2026 HESI Pharmacology V1 Questions
And Answers
A nurse is caring for a client with hyperparathyroidism and notes that the client's
serum calcium level is 13 mg/dL.Which medication should the nurse prepare to
administer asprescribed to the client?1. Calcium chloride
2. Calcium gluconate
3. Calcitonin (Miacalcin)
4. Largedoses of vitamin D - (Correct Answer) `3.Calcitonin (Miacalcin)
Rationale:
The normal serumcalcium level is 8.6 to 10.0 mg/dL. This client isexperiencing
hypercalcemia. Calcium gluconate and calcium chloride aremedications used for the
treatment of tetany, which occurs as a result of acutehypocalcemia. Inhypercalcemia,
largedoses of vitamin D need to be avoided. Calcitonin, a thyroid hormone, decreases
the plasma calcium level by inhibiting boneresorption and lowering the serum
calcium concentration.
Oral iron supplements areprescribed for a 6-year-old child with iron deficiency
anemia. The nurse instructs the mother to administer the iron withwhich best food
item?
1. Milk
2. Water
3. Applejuice
4. Orangejuice - (Correct Answer) `4. Orange juice
Rationale:
,Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron by the body. The mothershould be
instructed toadminister themedication with a citrus fruit ora juice that is high in
vitamin C. Milk may affect absorptionof the iron. Water will not assist inabsorption.
Orange juicecontains a greateramount of vitamin C than apple juice.
Salicylic acid isprescribed for a client with a diagnosis of psoriasis. The nursemonitors
theclient, knowing that which of the following would indicate thepresence of systemic
toxicity from this medication?
1. Tinnitus
2. Diarrhea
3. Constipation
4. Decreased Respirations - (Correct Answer)`1. Tinnitus
Rationale:
Salicylic acid isabsorbed readily through the skin, and systemic toxicity (salicylism)
can result.Symptoms includetinnitus, dizziness, hyperpnea,and psychological
disturbances. Constipation and diarrhea are not associated with salicylism.
The camp nurse asks the children preparing to swim in the lake if they haveapplied
sunscreen. The nursezremindszthezchildrenzthatzchemicalzsunscreenszarezmost
effectivewhenapplied:
1.zImmediatelybeforeswimming
2.z15zminuteszbeforezexposureztozthezsun
3.zImmediatelyzbeforezexposureztozthezsun
4.zAtzleastz30zminuteszbeforezexposureztozthezsunz-
z(Correct
minutes zAnswer)z`4.zAtzzleast
zbeforeexposure tozthez30
zsun
Rationale:
Sunscreenszarezmostzeffectivezwhenappliedzatzleastz30zminutesbeforezexposureztozth
e
sunzsozthatztheyzcanzpenetratezthezskin.zAllsunscreenszshouldzbereappliedzafter
swimmingzorzsweating
,z
Mafenidezacetatez(Sulfamylon)ziszprescribedzforzthezclientzwithzazburnzinjury.zWhen
applyingzthemedication,zthezclientzcomplainszofzlocalzdiscomfortzandzburning.zWhich
ofzthefollowingziszthezmostzappropriateznursingzaction?
1.zNotifyingzthezregisteredznurse
2.zDiscontinuingzthezmedication
3.zInformingzthezclientzthatzthiszisznormal
4.zApplyingzazthinnerzfilmzthanzprescribedztozthezburnzsitez-
z(CorrectzzAnswer)
Informing thezclientz`3.
zthatzthiszisznormal
Rationale:
Mafenidezacetateziszbacteriostaticzforgram-negativeandzgram-positivezorganismszand
iszusedztoztreatzburnsztozreducebacteriazpresentzinzavascularztissues.zThezclientzshould
bezinformedzthatzthemedication zwillzcausezlocalzdiscomfortzandzburningzandzthatzthiszi
s
aznormalzreaction;thereforezoptionsz1,z2,zandz4zarezincorrect
Thezburnclientzisreceivingztreatmentszoftopical zmafenidezacetatez(Sulfamylon)ztozthe
sitezofzinjury.zTheznursezmonitorszthezclient,zknowingzthatzwhichzofzthezfollowing
indicateszthatzazsystemiczeffectzhaszoccurred?1.Hyperventilation
2.Elevatedzbloodzpressure
3.Localzpainzatzthezburnzsite
4.Localzrashzatzthezburnzsitez-z(CorrectzAnswer)z`1.Hyperventilation
Rationale:
Mafenidezacetatezisa zcarboniczanhydrasezinhibitorzandzcanzsuppresszrenalzexcretionzof
acid,therebycausingacidosis. zClientszreceivingzthisztreatmentzshouldzbezmonitored
forzsignszofzanacid-basezimbalancez(hyperventilation).zIfzthiszoccurs,zthezmedication
shouldzbediscontinuedzforz1ztoz2zdays.zOptionsz3zandz4zdescribezlocalzratherzthan
syeffects.zAnzelevatedzbloodzpressurezmayzbezexpectedzfromzthezpainzthatzoccurszwithz
a
burnzinjury.
