PHARMACOLOGY HESI EXAM 2026
EXAMINATION TEST SOLVED
QUESTIONS WITH FULL SOLUTION
GRADED A+
◉ 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.
Hold additional morphine until the client's respirations are at least 16 per
minute.
Inform the client that an increased dose of morphine increases side
effects without additional pain control. Answer: Titrate the morphine
dose upward until the client has adequate pain relief.
◉ A client with Paget's disease is started on calcitonin (Calcimar) 500
mcg subcutaneously daily. During the initial treatment, what is the
priority nursing action?
Assess the injection site for inflammation.
Evaluate the client's level of pain.
,Monitor the client's alkaline phosphatase levels.
Observe the client for signs of hypersensitivity. Answer: Observe the
client for signs of hypersensitivity.
◉ A client is taking cyclosporine for renal allograft rejection prevention.
After 9 months of drug therapy, the nurse reviews laboratory data and
notes that the blood urea nitrogen level is 36 mg/dl. What additional
finding should the nurse identify?
Hypotension.
White blood cell count 10,000.
Creatinine 28 mg/dl.
Anaphylactic reaction. Answer: Creatinine 28 mg/dl.
◉ The nurse receives a unit of blood from the blood bank for a
postoperative client who is currently in the X-ray department. What
action should the nurse implement?
Return the blood to the blood bank for refrigeration within 30 minutes.
Hang the blood transfusion as soon as the client returns to the unit.
Store the blood bag in the nursing unit's refrigerator until the client
returns.
Take the unit of blood to the X-ray department to initiate the transfusion.
Answer: Return the blood to the blood bank for refrigeration within 30
minutes.
, ◉ Which side effects should the nurse monitor for a client who is
receiving dexamethasone (Decadron) following neurosurgery? (Select
all that apply.)
Select all that apply
Mood swings.
Decreased appetite.
Increased weight gain.
Serum glucose level of 65 mg/dl.
Delayed incisional wound healing.
Serum hemoglobin level of 9 mg/dl. Answer: Mood swings.
Increased weight gain.
Delayed incisional wound healing.
Serum hemoglobin level of 9 mg/dl.
◉ 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. Answer: Proceed to
the closest emergency room.
EXAMINATION TEST SOLVED
QUESTIONS WITH FULL SOLUTION
GRADED A+
◉ 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.
Hold additional morphine until the client's respirations are at least 16 per
minute.
Inform the client that an increased dose of morphine increases side
effects without additional pain control. Answer: Titrate the morphine
dose upward until the client has adequate pain relief.
◉ A client with Paget's disease is started on calcitonin (Calcimar) 500
mcg subcutaneously daily. During the initial treatment, what is the
priority nursing action?
Assess the injection site for inflammation.
Evaluate the client's level of pain.
,Monitor the client's alkaline phosphatase levels.
Observe the client for signs of hypersensitivity. Answer: Observe the
client for signs of hypersensitivity.
◉ A client is taking cyclosporine for renal allograft rejection prevention.
After 9 months of drug therapy, the nurse reviews laboratory data and
notes that the blood urea nitrogen level is 36 mg/dl. What additional
finding should the nurse identify?
Hypotension.
White blood cell count 10,000.
Creatinine 28 mg/dl.
Anaphylactic reaction. Answer: Creatinine 28 mg/dl.
◉ The nurse receives a unit of blood from the blood bank for a
postoperative client who is currently in the X-ray department. What
action should the nurse implement?
Return the blood to the blood bank for refrigeration within 30 minutes.
Hang the blood transfusion as soon as the client returns to the unit.
Store the blood bag in the nursing unit's refrigerator until the client
returns.
Take the unit of blood to the X-ray department to initiate the transfusion.
Answer: Return the blood to the blood bank for refrigeration within 30
minutes.
, ◉ Which side effects should the nurse monitor for a client who is
receiving dexamethasone (Decadron) following neurosurgery? (Select
all that apply.)
Select all that apply
Mood swings.
Decreased appetite.
Increased weight gain.
Serum glucose level of 65 mg/dl.
Delayed incisional wound healing.
Serum hemoglobin level of 9 mg/dl. Answer: Mood swings.
Increased weight gain.
Delayed incisional wound healing.
Serum hemoglobin level of 9 mg/dl.
◉ 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. Answer: Proceed to
the closest emergency room.
