Pharmacology HESI V2 Exam Questions (answered
correctly, detailed explained further).
A client is prescribed phenobarbital sodium (Luminal) for a seizure disorder. The
medication has a long half-life of 4 days. Based on this half-life, the medication
will most likely be prescribed
A. once a day.
B. twice a day.
C. three times a day.
D. four times a day. Correct Answer: ANS: A
Medication with long half-lives remain at their therapeutic levels between doses
for long periods of time. Therefore, this medication can be administered once a
day.
A nurse educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence
medication metabolism with a group of nurses. Medication dosages may need to be
decreased for which of the following reasons? (Select all that apply.)
A. Increased renal excretion
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
C. Liver failure
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication metabolized by the same pathway Correct
Answer: ANS: C, E
Liver failure decreases metabolism and thus increase the concentration of
medication. This may require decreasing the dosage of medication. When two
medications are metabolized in the same way, they may compete for metabolism,
thereby increasing the concentration of one or both medications.
Increased renal excretion may decrease concentration of the medication, requiring
increased dosage. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes can decrease the
concentration of the medication. The dose might need increased. Peripheral
vascular disease may impair distribution, and more of the medication may be
needed.
A nurse s preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which of the following are
appropriate nursing interventions related to this procedure? (Select all that apply.)
A. Using medical aseptic technique
B. Asking the client to look up at the ceiling
C. Having the client lie in a side-lying position
,D. Dropping medication into the center of the client's conjunctival sac
E. Instructing the client to close the eye gently Correct Answer: ANS:B, D, E
The medication should be dropped into the center of the conjunctival sac to
promote better distribution of the medication. The client should close the eye
gently to allow improved distribution of the medication.
Surgical aseptic technique is used to administer eye drops. The client should be
sitting or in a supine position to facilitate proper administration of eye drops.
A nurse is completing discharge teaching to a client who has a new prescription for
a transdermal medication. Which of the following statements by the client
indicates understanding of the teaching?
A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab prior to applying the patch."
B. "I will rotate the application site weekly."
C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
D. "I will place the new patch on the site of the old patch." Correct Answer: ANS:
C
Transdermal medication should be applied to a hairless area of skin to promote
absorption of medication.
The skin should be washed with soap and water and dried thoroughly before
applying a transdermal patch. Application sites should be rotated on a daily basis
to prevent skin irritation.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription by the
provider to verify the trough level of the client's medication. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Have a blood specimen obtained immediately prior to the next dose of
medication.
B. Verify that the client has been on the medication for 24 hr before ordering a
blood specimen.
C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose of medication.
D. Begin administering the medication, and obtain a blood specimen. Correct
Answer: ANS: A
To verify trough levels of a medication, a blood specimen is obtained immediately
before the next dose of medication.
A nurse is preparing a client's medication. Which of the following are legal
responsibilities of the nurse? (Select all that apply.)
A. Maintaining skill competency
,B. Determining the dosage
C. Monitoring for adverse effects
D. Safeguarding medications
E. Identifying the client's diagnosis Correct Answer: ANS: A, C, D
Determining medication dosage and identifying a diagnosis is the
role/responsibility of the provider. The nurse should be informed about a client's
diagnosis.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription by the
provider for lisinopril (Zestril) 10 mg PO every day. The nurse should recognize
this as which of the following types of prescription?
A. Single prescription
B. Stat prescription
C. Routine prescription
D. Standing prescription Correct Answer: ANS: C
A routine prescription identifies a medication that is given on a regular schedule.
This medication is administered every day until discontinued.
A single prescription is to be given once at a specified time or as soon as possible.
A stat prescription is only given once, and it is given immediately. A standing
prescription is written for specific circumstances or a specific unit.
A nurse is reviewing a new prescription for ondansetron (Zofran) 4 mg PO PRN
nausea and vomiting for a client who has hyperemesis gravidarum. The nurse
should clarify which of the following parts of the prescription with the provider?
A. Name
B. Dosage
C. Route
D. Time Correct Answer: ANS: D
The time and frequency of medication administration is not included and should be
clarified with the provider.
