EVOLVE HESI Pharmacology Exam Study Guide 2025/2026
– Complete Questions with Verified Detailed Answers (A+
Graded)
EVOLVE HESI Pharmacology Exam Study Guide 2025/2026
Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics
1. What is the study of what the body does to a drug, including absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacotherapeutics
C. Pharmacokinetics ✓
D. Pharmacology
2. The process by which a drug is transferred from its site of entry into the bloodstream is
known as:
A. Distribution
B. Absorption ✓
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
3. The primary organ for drug metabolism is the:
A. Kidney
B. Liver ✓
C. Lung
D. Stomach
4. The primary organ for drug excretion is the:
A. Kidney ✓
B. Liver
C. Skin
D. Intestines
5. What term describes the time it takes for the plasma concentration of a drug to reduce
by half?
A. Onset of Action
B. Peak Level
, C. Half-Life ✓
D. Therapeutic Index
6. The study of what the drug does to the body, including the mechanism of action and
effects, is called:
A. Pharmacokinetics
B. Pharmacodynamics ✓
C. Pharmacogenetics
D. Toxicology
7. The first-pass effect primarily affects drugs administered by which route?
A. Intravenous (IV)
B. Intramuscular (IM)
C. Subcutaneous (Subcut)
D. Oral (PO) ✓
8. Two drugs that, when taken together, produce an effect greater than the sum of their
individual effects are said to have:
A. Antagonism
B. Synergism ✓
C. Potentiation
D. Tolerance
Nursing Process & Patient Safety
9. Before administering any medication, what is the nurse's highest priority?
A. Document the medication
B. Check the patient's allergy status ✓
C. Educate the patient on side effects
D. Crush the pill if the patient has difficulty swallowing
10. The "rights" of medication administration include all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Right patient
B. Right medication
C. Right dose
D. Right diagnosis ✓
11. What is the best way for a nurse to ensure they have the right patient?
A. Call the patient by name
B. Check the name on the door
, C. Use two patient identifiers ✓
D. Ask the patient's roommate
12. When a patient reports a new, mild side effect to a medication, the nurse's first action
should be to:
A. Withhold the next dose
B. Notify the provider immediately
C. Assess the patient thoroughly ✓
D. Document it in the chart
13. A medication error has occurred. The nurse's priority action is to:
A. Notify the physician
B. Assess the patient for adverse effects ✓
C. Complete an incident report
D. Document the error in the chart
14. The purpose of a "black box warning" on a medication is to:
A. Indicate a generic drug
B. Alert prescribers to serious or life-threatening adverse effects ✓
C. Show the drug is available over-the-counter
D. Highlight the most common side effect
Cardiovascular Medications
15. A patient taking Furosemide (Lasix) should be encouraged to eat foods rich in which
electrolyte?
A. Sodium
B. Calcium
C. Potassium ✓
D. Magnesium
16. What is the antidote for Heparin overdose?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine Sulfate ✓
C. Naloxone (Narcan)
D. Flumazenil (Romazicon)
17. Which medication is classified as an Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor?
A. Metoprolol
B. Lisinopril ✓
, C. Losartan
D. Amlodipine
18. A common, expected side effect of ACE Inhibitors (like Lisinopril) that requires patient
education is:
A. Hypoglycemia
B. A persistent, dry cough ✓
C. Tachycardia
D. Diarrhea
19. The therapeutic effect of Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is to:
A. Lower blood pressure
B. Reduce chest pain (angina)
C. Lower cholesterol levels ✓
D. Prevent blood clots
20. Which laboratory value is most critical to monitor for a patient on Warfarin
(Coumadin)?
A. aPTT
B. INR (International Normalized Ratio) ✓
C. Platelet Count
D. Bleeding Time
21. What is the antidote for Warfarin (Coumadin) overdose?
A. Protamine Sulfate
B. Vitamin K ✓
C. N-Acetylcysteine
D. Calcium Gluconate
22. Digoxin (Lanoxin) toxicity is often associated with which electrolyte imbalance?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia ✓
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
23. A patient taking Metoprolol (Lopressor) should be taught to:
A. Take their pulse and hold the dose if it is below 60 bpm ✓
B. Rise slowly from a sitting or lying position
C. Avoid foods high in tyramine
D. Monitor for a persistent dry cough
– Complete Questions with Verified Detailed Answers (A+
Graded)
EVOLVE HESI Pharmacology Exam Study Guide 2025/2026
Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics
1. What is the study of what the body does to a drug, including absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion?
