HESI PN PHARMACOLOGY EXAM
2026 STUDY GUIDE
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
ANSWERS VERIFIED A+
◉ The nurse observes that a male client has removed the covering from
an ice pack 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: a
◉ Which action is most important for the nurse to implement when
donning sterile gloves?
A. Maintain thumb at a ninety degree angle.
B. Hold hands with fingers down while gloving.
C. Keep gloved hands above the elbows.
D. Put the glove on the dominant hand first.
Answer: c
◉ A client who is in hospice care reports increasing amounts of pain.
The healthcare provider prescribes an analgesic every four hours as
needed. Which action should the nurse implement?
a. Give an around-the-clock schedule for administration of analgesics.
,b. Administer analgesic medication as needed when the pain is severe.
c. Provide medication to keep the client sedated and unaware of stimuli.
d. Offer a medication-free period so that the client can do daily
activities.
Answer: a
◉ A resident in a skilled nursing facility for short-term rehabilitation
after a hip replacement tells the nurse, "I don't want any more blood
taken for those useless tests." Which narrative documentation should the
nurse enter in the client's medical record?
a. Healthcare provider notified of failure to collect specimens for
prescribed blood studies.
b. Blood specimens not collected because client no longer wants blood
tests performed.
c. Healthcare provider notified of client's refusal to have blood
specimens collected for testing.
d. Client irritable, uncooperative, and refuses to have blood collected.
Healthcare provider notified.
Answer: c
◉ The nurse plans to obtain health assessment information from a
primary source. Which option is a primary source for the completion of
the health assessment?
a. client
b. healthcare provider
c. a family member
, d. previous medical records
Answer: a
◉ 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
◉ A female client asks the nurse to find someone who can translate her
treatment concerns into her native language. Which action should the
nurse take?
a. Explain that anyone who speaks her language can answer her
questions.
b. Provide a translator only in an emergency situation.
c. Ask a family member or friend of the client to translate.
d. Request and document the name of the certified translator.
Answer: d
◉ At the beginning of the shift, the nurse assesses a client who is
admitted from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). When should the
nurse document the client's findings?
2026 STUDY GUIDE
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
ANSWERS VERIFIED A+
◉ The nurse observes that a male client has removed the covering from
an ice pack 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: a
◉ Which action is most important for the nurse to implement when
donning sterile gloves?
A. Maintain thumb at a ninety degree angle.
B. Hold hands with fingers down while gloving.
C. Keep gloved hands above the elbows.
D. Put the glove on the dominant hand first.
Answer: c
◉ A client who is in hospice care reports increasing amounts of pain.
The healthcare provider prescribes an analgesic every four hours as
needed. Which action should the nurse implement?
a. Give an around-the-clock schedule for administration of analgesics.
,b. Administer analgesic medication as needed when the pain is severe.
c. Provide medication to keep the client sedated and unaware of stimuli.
d. Offer a medication-free period so that the client can do daily
activities.
Answer: a
◉ A resident in a skilled nursing facility for short-term rehabilitation
after a hip replacement tells the nurse, "I don't want any more blood
taken for those useless tests." Which narrative documentation should the
nurse enter in the client's medical record?
a. Healthcare provider notified of failure to collect specimens for
prescribed blood studies.
b. Blood specimens not collected because client no longer wants blood
tests performed.
c. Healthcare provider notified of client's refusal to have blood
specimens collected for testing.
d. Client irritable, uncooperative, and refuses to have blood collected.
Healthcare provider notified.
Answer: c
◉ The nurse plans to obtain health assessment information from a
primary source. Which option is a primary source for the completion of
the health assessment?
a. client
b. healthcare provider
c. a family member
, d. previous medical records
Answer: a
◉ 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
◉ A female client asks the nurse to find someone who can translate her
treatment concerns into her native language. Which action should the
nurse take?
a. Explain that anyone who speaks her language can answer her
questions.
b. Provide a translator only in an emergency situation.
c. Ask a family member or friend of the client to translate.
d. Request and document the name of the certified translator.
Answer: d
◉ At the beginning of the shift, the nurse assesses a client who is
admitted from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). When should the
nurse document the client's findings?