A nurse is orienting a newly hired nurse and discussing how to take telephone
prescription. Which of the following statements by the newly hired nurse indicates
understanding of the discussion?
A. "A second nurse enters the prescription into the client's health record."
B. "Another nurse should listen to the phone call."
C. "The provider can clarify the prescription when he signs the health record."
D. "The 'read back' is omitted if this is a one-time prescription." Correct Answer:
ANS: B
, The second nurse should listen to a telephone prescription to prevent errors in
communication.
The nurse who takes the telephone prescription should enter it into the client's
health record to prevent errors in translation. The nurse verifies the prescription is
complete and accurate at the time it is given by reading it back to the provider. A
telephone prescription includes reading back all types of medication prescription.
A nurse on a medical unit is admitting a client and completing a preassessment
before administration of medications. Which of the following data should the nurse
include in the preassessment? (Select all that apply.)
A. Use of herbal teas
B. Daily fluid intake
C. Current health status
D. Previous surgical history
E. Food allergies Correct Answer: ANS: A, C, E
Use of herbal product,s which often contains caffeine, should be assessed prior to
medication administration because caffeine can affect medication
biotransformation. Current health status should be reviewed because new
prescriptions can cause alterations in current health status. Food allergies should be
included in the preassessment that is completed prior to medication administration
to identify any potential interactions.
Daily fluid intake and surgical history is important, but it is not part of the
presassessment that is completed prior to medication administration.
A nurse is assessing a client's IV. Which of the following findings is indicative of
phlebitis? (Select all that apply.)
A. Tingling sensation below insertion site
B. Tachycardia
C. Palpable, hard mass above insertion site
D. Cool, pale skin
E. Pain at site Correct Answer: ANS: C, E
Pain at the IV site and a palpable, hard mass above the insertion site is a clinical
manifestation of thrombophlebitis.
A tingling sensation below the insertion site is a clinical manifestation of nerve
damage. Tachycardia is a clinical manifestation of fluid volume overload. Cool,
pale skin is a clinical manifestation of infiltration.
correctly, detailed explained further).
A client is prescribed phenobarbital sodium (Luminal) for a seizure disorder. The
medication has a long half-life of 4 days. Based on this half-life, the medication
will most likely be prescribed
A. once a day.
B. twice a day.
C. three times a day.
D. four times a day. Correct Answer: ANS: A
Medication with long half-lives remain at their therapeutic levels between doses
for long periods of time. Therefore, this medication can be administered once a
day.
A nurse educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence
medication metabolism with a group of nurses. Medication dosages may need to be
decreased for which of the following reasons? (Select all that apply.)
A. Increased renal excretion
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
C. Liver failure
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication metabolized by the same pathway Correct
Answer: ANS: C, E
Liver failure decreases metabolism and thus increase the concentration of
medication. This may require decreasing the dosage of medication. When two
medications are metabolized in the same way, they may compete for metabolism,
thereby increasing the concentration of one or both medications.
Increased renal excretion may decrease concentration of the medication, requiring
increased dosage. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes can decrease the
concentration of the medication. The dose might need increased. Peripheral
vascular disease may impair distribution, and more of the medication may be
needed.
A nurse s preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which of the following are
appropriate nursing interventions related to this procedure? (Select all that apply.)
A. Using medical aseptic technique
B. Asking the client to look up at the ceiling
C. Having the client lie in a side-lying position
,D. Dropping medication into the center of the client's conjunctival sac
E. Instructing the client to close the eye gently Correct Answer: ANS:B, D, E
The medication should be dropped into the center of the conjunctival sac to
promote better distribution of the medication. The client should close the eye
gently to allow improved distribution of the medication.
Surgical aseptic technique is used to administer eye drops. The client should be
sitting or in a supine position to facilitate proper administration of eye drops.
A nurse is completing discharge teaching to a client who has a new prescription for
a transdermal medication. Which of the following statements by the client
indicates understanding of the teaching?
A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab prior to applying the patch."
