BSN HESI 315 PHARMACOLOGY EXAM 2026
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
DETAILED REVIEW
◉ The nurse is making early morning rounds on a group of clients when
a client begins exhibiting symptoms of an acute asthma attack. The
nurse administers a PRN prescription for a Beta 2 receptor agonist agent.
Which client response should the nurse expect?
a) Tachycardia
b) Increased blood pressure
c) Rapid resolution of wheezing
d) Improved pulse oximetry values
e) Reduced fever and airway inflammation Answer: a) Tachycardia
c) Rapid resolution of wheezing
d) Improved pulse oximetry values
◉ Which change in data indicates to the nurse that the desired effect of
the angiotensin II receptor antagonist valsartan has been achieved?
a) Dependent edema reduced from +3 to +1
b) Serum HDL increased from 35 to 55 mg/dl
c) Pulse rate reduced from 150 to 90 beats/minute
,d) Blood pressure reduced from 160/90 to 130/80 mmHg Answer: d)
Blood pressure reduced from 160/90 to 130/80 mmHg
◉ The nurse is assessing the effectiveness of high-dose aspirin therapy
for an 88-year-old client with arthritis. The client reports that she can't
hear the nurse's questions because her ears are ringing. Which action
should the nurse implement?
a) Refer the client to an audiologist for evaluation of her hearing.
b) Advise the client that this is a common side effect of aspirin therapy.
c) Notify the healthcare provider of this finding immediately.
d) Ask the client to turn off her hearing aid during the exam. Answer: c)
Notify the healthcare provider of this finding immediately.
◉ The nitrate isosorbide dinitrate is prescribed for a client with angina.
Which instruction should the nurse include in this client's discharge
teaching plan?
a) Quit taking the medication if dizziness occurs.
b) Do not get up quickly. Always rise slowly.
c) Take the medication with food only.
d) Increase your intake of potassium-rich foods. Answer: b) Do not get
up quickly. Always rise slowly.
,◉ Which medications should the nurse caution the client about taking
while receiving an opioid analgesic?
a) Antacids
b) Benzodiazepines
c) Antihypertensives
d) Oral antidiabetics Answer: b) Benzodiazepines
◉ A client who has been taking levodopa PO TID to control the
symptoms of Parkinson's disease has a new prescription for sustained-
release levodopa/carbidopa PO BID. The client took his levodopa at
0800. Which instruction should the nurse include in the teaching plan for
this client?
a) "Take the first dose of levodopa-carbidopa today, as soon as your
prescription is filled."
b) "Since you already took your levodopa, wait until tomorrow to take
the levodopa-carbidopa."
c) "Take both drugs for the first week, then switch to only the levodopa-
carbidopa."
d) "You can begin taking the levodopa-carbidopa this evening, but do
not take any more levodopa." Answer: d) "You can begin taking the
levodopa-carbidopa this evening, but do not take any more levodopa."
, ◉ An adult client is given a prescription for a scopolamine patch to
prevent motion sickness while on a cruise. Which information should the
nurse provide to the client?
a) Apply the patch at least 4 hours prior to departure.
b) Change the patch every other day while on the cruise.
c) Place the patch on a hairless area at the base of the skull.
d) Drink no more than 2 alcoholic drinks during the cruise. Answer: a)
Apply the patch at least 4 hours prior to departure.
◉ The nurse is assessing a client prior to administering the prescribed
dose of atenolol PO. The client's blood pressure is 120/68 mmHg, and
the telemetry monitor shows sinus bradycardia with a rate of 58
beats/minute, and a P-R interval of 0.24. Based on this assessment, what
intervention should the nurse implement?
a) Lower the head of the bed and assess the client for orthostatic vital
sign changes.
b) Give the medication as prescribed and continue to monitor the client.
c) Prepare to administer atropine sulfate IVP.
d) Hold the prescribed dose and contact the healthcare provider. Answer:
b) Give the medication as prescribed and continue to monitor the client.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
DETAILED REVIEW
◉ The nurse is making early morning rounds on a group of clients when
a client begins exhibiting symptoms of an acute asthma attack. The
nurse administers a PRN prescription for a Beta 2 receptor agonist agent.
