PN HESI PHARM Q&A GARDED A+
While taking a client's history, the practical nurse (PN) discovers that the client, who takes Coumadin
daily, has added a ginger supplement on the advice of a friend. What comment is critical for the PN
to provide to this client? "Your health care provider is interested in all medications and herbs you
take."
A client with diabetes mellitus takes insulin daily and is prescribed propranolol (Inderal). Which
information should the nurse provide to this client? A sign of hypoglycemia is that propranolol
slows a rapid heart rate.
A client has a positive skin test for tuberculosis. What prophylactic drug should the practical nurse
(PN) expect to be prescribed for this client? Isoniazid (INH)
Amitriptyline hydrochloride (Elavil) is prescribed for an adult female client who is clinically
depressed. Five days after beginning the drug, the client is admitted to the hospital because of
suicide ideation. She tells the practical nurse (PN) that the drug is not working because she is not
feeling any better. Which explanation should the PN provide? "It takes 2 to 4 weeks for
antidepressant medications to become effective."
In planning care for a client diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia, which intervention should the
practical nurse implement? Obtain the sputum specimen before administering prescribed
antibiotics.
Phenytoin (Dilantin) is prescribed for a client who has a seizure disorder. Which statement by the
client indicates to the practical nurse that the instruction about this drug has been effective? "I
know that I should never stop taking this medication abruptly."
The practical nurse (PN) is obtaining the medical history of a female client starting a new prescription
for conjugated estrogens (Premarin) 0.625 mg PO daily. Before taking the first dose of the
medication, which information is most important for the PN to obtain from the client? Cigarette
smoking history
A mother brings her 3-month-old infant to the well-baby clinic because the baby has developed oral
thrush. Which pharmacological agent should the practical nurse (PN) expect to be prescribed for the
thrush? Nystatin (Mycostatin)
, The H2 receptor blocker famotidine (Pepcid) is prescribed for a client who has been taking antacids
for chronic gastritis. Which client statement indicates to the practical nurse (PN) that teaching was
effective regarding concurrent use of these medications? "I will take the antacid after meals and
the Pepcid at bedtime."
A mother brings her 18-month-old child to the clinic because the child has had "bad diarrhea" for the
last 3 days. She states, "I bought some of this liquid at the pharmacy and gave my daughter a half-
ounce." The practical nurse (PN) sees that the bottle contains loperamide (Imodium AD). What
intervention is most important for the PN to implement initially? Ask the mother when the child
last voided.
A client who received a prescription for cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion (Restasis) for dry eyes asks
the practical nurse (PN) if it is safe to continue using artificial tears. What information should the PN
provide? Allow a 15-minute interval between the administration of Restasis and artificial tears.
The health care provider prescribes morphine sulfate grain 1/8 IM stat. Morphine is available in 8
mg/mL. How many milliliters should the practical nurse (PN) administer? 1 mL
A 74-year-old female client asks the practical nurse (PN) if she should get a flu shot. Which response
should the PN provide? "Yes. Normal aging decreases your immunity, making you more
susceptible to contagious diseases such as the flu."
A 78-year-old client with congestive heart failure (CHF) receives the cardiac glycoside digoxin
(Lanoxin) 0.25 mg PO daily. Which observation by the nurse indicates that the medication has been
effective? Clear breath sounds bilaterally.
The healthcare provider orders 1000 mL of 0.5% normal saline to run over 8 hours. The drop factor is
15 gtt/mL. The nurse plans to adjust the flow rate to how many gtt/min? (Round to the nearest
whole number.) 31
A client asks the practical nurse (PN) if glipizide (Glucotrol) is an oral insulin. What answer should the
PN provide? "No, it is not an oral insulin and can be used only when some beta cell function is
present."
