PHARMACOLOGY HESI EXAM NEWEST EXAM 2025 | ALL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
(PROFESSOR VERIFIED) | ALREADY GRADED A+ | LATEST EXAM
Question 1
A nurse is reviewing a client's lab results and notes elevated AST and ALT liver enzymes. Which
condition might this indicate?
A) Kidney dysfunction
B) Liver problem
C) Pancreatitis
D) Anemia
E) Bone marrow suppression
Correct Answer: B) Liver problem
Rationale: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
are liver enzymes. Elevated levels in a blood test typically indicate damage or
inflammation in the liver.
Question 2
What is the normal range for a client's platelet count?
A) 50,000-100,000/mm³
B) 100,000-150,000/mm³
C) 150,000-400,000/mm³
D) 400,000-500,000/mm³
E) Above 500,000/mm³
Correct Answer: C) 150,000-400,000/mm3
Rationale: Maintaining a platelet count within this normal range is essential for
effective blood clotting and preventing bleeding disorders.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a client for digoxin toxicity. Which signs and symptoms should the nurse
monitor for?
A) Tachycardia, hypertension, increased appetite
B) Bradycardia (dysrhythmia), green or yellow halos around objects, GI S/S (N/V, anorexia)
C) Hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, normal vision
D) Muscle cramps, hyperactivity, skin rash
,E) Diarrhea, weight gain, blurred vision
Correct Answer: B) Bradycardia (dysrhythmia) including Peds Green or Yellow Halos
around objects GI S/S: N/V; anorexia
Rationale: The classic signs of digoxin toxicity include cardiac dysrhythmias
(especially bradycardia), visual disturbances (halos), and gastrointestinal symptoms
(nausea, vomiting, anorexia).
Question 4
Which electrolyte imbalance specifically increases the risk of digoxin toxicity?
A) Hypernatremia
B) Hyperkalemia
C) Hypokalemia
D) Hypocalcemia
E) Hypermagnesemia
Correct Answer: C) Hypokalmia
Rationale: Hypokalemia increases the risk of digoxin toxicity because digoxin
competes with potassium for binding sites on the sodium-potassium pump. When
potassium levels are low, more digoxin can bind, leading to toxicity.
Question 5
When assessing a client on digoxin, if the client has a heart block, is hypotensive, or
bradycardic, the nurse should consider:
A) Increasing the dose.
B) Withholding the medication.
C) Administering a diuretic.
D) Administering an antiarrhythmic.
E) Reassuring the client these are normal side effects.
Correct Answer: B) withhold
Rationale: Digoxin has negative chronotropic (decreases heart rate) and
dromotropic (decreases conduction velocity) effects. These conditions are
contraindications or require extreme caution, making withholding the dose
prudent until clarified with the provider.
,Question 6
Which medication combination is commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease?
A) Acetaminophen and ibuprofen
B) Carbidopa/Levodopa
C) Metformin and glipizide
D) Lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide
E) Warfarin and heparin
Correct Answer: B) Carbidopa/Levodopa
Rationale: Carbidopa is combined with levodopa to prevent the peripheral
metabolism of levodopa, making more levodopa available to cross the blood-brain
barrier and be converted to dopamine in the brain, where it is needed to treat
Parkinson's symptoms.
Question 7
A nurse is teaching a client about orlistat. Which side effect should the nurse include in the
teaching?
A) Constipation
B) Steatorrhea (Oily stools)
C) Increased absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
D) Weight gain
E) Dry mouth
Correct Answer: B) Steatorrhea (Oily stools)
Rationale: Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor that prevents the absorption of dietary fats.
This often leads to gastrointestinal side effects like oily stools (steatorrhea), fecal
incontinence, and decreased absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
Question 8
What is the primary action of calcitriol?
A) Decreases blood levels of calcium.
B) Increases blood levels of calcium by increasing the absorption of calcium in the kidneys.
C) Inhibits bone reabsorption.
D) Promotes phosphate excretion.
, E) Lowers blood pressure.
Correct Answer: B) Increases blood levels of calcium by increasing the absorption of
calcium in the kidneys
Rationale: Calcitriol is the active form of Vitamin D. It increases blood calcium levels
by promoting calcium absorption from the intestines and also by increasing
calcium reabsorption in the kidneys.
Question 9
Which condition is a contraindication for Lamisil (terbinafine) tablets?
A) Athlete's foot
B) Ringworm
C) Jock itch
D) History of allergic reaction to oral terbinafine
E) History of diabetes
Correct Answer: D) History of allergic reaction to oral terbinafine
Rationale: Lamisil (terbinafine) is an antifungal. A history of allergic reaction to the
drug itself is a direct contraindication due to the risk of anaphylaxis.
Question 10
A nurse is monitoring a client taking verapamil. The nurse should hold the medication and
notify the provider if the client's systolic blood pressure is less than _____ or heart rate is less
than _____.
A) 120 mmHg; 70 bpm
B) 100 mmHg; 60 bpm
C) 90 mmHg; 50 bpm
D) 110 mmHg; 65 bpm
E) 130 mmHg; 80 bpm
Correct Answer: B) 100 or HR is less than 60
Rationale: Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker that lowers heart rate and blood
pressure. Holding parameters are typically a systolic BP < 100 mmHg or HR < 60
bpm to prevent excessive hypotension or bradycardia.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
(PROFESSOR VERIFIED) | ALREADY GRADED A+ | LATEST EXAM
Question 1
A nurse is reviewing a client's lab results and notes elevated AST and ALT liver enzymes. Which
condition might this indicate?
