1|Page
HESI PHARMACOLOGY EXAM 2025 180 QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS AND RATIONAILE, VERIFIED, 100%
CORRECT ALREADY GRADED A+
1. A client taking digoxin has a serum level of 2.8 ng/mL. What should the nurse
do first?
A. Administer the next dose
B. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
C. Document as normal
D. Give potassium chloride
Answer: B. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
Rationale: Normal digoxin level is 0.5–2.0 ng/mL. A level of 2.8 indicates
toxicity.
2. A patient on furosemide reports muscle cramps and weakness. Which lab value
is most important to assess?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Magnesium
Answer: B. Potassium
Rationale: Loop diuretics cause potassium loss, leading to hypokalemia, which
explains cramps and weakness.
3. Which teaching is essential for a patient taking warfarin?
A. Avoid all green leafy vegetables
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B. Report unusual bleeding or bruising
C. Take only with meals
D. Expect black tarry stools
Answer: B. Report unusual bleeding or bruising
Rationale: The greatest risk is bleeding. Patients should maintain consistent
vitamin K intake, not avoid it completely.
4. A nurse is about to administer IV morphine sulfate. What should the nurse
assess first?
A. Bowel sounds
B. Pain level
C. Respiratory rate
D. Blood pressure
Answer: C. Respiratory rate
Rationale: Opioids can cause respiratory depression. The nurse must assess
breathing before giving morphine.
5. Which finding indicates a therapeutic effect of nitroglycerin in a patient with
angina?
A. Decreased blood pressure
B. Relief of chest pain
C. Increased heart rate
D. Improved bowel sounds
Answer: B. Relief of chest pain
Rationale: Nitroglycerin works by dilating coronary arteries and reducing
myocardial oxygen demand, which relieves pain.
6. A patient receiving gentamicin should be monitored closely for which toxicity?
A. Hepatic
B. Renal
C. Pulmonary
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D. Cardiac
Answer: B. Renal
Rationale: Aminoglycosides can cause nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity.
7. A client prescribed prednisone long-term should be monitored for which
condition?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Infection
C. Hypotension
D. Weight loss
Answer: B. Infection
Rationale: Corticosteroids suppress the immune system, increasing risk for
infection.
8. Which lab test should be monitored for a patient taking heparin?
A. PT/INR
B. aPTT
C. Platelet count only
D. Hemoglobin A1c
Answer: B. aPTT
Rationale: Heparin therapy is monitored by activated partial thromboplastin time
(aPTT).
9. A nurse is teaching about levothyroxine. Which statement shows understanding?
A. “I will take this medication at night.”
B. “I should take it with food.”
C. “I need to take this medication for life.”
D. “I should stop it once I feel better.”
Answer: C. I need to take this medication for life.
Rationale: Thyroid replacement is usually lifelong and should be taken on an
empty stomach in the morning.
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10. Which finding is a priority to report for a patient on lithium therapy?
A. Mild thirst
B. Tremors
C. Polyuria
D. Confusion
Answer: D. Confusion
Rationale: Confusion may indicate lithium toxicity, which is life-threatening.
11. A patient taking phenytoin has gum swelling. What should the nurse teach?
A. Stop taking the drug immediately
B. Brush and floss carefully
C. Take with milk
D. Increase calcium intake
Answer: B. Brush and floss carefully
Rationale: Phenytoin can cause gingival hyperplasia. Good oral care helps reduce
this effect.
12. Which condition is a contraindication for beta-blockers like propranolol?
A. Hypertension
B. Asthma
C. Angina
D. Migraine
Answer: B. Asthma
Rationale: Nonselective beta-blockers can cause bronchospasm and worsen
asthma.
13. A patient on spironolactone should avoid which food?
A. Apples
B. Bananas
C. Rice
D. Chicken
Answer: B. Bananas
HESI PHARMACOLOGY EXAM 2025 180 QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS AND RATIONAILE, VERIFIED, 100%
CORRECT ALREADY GRADED A+
1. A client taking digoxin has a serum level of 2.8 ng/mL. What should the nurse
do first?
A. Administer the next dose
B. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
C. Document as normal
D. Give potassium chloride
Answer: B. Notify the healthcare provider immediately
Rationale: Normal digoxin level is 0.5–2.0 ng/mL. A level of 2.8 indicates
toxicity.
2. A patient on furosemide reports muscle cramps and weakness. Which lab value
is most important to assess?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Magnesium
Answer: B. Potassium
Rationale: Loop diuretics cause potassium loss, leading to hypokalemia, which
explains cramps and weakness.
3. Which teaching is essential for a patient taking warfarin?
A. Avoid all green leafy vegetables
,2|Page
B. Report unusual bleeding or bruising
C. Take only with meals
D. Expect black tarry stools
Answer: B. Report unusual bleeding or bruising
Rationale: The greatest risk is bleeding. Patients should maintain consistent
vitamin K intake, not avoid it completely.
4. A nurse is about to administer IV morphine sulfate. What should the nurse
assess first?
A. Bowel sounds
B. Pain level
C. Respiratory rate
D. Blood pressure
Answer: C. Respiratory rate
Rationale: Opioids can cause respiratory depression. The nurse must assess
breathing before giving morphine.
5. Which finding indicates a therapeutic effect of nitroglycerin in a patient with
angina?
A. Decreased blood pressure
B. Relief of chest pain
C. Increased heart rate
D. Improved bowel sounds
Answer: B. Relief of chest pain
Rationale: Nitroglycerin works by dilating coronary arteries and reducing
myocardial oxygen demand, which relieves pain.
6. A patient receiving gentamicin should be monitored closely for which toxicity?
A. Hepatic
B. Renal
C. Pulmonary
,3|Page
D. Cardiac
Answer: B. Renal
Rationale: Aminoglycosides can cause nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity.
7. A client prescribed prednisone long-term should be monitored for which
condition?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Infection
C. Hypotension
D. Weight loss
Answer: B. Infection
Rationale: Corticosteroids suppress the immune system, increasing risk for
infection.
8. Which lab test should be monitored for a patient taking heparin?
A. PT/INR
B. aPTT
C. Platelet count only
D. Hemoglobin A1c
Answer: B. aPTT
Rationale: Heparin therapy is monitored by activated partial thromboplastin time
(aPTT).
9. A nurse is teaching about levothyroxine. Which statement shows understanding?
A. “I will take this medication at night.”
B. “I should take it with food.”
C. “I need to take this medication for life.”
D. “I should stop it once I feel better.”
Answer: C. I need to take this medication for life.
Rationale: Thyroid replacement is usually lifelong and should be taken on an
empty stomach in the morning.
, 4|Page
10. Which finding is a priority to report for a patient on lithium therapy?
A. Mild thirst
B. Tremors
C. Polyuria
D. Confusion
Answer: D. Confusion
Rationale: Confusion may indicate lithium toxicity, which is life-threatening.
11. A patient taking phenytoin has gum swelling. What should the nurse teach?
A. Stop taking the drug immediately
B. Brush and floss carefully
C. Take with milk
D. Increase calcium intake
Answer: B. Brush and floss carefully
Rationale: Phenytoin can cause gingival hyperplasia. Good oral care helps reduce
this effect.
12. Which condition is a contraindication for beta-blockers like propranolol?
A. Hypertension
B. Asthma
C. Angina
D. Migraine
Answer: B. Asthma
Rationale: Nonselective beta-blockers can cause bronchospasm and worsen
asthma.
13. A patient on spironolactone should avoid which food?
A. Apples
B. Bananas
C. Rice
D. Chicken
Answer: B. Bananas