A female client who started taking an oral sulfonamide for a urinary tract infection the previous day
reports to the nurse that the medication is causing slight anorexia. She also states that she continues
to experience urinary frequency, so she takes the medication with a small sip of cranberry juice and
While taking a client's history, the practical nurse (PN) discovers that the client, who takes Coumadin
daily, has added a ginger supplement on the advice of a friend. What comment is critical for the PN
to provide to this client? "Your health care provider is interested in all medications and herbs you
take."
A client with diabetes mellitus takes insulin daily and is prescribed propranolol (Inderal). Which
information should the nurse provide to this client? A sign of hypoglycemia is that propranolol
slows a rapid heart rate.
A client has a positive skin test for tuberculosis. What prophylactic drug should the practical nurse
(PN) expect to be prescribed for this client? Isoniazid (INH)
Amitriptyline hydrochloride (Elavil) is prescribed for an adult female client who is clinically
depressed. Five days after beginning the drug, the client is admitted to the hospital because of
suicide ideation. She tells the practical nurse (PN) that the drug is not working because she is not
feeling any better. Which explanation should the PN provide? "It takes 2 to 4 weeks for
antidepressant medications to become effective."
In planning care for a client diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia, which intervention should the
practical nurse implement? Obtain the sputum specimen before administering prescribed
antibiotics.
Phenytoin (Dilantin) is prescribed for a client who has a seizure disorder. Which statement by the
client indicates to the practical nurse that the instruction about this drug has been effective? "I
know that I should never stop taking this medication abruptly."
The practical nurse (PN) is obtaining the medical history of a female client starting a new prescription
for conjugated estrogens (Premarin) 0.625 mg PO daily. Before taking the first dose of the
medication, which information is most important for the PN to obtain from the client? Cigarette
smoking history
A mother brings her 3-month-old infant to the well-baby clinic because the baby has developed oral
thrush. Which pharmacological agent should the practical nurse (PN) expect to be prescribed for the
thrush? Nystatin (Mycostatin)
, The H2 receptor blocker famotidine (Pepcid) is prescribed for a client who has been taking antacids
for chronic gastritis. Which client statement indicates to the practical nurse (PN) that teaching was
effective regarding concurrent use of these medications? "I will take the antacid after meals and
the Pepcid at bedtime."
A mother brings her 18-month-old child to the clinic because the child has had "bad diarrhea" for the
last 3 days. She states, "I bought some of this liquid at the pharmacy and gave my daughter a half-
ounce." The practical nurse (PN) sees that the bottle contains loperamide (Imodium AD). What
intervention is most important for the PN to implement initially? Ask the mother when the child
last voided.
A client who received a prescription for cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion (Restasis) for dry eyes asks
the practical nurse (PN) if it is safe to continue using artificial tears. What information should the PN
provide? Allow a 15-minute interval between the administration of Restasis and artificial tears.
The health care provider prescribes morphine sulfate grain 1/8 IM stat. Morphine is available in 8
mg/mL. How many milliliters should the practical nurse (PN) administer? 1 mL
A 74-year-old female client asks the practical nurse (PN) if she should get a flu shot. Which response
should the PN provide? "Yes. Normal aging decreases your immunity, making you more
susceptible to contagious diseases such as the flu."
A 78-year-old client with congestive heart failure (CHF) receives the cardiac glycoside digoxin
(Lanoxin) 0.25 mg PO daily. Which observation by the nurse indicates that the medication has been
effective? Clear breath sounds bilaterally.
The healthcare provider orders 1000 mL of 0.5% normal saline to run over 8 hours. The drop factor is
15 gtt/mL. The nurse plans to adjust the flow rate to how many gtt/min? (Round to the nearest
whole number.) 31
A client asks the practical nurse (PN) if glipizide (Glucotrol) is an oral insulin. What answer should the
PN provide? "No, it is not an oral insulin and can be used only when some beta cell function is
present."
A female client who started taking an oral sulfonamide for a urinary tract infection the previous day
reports to the nurse that the medication is causing slight anorexia. She also states that she continues
to experience urinary frequency, so she takes the medication with a small sip of cranberry juice and
