HESI PHARMACOLOGY PRACTICE 2
(2026-2027) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
A client is taking danazol (Danocrine) for endometriosis and calls the clinic nurse
to complain of a dark, swollen, and painful leg. What instructions should the nurse
provide the client?
Wear support stockings.
Elevate both legs and apply heat.
Proceed to the closest emergency room.
Walk for 20 to 30 minutes to reduce muscle cramps.
Proceed to the closest emergency room.
A client asks the nurse to explain the meaning of a narrow therapeutic index of a
medication. What information should the nurse use to answer the question?
The onset of action for the medication occurs very quickly.
A small margin exists between safe and toxic plasma levels.
Bioavailability is significantly reduced by the first-pass effect.
Minimum dosage is needed for the medication to be effective.
,A small margin exists between safe and toxic plasma levels.
A c lient is receiving fentanyl via an epidural infusion. Which side effect should
the nurse anticipate in the first 24 hours of epidural analgesia ?
Headache.
Agitation.
Urinary retention.
Abdominal cramping and diarrhea.
Urinary retention.
The healthcare provider prescribes a medication for an older adult client who is
complaining of insomnia, and instructs the client to return in two weeks. The nurse
should question which prescription?
Zolpidem (Ambien) 10 milligrams orally at bedtime.
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) 10 milligrams orally at bedtime.
Temazepam (Restoril) 7.5 milligrams orally at bedtime.
Ramelteon (Rozerem) 8 milligrams orally at bedtime.
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) 10 milligrams orally at bedtime.
Which route should the nurse clarify with the healthcare provider prior to
administering a drug with a high first-pass effect?
, Oral.
Buccal.
Sublingual.
Intravenous.
Oral.
A client receives a prescription for esomeprazole (Nexium) for heartburn. Which
finding in the client's history should the nurse report to the healthcare provider
before administering the prescription?
Eats spicy food three times a week.
History of deep vein thrombosis.
Drinks 2 alcoholic beverages on weekends.
Family history of diabetes mellitus.
History of deep vein thrombosis.
A male client who is in the terminal stage of cancer is cared for at home by his
family and receives a prescription for morphine at a rate to control intractable pain.
When the hospice nurse visits, the client awakens, moans in severe pain, and asks
for an increase in the morphine dosage. After determining the client's respirations
are 10 per minute, what is the best action for the nurse to implement?
Titrate the morphine dose upward until the client has adequate pain relief.
Suggest to the family that they can also give the client ibuprofen, a non-narcotic
analgesic.
(2026-2027) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
A client is taking danazol (Danocrine) for endometriosis and calls the clinic nurse
to complain of a dark, swollen, and painful leg. What instructions should the nurse
provide the client?
Wear support stockings.
Elevate both legs and apply heat.
Proceed to the closest emergency room.
Walk for 20 to 30 minutes to reduce muscle cramps.
Proceed to the closest emergency room.
A client asks the nurse to explain the meaning of a narrow therapeutic index of a
medication. What information should the nurse use to answer the question?
The onset of action for the medication occurs very quickly.
A small margin exists between safe and toxic plasma levels.
Bioavailability is significantly reduced by the first-pass effect.
Minimum dosage is needed for the medication to be effective.
,A small margin exists between safe and toxic plasma levels.
A c lient is receiving fentanyl via an epidural infusion. Which side effect should
the nurse anticipate in the first 24 hours of epidural analgesia ?
Headache.
Agitation.
Urinary retention.
Abdominal cramping and diarrhea.
Urinary retention.
The healthcare provider prescribes a medication for an older adult client who is
complaining of insomnia, and instructs the client to return in two weeks. The nurse
should question which prescription?
Zolpidem (Ambien) 10 milligrams orally at bedtime.
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) 10 milligrams orally at bedtime.
Temazepam (Restoril) 7.5 milligrams orally at bedtime.
Ramelteon (Rozerem) 8 milligrams orally at bedtime.
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) 10 milligrams orally at bedtime.
Which route should the nurse clarify with the healthcare provider prior to
administering a drug with a high first-pass effect?
, Oral.
Buccal.
Sublingual.
Intravenous.
Oral.
A client receives a prescription for esomeprazole (Nexium) for heartburn. Which
finding in the client's history should the nurse report to the healthcare provider
before administering the prescription?
Eats spicy food three times a week.
History of deep vein thrombosis.
Drinks 2 alcoholic beverages on weekends.
Family history of diabetes mellitus.
History of deep vein thrombosis.
A male client who is in the terminal stage of cancer is cared for at home by his
family and receives a prescription for morphine at a rate to control intractable pain.
When the hospice nurse visits, the client awakens, moans in severe pain, and asks
for an increase in the morphine dosage. After determining the client's respirations
are 10 per minute, what is the best action for the nurse to implement?
Titrate the morphine dose upward until the client has adequate pain relief.
Suggest to the family that they can also give the client ibuprofen, a non-narcotic
analgesic.
