HESI PHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM
QUESTION WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS (2026/2027) 100%
VERIFIED.
1. A hospitalized patient has been complaining about difficulty sleeping for the past
few nights. Which medication would the nurse anticipate the HCP will prescribe?
A. Diazepam (Valium)
B. Zolpidem (Ambien)
C. Lorazepam (Ativan)
D. Temazepam (Restoril)
Answer: B. Zolpidem (Ambien) (treats insomnia)
2. An LVN is preparing to administer phenytoin (Dilantin) and ondansetron (Zofran)
via IV at the same time. Why would the RN stop the LVN?
A. Ondansetron must always be given before phenytoin
B. Phenytoin cannot be mixed with any other medication when administered via IV
C. Both medications must be diluted before administration
D. Phenytoin must be given via IM route only
Answer: B. Phenytoin cannot be mixed with any other medication when administered
via IV
3. A nurse is about to administer aspart (Novolog) to a diabetic patient before
breakfast. What is the priority nursing intervention?
A. Check the patient's blood pressure before administration
B. Ensure the patient has no known allergies to insulin
C. Ensure that meals will be ready within 30 minutes to avoid hypoglycemia
D. Verify the insulin with a second nurse before administration
Answer: C. Ensure that meals will be ready within 30 minutes to avoid hypoglycemia
4. A patient admitted to the emergency room has been diagnosed with cerebral
edema. Which osmotic diuretic would the nurse anticipate administering?
,A. Furosemide (Lasix)
B. Spironolactone (Aldactone)
C. Mannitol (Osmitrol)
D. Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)
Answer: C. Mannitol (Osmitrol) (reduces intracranial pressure)
5. A patient taking psyllium (Metamucil) complains of bloating. How should the nurse
respond?
A. Stop taking the medication and notify the provider immediately
B. Abdominal discomfort and bloating are normal side effects of psyllium (Metamucil)
C. Take the medication with juice instead of water to reduce bloating
D. Reduce the dose by half to minimize side effects
Answer: B. Abdominal discomfort and bloating are normal side effects of psyllium
(Metamucil)
6. A patient being discharged has a prescription for psyllium (Metamucil). What
teaching should the nurse provide?
A. Mix with 4 ounces of juice and let it sit for 10 minutes before drinking
B. Take only once a week as needed for constipation
C. Mix with 8 ounces of water and drink immediately; drink 6-8 glasses of water
daily; do not take other medications within 2 hours
D. Take with meals three times a day for best results
Answer: C. Mix with 8 ounces of water and drink immediately; drink 6-8 glasses of
water daily; do not take other medications within 2 hours
7. An elderly patient presents to the emergency room with jaundice and states he
frequently takes OTC acetaminophen (Tylenol) for arthritis. Which adverse effect
does the nurse suspect?
A. Renal failure from nephrotoxicity
B. Liver toxicity from acetaminophen overdose
C. Gastrointestinal bleeding from overuse
D. Bone marrow suppression
Answer: B. Liver toxicity from acetaminophen overdose
8. An unconscious patient is admitted with a respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute
and pinpoint pupils. Which medication should the nurse anticipate administering?
,A. Flumazenil (Romazicon)
B. Activated charcoal
C. Naloxone (Narcan)
D. Atropine sulfate
Answer: C. Naloxone (Narcan) (monitor for respiratory depression after
administration)
9. Which term describes a medication that kills bacteria?
A. Bacteriostatic
B. Bactericidal
C. Bacteriogenic
D. Bacteriophage
Answer: B. Bactericidal
10. Which term describes a medication that blocks bacterial reproduction or slows
bacterial growth?
A. Bactericidal
B. Antibiotic
C. Bacteriostatic
D. Antifungal
Answer: C. Bacteriostatic
11. Which practice ensures safe medication preparation?
A. Check the medication label once before administration
B. Work in a busy area to stay alert during preparation
C. Transfer medications into a different bottle if the original is damaged
D. Check the medication label 3 times and check the expiration date
Answer: D. Check the medication label 3 times and check the expiration date
12. A nurse is preparing to administer NPH insulin and regular insulin together. What
is the correct order of preparation?