B. "I will rotate the application site weekly."
C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
D. "I will place the new patch on the site of the old patch." Correct Answer: ANS:
C
Transdermal medication should be applied to a hairless area of skin to promote
absorption of medication.
The skin should be washed with soap and water and dried thoroughly before
applying a transdermal patch. Application sites should be rotated on a daily basis
to prevent skin irritation.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription by the
provider to verify the trough level of the client's medication. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Have a blood specimen obtained immediately prior to the next dose of
medication.
B. Verify that the client has been on the medication for 24 hr before ordering a
blood specimen.
C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose of medication.
D. Begin administering the medication, and obtain a blood specimen. Correct
Answer: ANS: A
To verify trough levels of a medication, a blood specimen is obtained immediately
before the next dose of medication.
A nurse is preparing a client's medication. Which of the following are legal
responsibilities of the nurse? (Select all that apply.)
A. Maintaining skill competency
,B. Determining the dosage
C. Monitoring for adverse effects
D. Safeguarding medications
E. Identifying the client's diagnosis Correct Answer: ANS: A, C, D
Determining medication dosage and identifying a diagnosis is the
role/responsibility of the provider. The nurse should be informed about a client's
diagnosis.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription by the
provider for lisinopril (Zestril) 10 mg PO every day. The nurse should recognize
this as which of the following types of prescription?
A. Single prescription
B. Stat prescription
C. Routine prescription
D. Standing prescription Correct Answer: ANS: C
A routine prescription identifies a medication that is given on a regular schedule.
This medication is administered every day until discontinued.
A single prescription is to be given once at a specified time or as soon as possible.
A stat prescription is only given once, and it is given immediately. A standing
prescription is written for specific circumstances or a specific unit.
A nurse is reviewing a new prescription for ondansetron (Zofran) 4 mg PO PRN
nausea and vomiting for a client who has hyperemesis gravidarum. The nurse
should clarify which of the following parts of the prescription with the provider?
A. Name
B. Dosage
C. Route
D. Time Correct Answer: ANS: D
The time and frequency of medication administration is not included and should be
clarified with the provider.
A nurse is orienting a newly hired nurse and discussing how to take telephone
prescription. Which of the following statements by the newly hired nurse indicates
understanding of the discussion?
A. "A second nurse enters the prescription into the client's health record."
B. "Another nurse should listen to the phone call."
C. "The provider can clarify the prescription when he signs the health record."
D. "The 'read back' is omitted if this is a one-time prescription." Correct Answer:
ANS: B
, The second nurse should listen to a telephone prescription to prevent errors in
communication.
The nurse who takes the telephone prescription should enter it into the client's
health record to prevent errors in translation. The nurse verifies the prescription is
complete and accurate at the time it is given by reading it back to the provider. A
telephone prescription includes reading back all types of medication prescription.
A nurse on a medical unit is admitting a client and completing a preassessment
before administration of medications. Which of the following data should the nurse
include in the preassessment? (Select all that apply.)
A. Use of herbal teas
B. Daily fluid intake
C. Current health status
D. Previous surgical history
E. Food allergies Correct Answer: ANS: A, C, E
Use of herbal product,s which often contains caffeine, should be assessed prior to
medication administration because caffeine can affect medication
biotransformation. Current health status should be reviewed because new
prescriptions can cause alterations in current health status. Food allergies should be
included in the preassessment that is completed prior to medication administration
to identify any potential interactions.
Daily fluid intake and surgical history is important, but it is not part of the
presassessment that is completed prior to medication administration.
A nurse is assessing a client's IV. Which of the following findings is indicative of
phlebitis? (Select all that apply.)
A. Tingling sensation below insertion site
B. Tachycardia
C. Palpable, hard mass above insertion site
D. Cool, pale skin
E. Pain at site Correct Answer: ANS: C, E
Pain at the IV site and a palpable, hard mass above the insertion site is a clinical
manifestation of thrombophlebitis.
A tingling sensation below the insertion site is a clinical manifestation of nerve
damage. Tachycardia is a clinical manifestation of fluid volume overload. Cool,
pale skin is a clinical manifestation of infiltration.
