PHARMACOLOGY HESI PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST 2026/2027
Which medications should the nurse caution the client about taking while receiving
an opioid analgesic?
Antacids.
Benzodiazepines.
Antihypertensives.
Oral antidiabetics. - ANSWER-Benzodiazepines.
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. What action should the nurse implement?
Refer the client to an audiologist for evaluation of her hearing.
Advise the client that this is a common side effect of aspirin therapy.
Notify the healthcare provider of this finding immediately.
Ask the client to turn off her hearing aid during the exam. - ANSWER-Notify the
healthcare provider of this finding immediately.
A client is admitted to the hospital for diagnostic testing for possible myasthenia
gravis. The nurse prepares for intravenous administration of edrophonium chloride
(Tensilon). What is the expected outcome for this client following administration
of this pharmacologic agent?
Progressive difficulty with swallowing.
,Decreased respiratory effort.
Improvement in generalized fatigue.
Decreased muscle weakness. - ANSWER-Decreased muscle weakness.
A 43-year-old female client is receiving thyroid replacement hormone following a
thyroidectomy. What adverse effects associated with thyroid hormone toxicity
should the nurse instruct the client to report promptly to the healthcare provider?
Tinnitus and dizziness.
Tachycardia and chest pain.
Dry skin and intolerance to cold.
Weight gain and increased appetite. - ANSWER-Tachycardia and chest pain.
A client with osteoarthritis receives a new prescription for celecoxib (Celebrex)
orally for symptom management. The nurse notes the client is allergic to sulfa.
Which action is most important for the nurse to implement prior to administering
the first dose?
Review the client's hemoglobin results.
Notify the healthcare provider.
Inquire about the reaction to sulfa.
Record the client's vital signs. - ANSWER-Notify the healthcare provider.
The nurse is reviewing the use of the patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump
with a client in the immediate postoperative period. The client will receive
morphine 1 mg IV per hour basal rate with 1 mg IV every 15 minutes per PCA to
total 5 mg IV maximally per hour. What assessment has the highest priority before
initiating the PCA pump?
,The expiration date on the morphine syringe in the pump.
The rate and depth of the client's respirations.
The type of anesthesia used during the surgical procedure.
The client's subjective and objective signs of pain. - ANSWER-The rate and depth
of the client's respirations.
A client is receiving methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) 40 mg IV daily. The nurse
anticipates an increase in which laboratory value as the result of this medication?
Serum glucose.
Serum calcium.
Red blood cells.
Serum potassium. - ANSWER-Serum glucose.
In evaluating the effects of lactulose (Cephulac), which outcome would indicate
that the drug is performing as intended?
An increase in urine output.
Two or three soft stools per day.
Watery, diarrhea stools.
Increased serum bilirubin. - ANSWER-Two or three soft stools per day.
A client is receiving ampicillin sodium (Omnipen) for a sinus infection. The nurse
should instruct the client to notify the healthcare provider immediately if which
symptom occurs?
, Rash.
Nausea.
Headache.
Dizziness. - ANSWER-Rash.
The nurse is teaching a client with cancer about opioid management for intractable
pain and tolerance related side effects. The nurse should prepare the client for
which side effect that is most likely to persist during long-term use of opioids?
Sedation.
Constipation.
Urinary retention.
Respiratory depression. - ANSWER-Constipation.
Following heparin treatment for a pulmonary embolism, a client is being
discharged with a prescription for warfarin (Coumadin). In conducting discharge
teaching, the nurse advises the client to have which diagnostic test monitored
regularly after discharge?
Perfusion scan.
Prothrombin Time (PT/INR).
Activated partial thromboplastin (APTT).
Serum Coumadin level (SCL). - ANSWER-Prothrombin Time (PT/INR).
A client with Parkinson's disease is taking carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet). Which
observation by the nurse would indicate that the desired outcome of the medication
is being achieved?
CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST 2026/2027
Which medications should the nurse caution the client about taking while receiving
an opioid analgesic?
Antacids.
Benzodiazepines.
Antihypertensives.
Oral antidiabetics. - ANSWER-Benzodiazepines.
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. What action should the nurse implement?
Refer the client to an audiologist for evaluation of her hearing.
Advise the client that this is a common side effect of aspirin therapy.
Notify the healthcare provider of this finding immediately.
Ask the client to turn off her hearing aid during the exam. - ANSWER-Notify the
healthcare provider of this finding immediately.
A client is admitted to the hospital for diagnostic testing for possible myasthenia
gravis. The nurse prepares for intravenous administration of edrophonium chloride
(Tensilon). What is the expected outcome for this client following administration
of this pharmacologic agent?
Progressive difficulty with swallowing.
,Decreased respiratory effort.
Improvement in generalized fatigue.
Decreased muscle weakness. - ANSWER-Decreased muscle weakness.
A 43-year-old female client is receiving thyroid replacement hormone following a
thyroidectomy. What adverse effects associated with thyroid hormone toxicity
should the nurse instruct the client to report promptly to the healthcare provider?
Tinnitus and dizziness.
Tachycardia and chest pain.
Dry skin and intolerance to cold.
Weight gain and increased appetite. - ANSWER-Tachycardia and chest pain.
A client with osteoarthritis receives a new prescription for celecoxib (Celebrex)
orally for symptom management. The nurse notes the client is allergic to sulfa.
Which action is most important for the nurse to implement prior to administering
the first dose?
Review the client's hemoglobin results.
Notify the healthcare provider.
Inquire about the reaction to sulfa.
Record the client's vital signs. - ANSWER-Notify the healthcare provider.
The nurse is reviewing the use of the patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump
with a client in the immediate postoperative period. The client will receive
morphine 1 mg IV per hour basal rate with 1 mg IV every 15 minutes per PCA to
total 5 mg IV maximally per hour. What assessment has the highest priority before
initiating the PCA pump?
,The expiration date on the morphine syringe in the pump.
The rate and depth of the client's respirations.
The type of anesthesia used during the surgical procedure.
The client's subjective and objective signs of pain. - ANSWER-The rate and depth
of the client's respirations.
A client is receiving methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) 40 mg IV daily. The nurse
anticipates an increase in which laboratory value as the result of this medication?
Serum glucose.
Serum calcium.
Red blood cells.
Serum potassium. - ANSWER-Serum glucose.
In evaluating the effects of lactulose (Cephulac), which outcome would indicate
that the drug is performing as intended?
An increase in urine output.
Two or three soft stools per day.
Watery, diarrhea stools.
Increased serum bilirubin. - ANSWER-Two or three soft stools per day.
A client is receiving ampicillin sodium (Omnipen) for a sinus infection. The nurse
should instruct the client to notify the healthcare provider immediately if which
symptom occurs?
, Rash.
Nausea.
Headache.
Dizziness. - ANSWER-Rash.
The nurse is teaching a client with cancer about opioid management for intractable
pain and tolerance related side effects. The nurse should prepare the client for
which side effect that is most likely to persist during long-term use of opioids?
Sedation.
Constipation.
Urinary retention.
Respiratory depression. - ANSWER-Constipation.
Following heparin treatment for a pulmonary embolism, a client is being
discharged with a prescription for warfarin (Coumadin). In conducting discharge
teaching, the nurse advises the client to have which diagnostic test monitored
regularly after discharge?
Perfusion scan.
Prothrombin Time (PT/INR).
Activated partial thromboplastin (APTT).
Serum Coumadin level (SCL). - ANSWER-Prothrombin Time (PT/INR).
A client with Parkinson's disease is taking carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet). Which
observation by the nurse would indicate that the desired outcome of the medication
is being achieved?