Which client response should the nurse expect?
a) Tachycardia
b) Increased blood pressure
c) Rapid resolution of wheezing
d) Improved pulse oximetry values
e) Reduced fever and airway inflammation Answer: a) Tachycardia
c) Rapid resolution of wheezing
d) Improved pulse oximetry values
◉ Which change in data indicates to the nurse that the desired effect of
the angiotensin II receptor antagonist valsartan has been achieved?
a) Dependent edema reduced from +3 to +1
b) Serum HDL increased from 35 to 55 mg/dl
c) Pulse rate reduced from 150 to 90 beats/minute
,d) Blood pressure reduced from 160/90 to 130/80 mmHg Answer: d)
Blood pressure reduced from 160/90 to 130/80 mmHg
◉ The nurse is assessing the effectiveness of high-dose aspirin therapy
for an 88-year-old client with arthritis. The client reports that she can't
hear the nurse's questions because her ears are ringing. Which action
should the nurse implement?
a) Refer the client to an audiologist for evaluation of her hearing.
b) Advise the client that this is a common side effect of aspirin therapy.
c) Notify the healthcare provider of this finding immediately.
d) Ask the client to turn off her hearing aid during the exam. Answer: c)
Notify the healthcare provider of this finding immediately.
◉ The nitrate isosorbide dinitrate is prescribed for a client with angina.
Which instruction should the nurse include in this client's discharge
teaching plan?
a) Quit taking the medication if dizziness occurs.
b) Do not get up quickly. Always rise slowly.
c) Take the medication with food only.
d) Increase your intake of potassium-rich foods. Answer: b) Do not get
up quickly. Always rise slowly.
,◉ Which medications should the nurse caution the client about taking
while receiving an opioid analgesic?
a) Antacids
b) Benzodiazepines
c) Antihypertensives
d) Oral antidiabetics Answer: b) Benzodiazepines
◉ A client who has been taking levodopa PO TID to control the
symptoms of Parkinson's disease has a new prescription for sustained-
release levodopa/carbidopa PO BID. The client took his levodopa at
0800. Which instruction should the nurse include in the teaching plan for
this client?
a) "Take the first dose of levodopa-carbidopa today, as soon as your
prescription is filled."
b) "Since you already took your levodopa, wait until tomorrow to take
the levodopa-carbidopa."
c) "Take both drugs for the first week, then switch to only the levodopa-
carbidopa."
d) "You can begin taking the levodopa-carbidopa this evening, but do
not take any more levodopa." Answer: d) "You can begin taking the
levodopa-carbidopa this evening, but do not take any more levodopa."
, ◉ An adult client is given a prescription for a scopolamine patch to
prevent motion sickness while on a cruise. Which information should the
nurse provide to the client?
a) Apply the patch at least 4 hours prior to departure.
b) Change the patch every other day while on the cruise.
c) Place the patch on a hairless area at the base of the skull.
d) Drink no more than 2 alcoholic drinks during the cruise. Answer: a)
Apply the patch at least 4 hours prior to departure.
◉ The nurse is assessing a client prior to administering the prescribed
dose of atenolol PO. The client's blood pressure is 120/68 mmHg, and
the telemetry monitor shows sinus bradycardia with a rate of 58
beats/minute, and a P-R interval of 0.24. Based on this assessment, what
intervention should the nurse implement?
a) Lower the head of the bed and assess the client for orthostatic vital
sign changes.
b) Give the medication as prescribed and continue to monitor the client.
c) Prepare to administer atropine sulfate IVP.
d) Hold the prescribed dose and contact the healthcare provider. Answer:
b) Give the medication as prescribed and continue to monitor the client.
