. Rashes in axillary, groin,
and skin fold regions. - ANSWER//D. Rashes in the axillary, groin, and skin
fold regions. (Immobility, constant contact with bed, clothing, and excessive
heat and moisture in areas where are flow is limited contributes to bacterial
and fungal growth, which increases the risk for rashes (D), skin breakdown,
and the development of pressure ulcers.) During a visit to the outpatient clinic,
the nurse assesses a client with severe osteoarthritis using a goniometer.
Which finding should the nurse expect to measure? A. Adequate venous
blood flow to the lower extremities. B. Estimated amount of body fat by an
underarm skinfold. C. Degree of flexion and extension of the client's knee joint.
D. Change in the circumference of the joint in centimeters. - ANSWER//C.
Degree of flexion and extension of the client's knee joint. (The goniometer is a
two-piece ruler that is jointed in the middle with a protractor-type measuring
device that is placed over a joint as the individual extends or flees the joint to
measure the degrees of flexion and extension on the protractor (C). A doppler
is used to measure blood flow (A). Calipers are used to measure body fat (B).
A tape measure is used to measure circumference of body parts (D).) The
nurse is completing a mental assessment for a client who is demonstrating
slow thought processes, personality changes, and emotional lability. Which
area of the brain controls these neuro-cognitive functions? A. Thalamus. B.
Hypothalamus. C. Frontal lobe. D. Parietal lobe. - ANSWER//C. Frontal Lobe
(The frontal lobe (C) of the cerebrum controls higher mental activities, such as
memory, intellect, language, emotions, and personality. (A) is an afferent relay
center in the brain that directs impulses to the cerebral cortex. (B) regulates
body temperature, appetite, maintains a wakeful state, and links higher
centers with the autonomic nervous and endocrine systems, such as pituitary.
(D) is the location of sensory and motor functions. ) An unlicensed assistive
personnel (UAP) places a client in a left lateral position prior to administering
a soap suds enema. Which instruction should the nurse provide the UAP? A.
Position the client on the right side of the bed in reverse Trendelenburg. B. Fill
the enema container with 1000 ml of warm water and 5 ml of castile soap. C.
Reposition in a Sim's position with the client's weight on the anterior ilium. D.
Raise the side rails on both sides of the bed and elevate the bed to waist level.
- ANSWER//C. Reposition the client in a Sim's position with the client's weight
on the anterior ilium. (The left sided Sim's position allows the enema solution
to follow the anatomical course of the intestines and allows the best overall
results, so the UAP should reposition the client in the Sim's position, which
distributes the client's weight to the anterior ilium (C). (B and D should be
implemented once the client is positioned.) A young mother of three children
complains of increased anxiety during her annual physical exam. What
information should the
The nurse observes that a male client has removed the covering from an ice
park applied to his knee. What action should the nurse take first? A. Observe
the appearance of the skin under the ice pack. B. Instruct the client regarding
the need for the covering. C. Reapply the covering after filling with fresh ice. D.
Ask the client how long the ice was applied to the skin. - ANSWER//Observe
the appearance of the skin under the ice pack (The first action taken by the
, nurse should be to assess the skin for any possible thermal injury. If no injury
to the skin has occurred, the nurse can take the other actions.) The nurse
mixes 50 mg of Nipride in 250 mL of D5W and plans to administer the solution
at a rate of 5 mcg/kg/min to a client weighting 182 lbs. Using a drip factor of
60 gtt/mL, how many drops per minute should the client receive? -
ANSWER//124 gtt/min The healthcare provider prescribes an IV infusion of
1000 ml of Ringer's Lactate w/ 30 units of Pitocin to run in over 4 hours for a
client who has just delivered a 10 pound infant by cesarean section. The
tubing has been changed to a 20 gtt/ml administration set. The nurse plans to
set the flow rate at how many gtt/min? - ANSWER//83 gtt/min Which
assessment data provides the most accurate determination of proper
placement of a nasogastric tube? - ANSWER//Examining a chest x-ray
obtained after the tubing was inserted Three days following a surgery, a male
client observes his colostomy for the first time. He becomes quite upset and
tells the nurse that it is much bigger than he expected. What is the best
response by the nurse? A. Reassure the client that he will become
accustomed to the stoma appearance in time. B. Instruct the client that the
stoma will become much smaller when the initial swelling diminishes. C. Offer
to contact a member of the local ostomy support group to help him with his
concerns. D. Encourage the client to handle the stoma equipment to gain
confidence with the procedure. - ANSWER//B. Instruct the client that the
stoma will become smaller when the initial swelling diminishes (Postoperative
swelling causes enlargement of the stoma. The nurse can teach the client that
the stoma will become smaller when swelling is diminished (B). This will help
reduce the client's anxiety and promote acceptance of the colostomy. (A)
does not provide helpful teaching or support. (C) is a useful action, and may
be taken after the nurse provides pertinent teaching. The client is not yet
demonstrating readiness to learn colostomy care. (D) A female client with a
nasogastric tube attached to low suction states that she is nauseated. The
nurse assesses that there has been no drainage through the nasogastric tube
in the last two hours. What action should the nurse take first? A. Irrigate the
nasogastric tube with sterile normal saline. B. Reposition the client on her side.
C. Advance the nasogastric tube an additional five centimeters. D. Administer
an intravenous antiemetic prescribed for PRN use. - ANSWER//B. Reposition
the client on her side. (The immediate priority is to determine if the tube is
functioning correctly, which would then relieve the client's nausea. The least
invasive intervention (B) should be attempted first, followed by (A and C),
unless either of these interventions is contraindicated. If these measures are
unsuccessful, the client may require an antiemetic (D)) A hospitalized male
client is receiving nasogastric tube feedings via a small-bore tube and a
continuous pump infusion. He reports that he had a bad bout of severe
coughing a few minutes ago, but feels fine now. What action is best for the
nurse to take? A. Record the coughing incident. No further action is required
at this time. B. Stop the feeding, explain to the family why it is being stopped,
and notify the HCP. C. After clearing the tube with 30 ml of air, check the pH
of fluid withdrawn from the tube. D. Inject 30 ml of air into the tube while
auscultating the epigastrium for gurgling. - ANSWER//C. After clearing the
tube with 30 ml of air, check the pH of fluid withdrawn from the tube. A male
client tells the nurse that he does not know where he is or what year it is.
What data should the nurse document that is most accurate? A. demonstrates