A. Draw up NPH first, then regular insulin
B. Add air to NPH, add air to regular, draw up regular first, then draw up NPH
C. Mix both insulins in the same syringe simultaneously
D. Draw up regular insulin first, then add NPH without adding air
, Answer: B. Add air to NPH, add air to regular, draw up regular first, then draw up
NPH
13. How should the nurse prepare psyllium (Metamucil) for administration?
A. Mix with 4 ounces of juice and administer within 1 hour
B. Mix with 8 ounces of water at the bedside and administer immediately
C. Mix with warm water and allow to dissolve before administering
D. Prepare the medication ahead of time and refrigerate until needed
Answer: B. Mix with 8 ounces of water at the bedside and administer immediately
14. What is the correct angle and method for administering an IM injection?
A. 45° using a standard injection technique
B. 15° into the dermis layer
C. 90° using the Z-Track method
D. 90° directly into the vein
Answer: C. 90° using the Z-Track method
15. When administering medication via IV, which action should the nurse perform
first?
A. Flush the IV line with normal saline immediately
B. Assess for allergies and check the IV site for complications
C. Increase the IV drip rate before administering medication
D. Clamp the IV tubing before medication administration
Answer: B. Assess for allergies and check the IV site for complications
16. What is the correct technique for administering oral medications?
A. Leave the medications at the bedside for the patient to take independently
B. Crush all medications and mix with food for easier swallowing
C. Assist the patient into an upright or side-lying position, offer water, and remain
until each medication is swallowed
D. Administer all medications at once to save time
Answer: C. Assist the patient into an upright or side-lying position, offer water, and
remain until each medication is swallowed
17. What is the correct angle for administering a subcutaneous injection?
QUESTION WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS (2026/2027) 100%
VERIFIED.
1. A hospitalized patient has been complaining about difficulty sleeping for the past
few nights. Which medication would the nurse anticipate the HCP will prescribe?
A. Diazepam (Valium)
B. Zolpidem (Ambien)
C. Lorazepam (Ativan)
D. Temazepam (Restoril)
Answer: B. Zolpidem (Ambien) (treats insomnia)
2. An LVN is preparing to administer phenytoin (Dilantin) and ondansetron (Zofran)
via IV at the same time. Why would the RN stop the LVN?
A. Ondansetron must always be given before phenytoin
B. Phenytoin cannot be mixed with any other medication when administered via IV
C. Both medications must be diluted before administration
D. Phenytoin must be given via IM route only
Answer: B. Phenytoin cannot be mixed with any other medication when administered
via IV
3. A nurse is about to administer aspart (Novolog) to a diabetic patient before
breakfast. What is the priority nursing intervention?
A. Check the patient's blood pressure before administration
B. Ensure the patient has no known allergies to insulin
C. Ensure that meals will be ready within 30 minutes to avoid hypoglycemia
D. Verify the insulin with a second nurse before administration
Answer: C. Ensure that meals will be ready within 30 minutes to avoid hypoglycemia
4. A patient admitted to the emergency room has been diagnosed with cerebral
edema. Which osmotic diuretic would the nurse anticipate administering?
,A. Furosemide (Lasix)
B. Spironolactone (Aldactone)
C. Mannitol (Osmitrol)
D. Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)
Answer: C. Mannitol (Osmitrol) (reduces intracranial pressure)
5. A patient taking psyllium (Metamucil) complains of bloating. How should the nurse
respond?