Isotretinoinziszprescribedzforzazclientzwithzseverezacne.zBeforetheadministration zof
thiszmedication,thenursezanticipateszthatzwhichzlaboratorytestzwillzbeprescribed?
,z
1.zPlateletzcount
2.zTriglyceridezlevel
3.zCompletebloodzcount
4.zWhitezbloodzcellzcountz-z(CorrectzAnswer)`2.zTriglyceridezlevel
Rationale:
Isotretinoinzcanzelevateztriglyceridezlevels.Bloodztriglyceridezlevelsshouldzbe
measuredzbeforetreatment zandzperiodicallythereafterzuntilzthezeffectzonzthe
triglycerideszhaszbeenzevaluated.zOptionsz1,z3,zandz4do znotzneedztozbezmonitore
d
specificallyzduringzthisztreatment.
Azclientzwithzseverezacneziszseenzinzthezcliniczandzthezhealthzcareproviderz(HCP)
prescribeszisotretinoin.zTheznursezreviewszthezclient'smedicationrecord zandzwould
contactzthez(HCP)zifzthezclientzisztakingzwhichmedication?
1.zVitaminzA
2.zDigoxinz(Lanoxin)
3.zFurosemidez(Lasix)
4.zPhenytoinz(Dilantin)z-z(CorrectzAnswer)z`1.zVitaminzA
Rationale:
IsotretinoinziszazmetabolitezofzvitaminzAzandzcanzproducezgeneralizedzintensificationzo
f
isotretinoinztoxicity.zBecausezofzthezpotentialzforzincreasedztoxicity,vitaminzA
supplementszshouldzbezdiscontinuedzbeforeisotretinoinztherapy.Optionsz2,z3,zandz4
areznotzcontraindicatedzwithzthezusezofzisotretinoin
Theznurseziszapplyingzaztopicalzcorticosteroidztozazclientzwithzeczema.zTheznursewoul
d
monitorzforzthezpotentialzforincreasedzsystemiczabsorptionzofzthemedicationzifzthe
medicationzwerezbeingzappliedztozwhichzofzthezfollowingzbodyareas?
1.zBack
2.zAxilla
3.zSoleszofzthezfeet
And Answers
A nurse is caring for a client with hyperparathyroidism and notes that the client's
serum calcium level is 13 mg/dL.Which medication should the nurse prepare to
administer asprescribed to the client?1. Calcium chloride
2. Calcium gluconate
3. Calcitonin (Miacalcin)
4. Largedoses of vitamin D - (Correct Answer) `3.Calcitonin (Miacalcin)
Rationale:
The normal serumcalcium level is 8.6 to 10.0 mg/dL. This client isexperiencing
hypercalcemia. Calcium gluconate and calcium chloride aremedications used for the
treatment of tetany, which occurs as a result of acutehypocalcemia. Inhypercalcemia,
largedoses of vitamin D need to be avoided. Calcitonin, a thyroid hormone, decreases
the plasma calcium level by inhibiting boneresorption and lowering the serum
calcium concentration.
Oral iron supplements areprescribed for a 6-year-old child with iron deficiency
anemia. The nurse instructs the mother to administer the iron withwhich best food
item?
1. Milk
2. Water
3. Applejuice
4. Orangejuice - (Correct Answer) `4. Orange juice
Rationale:
,Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron by the body. The mothershould be
instructed toadminister themedication with a citrus fruit ora juice that is high in
vitamin C. Milk may affect absorptionof the iron. Water will not assist inabsorption.
Orange juicecontains a greateramount of vitamin C than apple juice.
Salicylic acid isprescribed for a client with a diagnosis of psoriasis. The nursemonitors
theclient, knowing that which of the following would indicate thepresence of systemic
toxicity from this medication?
1. Tinnitus
2. Diarrhea
3. Constipation
4. Decreased Respirations - (Correct Answer)`1. Tinnitus
Rationale:
Salicylic acid isabsorbed readily through the skin, and systemic toxicity (salicylism)
can result.Symptoms includetinnitus, dizziness, hyperpnea,and psychological
disturbances. Constipation and diarrhea are not associated with salicylism.