A) Kidney dysfunction
B) Liver problem
C) Pancreatitis
D) Anemia
E) Bone marrow suppression
Correct Answer: B) Liver problem
Rationale: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
are liver enzymes. Elevated levels in a blood test typically indicate damage or
inflammation in the liver.
Question 2
What is the normal range for a client's platelet count?
A) 50,000-100,000/mm³
B) 100,000-150,000/mm³
C) 150,000-400,000/mm³
D) 400,000-500,000/mm³
E) Above 500,000/mm³
Correct Answer: C) 150,000-400,000/mm3
Rationale: Maintaining a platelet count within this normal range is essential for
effective blood clotting and preventing bleeding disorders.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a client for digoxin toxicity. Which signs and symptoms should the nurse
monitor for?
A) Tachycardia, hypertension, increased appetite
B) Bradycardia (dysrhythmia), green or yellow halos around objects, GI S/S (N/V, anorexia)
C) Hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, normal vision
D) Muscle cramps, hyperactivity, skin rash
,E) Diarrhea, weight gain, blurred vision
Correct Answer: B) Bradycardia (dysrhythmia) including Peds Green or Yellow Halos
around objects GI S/S: N/V; anorexia
Rationale: The classic signs of digoxin toxicity include cardiac dysrhythmias
(especially bradycardia), visual disturbances (halos), and gastrointestinal symptoms
(nausea, vomiting, anorexia).
Question 4
Which electrolyte imbalance specifically increases the risk of digoxin toxicity?
A) Hypernatremia
B) Hyperkalemia
C) Hypokalemia
D) Hypocalcemia
E) Hypermagnesemia
Correct Answer: C) Hypokalmia
Rationale: Hypokalemia increases the risk of digoxin toxicity because digoxin
competes with potassium for binding sites on the sodium-potassium pump. When
potassium levels are low, more digoxin can bind, leading to toxicity.
Question 5
When assessing a client on digoxin, if the client has a heart block, is hypotensive, or
bradycardic, the nurse should consider:
A) Increasing the dose.
B) Withholding the medication.
C) Administering a diuretic.
D) Administering an antiarrhythmic.
E) Reassuring the client these are normal side effects.
Correct Answer: B) withhold
Rationale: Digoxin has negative chronotropic (decreases heart rate) and
dromotropic (decreases conduction velocity) effects. These conditions are
contraindications or require extreme caution, making withholding the dose
prudent until clarified with the provider.
,Question 6
Which medication combination is commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease?
A) Acetaminophen and ibuprofen
B) Carbidopa/Levodopa
C) Metformin and glipizide
D) Lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide
E) Warfarin and heparin
Correct Answer: B) Carbidopa/Levodopa
Rationale: Carbidopa is combined with levodopa to prevent the peripheral
metabolism of levodopa, making more levodopa available to cross the blood-brain
barrier and be converted to dopamine in the brain, where it is needed to treat
Parkinson's symptoms.
Question 7
A nurse is teaching a client about orlistat. Which side effect should the nurse include in the
teaching?
A) Constipation
B) Steatorrhea (Oily stools)
C) Increased absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
D) Weight gain
E) Dry mouth
Correct Answer: B) Steatorrhea (Oily stools)
Rationale: Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor that prevents the absorption of dietary fats.
This often leads to gastrointestinal side effects like oily stools (steatorrhea), fecal
incontinence, and decreased absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
Question 8
What is the primary action of calcitriol?
A) Decreases blood levels of calcium.
B) Increases blood levels of calcium by increasing the absorption of calcium in the kidneys.
C) Inhibits bone reabsorption.
D) Promotes phosphate excretion.
, E) Lowers blood pressure.
Correct Answer: B) Increases blood levels of calcium by increasing the absorption of
calcium in the kidneys
Rationale: Calcitriol is the active form of Vitamin D. It increases blood calcium levels
by promoting calcium absorption from the intestines and also by increasing
calcium reabsorption in the kidneys.
Question 9
Which condition is a contraindication for Lamisil (terbinafine) tablets?
A) Athlete's foot
B) Ringworm
C) Jock itch
D) History of allergic reaction to oral terbinafine
E) History of diabetes
Correct Answer: D) History of allergic reaction to oral terbinafine
Rationale: Lamisil (terbinafine) is an antifungal. A history of allergic reaction to the
drug itself is a direct contraindication due to the risk of anaphylaxis.
Question 10
A nurse is monitoring a client taking verapamil. The nurse should hold the medication and
notify the provider if the client's systolic blood pressure is less than _____ or heart rate is less
than _____.
A) 120 mmHg; 70 bpm
B) 100 mmHg; 60 bpm
C) 90 mmHg; 50 bpm
D) 110 mmHg; 65 bpm
E) 130 mmHg; 80 bpm
Correct Answer: B) 100 or HR is less than 60
Rationale: Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker that lowers heart rate and blood
pressure. Holding parameters are typically a systolic BP < 100 mmHg or HR < 60
bpm to prevent excessive hypotension or bradycardia.