A. Stop taking the medication and notify the provider immediately
B. Abdominal discomfort and bloating are normal side effects of psyllium (Metamucil)
C. Take the medication with juice instead of water to reduce bloating
D. Reduce the dose by half to minimize side effects
Answer: B. Abdominal discomfort and bloating are normal side effects of psyllium
(Metamucil)
6. A patient being discharged has a prescription for psyllium (Metamucil). What
teaching should the nurse provide?
A. Mix with 4 ounces of juice and let it sit for 10 minutes before drinking
B. Take only once a week as needed for constipation
C. Mix with 8 ounces of water and drink immediately; drink 6-8 glasses of water
daily; do not take other medications within 2 hours
D. Take with meals three times a day for best results
Answer: C. Mix with 8 ounces of water and drink immediately; drink 6-8 glasses of
water daily; do not take other medications within 2 hours
7. An elderly patient presents to the emergency room with jaundice and states he
frequently takes OTC acetaminophen (Tylenol) for arthritis. Which adverse effect
does the nurse suspect?
A. Renal failure from nephrotoxicity
B. Liver toxicity from acetaminophen overdose
C. Gastrointestinal bleeding from overuse
D. Bone marrow suppression
Answer: B. Liver toxicity from acetaminophen overdose
8. An unconscious patient is admitted with a respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute
and pinpoint pupils. Which medication should the nurse anticipate administering?
,A. Flumazenil (Romazicon)
B. Activated charcoal
C. Naloxone (Narcan)
D. Atropine sulfate
Answer: C. Naloxone (Narcan) (monitor for respiratory depression after
administration)
9. Which term describes a medication that kills bacteria?
A. Bacteriostatic
B. Bactericidal
C. Bacteriogenic
D. Bacteriophage
Answer: B. Bactericidal
10. Which term describes a medication that blocks bacterial reproduction or slows
bacterial growth?
A. Bactericidal
B. Antibiotic
C. Bacteriostatic
D. Antifungal
Answer: C. Bacteriostatic
11. Which practice ensures safe medication preparation?
A. Check the medication label once before administration
B. Work in a busy area to stay alert during preparation
C. Transfer medications into a different bottle if the original is damaged
D. Check the medication label 3 times and check the expiration date
Answer: D. Check the medication label 3 times and check the expiration date
12. A nurse is preparing to administer NPH insulin and regular insulin together. What
is the correct order of preparation?
A. Draw up NPH first, then regular insulin
B. Add air to NPH, add air to regular, draw up regular first, then draw up NPH
C. Mix both insulins in the same syringe simultaneously
D. Draw up regular insulin first, then add NPH without adding air
, Answer: B. Add air to NPH, add air to regular, draw up regular first, then draw up
NPH
13. How should the nurse prepare psyllium (Metamucil) for administration?
A. Mix with 4 ounces of juice and administer within 1 hour
B. Mix with 8 ounces of water at the bedside and administer immediately
C. Mix with warm water and allow to dissolve before administering
D. Prepare the medication ahead of time and refrigerate until needed
Answer: B. Mix with 8 ounces of water at the bedside and administer immediately
14. What is the correct angle and method for administering an IM injection?
A. 45° using a standard injection technique
B. 15° into the dermis layer
C. 90° using the Z-Track method
D. 90° directly into the vein
Answer: C. 90° using the Z-Track method
15. When administering medication via IV, which action should the nurse perform
first?
A. Flush the IV line with normal saline immediately
B. Assess for allergies and check the IV site for complications
C. Increase the IV drip rate before administering medication
D. Clamp the IV tubing before medication administration
Answer: B. Assess for allergies and check the IV site for complications
16. What is the correct technique for administering oral medications?
A. Leave the medications at the bedside for the patient to take independently
B. Crush all medications and mix with food for easier swallowing
C. Assist the patient into an upright or side-lying position, offer water, and remain
until each medication is swallowed
D. Administer all medications at once to save time
Answer: C. Assist the patient into an upright or side-lying position, offer water, and
remain until each medication is swallowed
17. What is the correct angle for administering a subcutaneous injection?