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacotherapeutics
C. Pharmacokinetics ✓
D. Pharmacology
2. The process by which a drug is transferred from its site of entry into the bloodstream is
known as:
A. Distribution
B. Absorption ✓
C. Metabolism
D. Excretion
3. The primary organ for drug metabolism is the:
A. Kidney
B. Liver ✓
C. Lung
D. Stomach
4. The primary organ for drug excretion is the:
A. Kidney ✓
B. Liver
C. Skin
D. Intestines
5. What term describes the time it takes for the plasma concentration of a drug to reduce
by half?
A. Onset of Action
B. Peak Level
, C. Half-Life ✓
D. Therapeutic Index
6. The study of what the drug does to the body, including the mechanism of action and
effects, is called:
A. Pharmacokinetics
B. Pharmacodynamics ✓
C. Pharmacogenetics
D. Toxicology
7. The first-pass effect primarily affects drugs administered by which route?
A. Intravenous (IV)
B. Intramuscular (IM)
C. Subcutaneous (Subcut)
D. Oral (PO) ✓
8. Two drugs that, when taken together, produce an effect greater than the sum of their
individual effects are said to have:
A. Antagonism
B. Synergism ✓
C. Potentiation
D. Tolerance
Nursing Process & Patient Safety
9. Before administering any medication, what is the nurse's highest priority?
A. Document the medication
B. Check the patient's allergy status ✓
C. Educate the patient on side effects
D. Crush the pill if the patient has difficulty swallowing
10. The "rights" of medication administration include all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Right patient
B. Right medication
C. Right dose
D. Right diagnosis ✓
11. What is the best way for a nurse to ensure they have the right patient?
A. Call the patient by name
B. Check the name on the door
, C. Use two patient identifiers ✓
D. Ask the patient's roommate
12. When a patient reports a new, mild side effect to a medication, the nurse's first action
should be to:
A. Withhold the next dose
B. Notify the provider immediately
C. Assess the patient thoroughly ✓
D. Document it in the chart
13. A medication error has occurred. The nurse's priority action is to:
A. Notify the physician
B. Assess the patient for adverse effects ✓
C. Complete an incident report
D. Document the error in the chart
14. The purpose of a "black box warning" on a medication is to:
A. Indicate a generic drug
B. Alert prescribers to serious or life-threatening adverse effects ✓
C. Show the drug is available over-the-counter
D. Highlight the most common side effect
Cardiovascular Medications
15. A patient taking Furosemide (Lasix) should be encouraged to eat foods rich in which
electrolyte?
A. Sodium
B. Calcium
C. Potassium ✓
D. Magnesium
16. What is the antidote for Heparin overdose?
A. Vitamin K
B. Protamine Sulfate ✓
C. Naloxone (Narcan)
D. Flumazenil (Romazicon)
17. Which medication is classified as an Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor?
A. Metoprolol
B. Lisinopril ✓
, C. Losartan
D. Amlodipine
18. A common, expected side effect of ACE Inhibitors (like Lisinopril) that requires patient
education is:
A. Hypoglycemia
B. A persistent, dry cough ✓
C. Tachycardia
D. Diarrhea
19. The therapeutic effect of Atorvastatin (Lipitor) is to:
A. Lower blood pressure
B. Reduce chest pain (angina)
C. Lower cholesterol levels ✓
D. Prevent blood clots
20. Which laboratory value is most critical to monitor for a patient on Warfarin
(Coumadin)?
A. aPTT
B. INR (International Normalized Ratio) ✓
C. Platelet Count
D. Bleeding Time
21. What is the antidote for Warfarin (Coumadin) overdose?
A. Protamine Sulfate
B. Vitamin K ✓
C. N-Acetylcysteine
D. Calcium Gluconate
22. Digoxin (Lanoxin) toxicity is often associated with which electrolyte imbalance?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia ✓
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
23. A patient taking Metoprolol (Lopressor) should be taught to:
A. Take their pulse and hold the dose if it is below 60 bpm ✓
B. Rise slowly from a sitting or lying position
C. Avoid foods high in tyramine
D. Monitor for a persistent dry cough
