HESI Pharmacology Questions and Answers
1. A client is receiving tamsulosin (Flomax), an alpha adrenergic blocking agent, for the
management of urinary retention due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Which instruction is
most important for the nurse to provide?
Stand and sit up slowly
2. Thirty minutes after administering trimethobenzamide (tigan) to a client with nausea, the nurse
observes that the client is sedated, but arouses, easily and denies further nausea. Which action
should the nurse implement?
Encourage the client to rest until feeling more alert.
3. A female client with osteoporosis has been taking a weekly dose of oral risedronate for several
weeks. The client calls the clinic nurse to report increasing “hearburn.” How should the nurse
respond?
Advise the client to go to the nearest emergency department.
4. The nurse is preparing medications for a client with bipolar disorder and notices that the
antipsychotic medication was discontinued several days ago. Which medication should also be
discontinued?
Lithium
5. An adolescent receives a new prescription for isotretinoin (claravis) for cystic acne. Which
information is most important for the nurse to provide?
Consider an alternative summer job, other than life-guarding.
6. The nurse is teaching a male client with type 1 diabetes mellitus about the onset, peak, and
duration of a new prescription for glargine (lantus) insulin. The the insulin is self-administered at
0800, when is the client most likely to experience hypoglycemia?
No peak occurs
, 7. Which nursing action has the highest priority when administering a dose of codeine with
acetaminophen to a client?
Instruct the client to request assistance when ambulating to the bathroom.
8. A male client reveives a scopolamine transdermal patch 2 hours prior to surgery. Four hours
after surgery, the client tells the nurse that he is experiencing pain and asks why the patch is not
working. What action should the nurse take?
Explain that the medication is not given to prevent pain.
9. The nurse is administering the muscle relaxant baclofen (lioresal) PO to a client diagnosed
with multiple sclerosis. Which intervention should then nurse implement?
Advise the client to move slowly and cautiously when rising and walking.
10. During a home visit, the nurse assesses a client with Alzheimer’s Disease who recently
started a new prescription for rivastigmine (exelon). The caregiver reports that the client seems
to be thinking more clearly, but is not sleeping well at night. Which action should the nurse take?
Explain to the caregiver that insomnia is a common and temporary side effect when the
medication is first started.
11. The nurse is administering IV fluconazole (Diflucan) to a client who has systemic
candidiasis. After reviewing the client’s diagnostic studies, then nurse identifies a rising trend in
the liver enzyme levels for aspartate aminotransferase (AST, also called SGOT). What action
should the nurse implement?
Hold the dose and notify the healthcare provider of the changes in the laboratory studies.
12. A client with a history of asthma is experiencing an acute episode of wheezing and shortness
of breath four hours after returning from surgery. Which prescription should the nurse administer
at this time?
Pirbuterol (Maxair).
13. A client with hear failure (HF) develops hyperaldosteronism and spironolactone is
prescribed. Which instruction should the nurse include in this client’s plan of care?
1. A client is receiving tamsulosin (Flomax), an alpha adrenergic blocking agent, for the
management of urinary retention due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Which instruction is
most important for the nurse to provide?
Stand and sit up slowly
2. Thirty minutes after administering trimethobenzamide (tigan) to a client with nausea, the nurse
observes that the client is sedated, but arouses, easily and denies further nausea. Which action
should the nurse implement?
Encourage the client to rest until feeling more alert.
3. A female client with osteoporosis has been taking a weekly dose of oral risedronate for several
weeks. The client calls the clinic nurse to report increasing “hearburn.” How should the nurse
respond?
Advise the client to go to the nearest emergency department.
4. The nurse is preparing medications for a client with bipolar disorder and notices that the
antipsychotic medication was discontinued several days ago. Which medication should also be
discontinued?
Lithium
5. An adolescent receives a new prescription for isotretinoin (claravis) for cystic acne. Which
information is most important for the nurse to provide?
Consider an alternative summer job, other than life-guarding.
6. The nurse is teaching a male client with type 1 diabetes mellitus about the onset, peak, and
duration of a new prescription for glargine (lantus) insulin. The the insulin is self-administered at
0800, when is the client most likely to experience hypoglycemia?
No peak occurs
, 7. Which nursing action has the highest priority when administering a dose of codeine with
acetaminophen to a client?
Instruct the client to request assistance when ambulating to the bathroom.
8. A male client reveives a scopolamine transdermal patch 2 hours prior to surgery. Four hours
after surgery, the client tells the nurse that he is experiencing pain and asks why the patch is not
working. What action should the nurse take?
Explain that the medication is not given to prevent pain.
9. The nurse is administering the muscle relaxant baclofen (lioresal) PO to a client diagnosed
with multiple sclerosis. Which intervention should then nurse implement?
Advise the client to move slowly and cautiously when rising and walking.
10. During a home visit, the nurse assesses a client with Alzheimer’s Disease who recently
started a new prescription for rivastigmine (exelon). The caregiver reports that the client seems
to be thinking more clearly, but is not sleeping well at night. Which action should the nurse take?
Explain to the caregiver that insomnia is a common and temporary side effect when the
medication is first started.
11. The nurse is administering IV fluconazole (Diflucan) to a client who has systemic
candidiasis. After reviewing the client’s diagnostic studies, then nurse identifies a rising trend in
the liver enzyme levels for aspartate aminotransferase (AST, also called SGOT). What action
should the nurse implement?
Hold the dose and notify the healthcare provider of the changes in the laboratory studies.
12. A client with a history of asthma is experiencing an acute episode of wheezing and shortness
of breath four hours after returning from surgery. Which prescription should the nurse administer
at this time?
Pirbuterol (Maxair).
13. A client with hear failure (HF) develops hyperaldosteronism and spironolactone is
prescribed. Which instruction should the nurse include in this client’s plan of care?