The camp nurse asks the children preparing to swim in the lake if they haveapplied
sunscreen. The nursezremindszthezchildrenzthatzchemicalzsunscreenszarezmost
effectivewhenapplied:
1.zImmediatelybeforeswimming
2.z15zminuteszbeforezexposureztozthezsun
3.zImmediatelyzbeforezexposureztozthezsun
4.zAtzleastz30zminuteszbeforezexposureztozthezsunz-
z(Correct
minutes zAnswer)z`4.zAtzzleast
zbeforeexposure tozthez30
zsun
Rationale:
Sunscreenszarezmostzeffectivezwhenappliedzatzleastz30zminutesbeforezexposureztozth
e
sunzsozthatztheyzcanzpenetratezthezskin.zAllsunscreenszshouldzbereappliedzafter
swimmingzorzsweating
,z
Mafenidezacetatez(Sulfamylon)ziszprescribedzforzthezclientzwithzazburnzinjury.zWhen
applyingzthemedication,zthezclientzcomplainszofzlocalzdiscomfortzandzburning.zWhich
ofzthefollowingziszthezmostzappropriateznursingzaction?
1.zNotifyingzthezregisteredznurse
2.zDiscontinuingzthezmedication
3.zInformingzthezclientzthatzthiszisznormal
4.zApplyingzazthinnerzfilmzthanzprescribedztozthezburnzsitez-
z(CorrectzzAnswer)
Informing thezclientz`3.
zthatzthiszisznormal
Rationale:
Mafenidezacetateziszbacteriostaticzforgram-negativeandzgram-positivezorganismszand
iszusedztoztreatzburnsztozreducebacteriazpresentzinzavascularztissues.zThezclientzshould
bezinformedzthatzthemedication zwillzcausezlocalzdiscomfortzandzburningzandzthatzthiszi
s
aznormalzreaction;thereforezoptionsz1,z2,zandz4zarezincorrect
Thezburnclientzisreceivingztreatmentszoftopical zmafenidezacetatez(Sulfamylon)ztozthe
sitezofzinjury.zTheznursezmonitorszthezclient,zknowingzthatzwhichzofzthezfollowing
indicateszthatzazsystemiczeffectzhaszoccurred?1.Hyperventilation
2.Elevatedzbloodzpressure
3.Localzpainzatzthezburnzsite
4.Localzrashzatzthezburnzsitez-z(CorrectzAnswer)z`1.Hyperventilation
Rationale:
Mafenidezacetatezisa zcarboniczanhydrasezinhibitorzandzcanzsuppresszrenalzexcretionzof
acid,therebycausingacidosis. zClientszreceivingzthisztreatmentzshouldzbezmonitored
forzsignszofzanacid-basezimbalancez(hyperventilation).zIfzthiszoccurs,zthezmedication
shouldzbediscontinuedzforz1ztoz2zdays.zOptionsz3zandz4zdescribezlocalzratherzthan
syeffects.zAnzelevatedzbloodzpressurezmayzbezexpectedzfromzthezpainzthatzoccurszwithz
a
burnzinjury.
Isotretinoinziszprescribedzforzazclientzwithzseverezacne.zBeforetheadministration zof
thiszmedication,thenursezanticipateszthatzwhichzlaboratorytestzwillzbeprescribed?
,z
1.zPlateletzcount
2.zTriglyceridezlevel
3.zCompletebloodzcount
4.zWhitezbloodzcellzcountz-z(CorrectzAnswer)`2.zTriglyceridezlevel
Rationale:
Isotretinoinzcanzelevateztriglyceridezlevels.Bloodztriglyceridezlevelsshouldzbe
measuredzbeforetreatment zandzperiodicallythereafterzuntilzthezeffectzonzthe
triglycerideszhaszbeenzevaluated.zOptionsz1,z3,zandz4do znotzneedztozbezmonitore
d
specificallyzduringzthisztreatment.
Azclientzwithzseverezacneziszseenzinzthezcliniczandzthezhealthzcareproviderz(HCP)
prescribeszisotretinoin.zTheznursezreviewszthezclient'smedicationrecord zandzwould
contactzthez(HCP)zifzthezclientzisztakingzwhichmedication?
1.zVitaminzA
2.zDigoxinz(Lanoxin)
3.zFurosemidez(Lasix)
4.zPhenytoinz(Dilantin)z-z(CorrectzAnswer)z`1.zVitaminzA
Rationale:
IsotretinoinziszazmetabolitezofzvitaminzAzandzcanzproducezgeneralizedzintensificationzo
f
isotretinoinztoxicity.zBecausezofzthezpotentialzforzincreasedztoxicity,vitaminzA
supplementszshouldzbezdiscontinuedzbeforeisotretinoinztherapy.Optionsz2,z3,zandz4
areznotzcontraindicatedzwithzthezusezofzisotretinoin
Theznurseziszapplyingzaztopicalzcorticosteroidztozazclientzwithzeczema.zTheznursewoul
d
monitorzforzthezpotentialzforincreasedzsystemiczabsorptionzofzthemedicationzifzthe
medicationzwerezbeingzappliedztozwhichzofzthezfollowingzbodyareas?
1.zBack
2.zAxilla
3.zSoleszofzthezfeet
