Pharmacology HESI V2 Preparation exam with
questions and answers latest 2026-2027 RATED A+
A client is prescribed phenobarbital sodium (Luminal) for a seizure disorder. The medication has
a long half-life of 4 days. Based on this half-life, the medication will most likely be prescribed
A. once a day.
B. twice a day.
C. three times a day.
D. four times a day. - CORRECT ANSWERS ANS: A
Medication with long half-lives remain at their therapeutic levels between doses for long periods
of time. Therefore, this medication can be administered once a day.
A nurse educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence medication
metabolism with a group of nurses. Medication dosages may need to be decreased for which of
the following reasons? (Select all that apply.)
A. Increased renal excretion
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
C. Liver failure
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication metabolized by the same pathway - CORRECT ANSWERS
ANS: C, E
Liver failure decreases metabolism and thus increase the concentration of medication. This may
require decreasing the dosage of medication. When two medications are metabolized in the
same way, they may compete for metabolism, thereby increasing the concentration of one or
both medications.
Increased renal excretion may decrease concentration of the medication, requiring increased
dosage. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes can decrease the concentration of the
medication. The dose might need increased. Peripheral vascular disease may impair
distribution, and more of the medication may be needed.
A nurse s preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which of the following are appropriate
nursing interventions related to this procedure? (Select all that apply.)
A. Using medical aseptic technique
B. Asking the client to look up at the ceiling
C. Having the client lie in a side-lying position
,Pharmacology HESI V2 Preparation exam with
questions and answers latest 2026-2027 RATED A+
D. Dropping medication into the center of the client's conjunctival sac
E. Instructing the client to close the eye gently - CORRECT ANSWERS ANS:B, D, E
The medication should be dropped into the center of the conjunctival sac to promote better
distribution of the medication. The client should close the eye gently to allow improved
distribution of the medication.
Surgical aseptic technique is used to administer eye drops. The client should be sitting or in a
supine position to facilitate proper administration of eye drops.
A nurse is completing discharge teaching to a client who has a new prescription for a
transdermal medication. Which of the following statements by the client indicates understanding
of the teaching?
A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab prior to applying the patch."
B. "I will rotate the application site weekly."
C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
D. "I will place the new patch on the site of the old patch." - CORRECT ANSWERS ANS: C
Transdermal medication should be applied to a hairless area of skin to promote absorption of
medication.
The skin should be washed with soap and water and dried thoroughly before applying a
transdermal patch. Application sites should be rotated on a daily basis to prevent skin irritation.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription by the provider to
verify the trough level of the client's medication. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
A. Have a blood specimen obtained immediately prior to the next dose of medication.
B. Verify that the client has been on the medication for 24 hr before ordering a blood specimen.
C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose of medication.
D. Begin administering the medication, and obtain a blood specimen. - CORRECT ANSWERS
ANS: A
To verify trough levels of a medication, a blood specimen is obtained immediately before the
next dose of medication.
,Pharmacology HESI V2 Preparation exam with
questions and answers latest 2026-2027 RATED A+
A nurse is preparing a client's medication. Which of the following are legal responsibilities of the
nurse? (Select all that apply.)
A. Maintaining skill competency
B. Determining the dosage
C. Monitoring for adverse effects
D. Safeguarding medications
E. Identifying the client's diagnosis - CORRECT ANSWERS ANS: A, C, D
Determining medication dosage and identifying a diagnosis is the role/responsibility of the
provider. The nurse should be informed about a client's diagnosis.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription by the provider for
lisinopril (Zestril) 10 mg PO every day. The nurse should recognize this as which of the following
types of prescription?
A. Single prescription
B. Stat prescription
C. Routine prescription
D. Standing prescription - CORRECT ANSWERS ANS: C
A routine prescription identifies a medication that is given on a regular schedule. This
medication is administered every day until discontinued.
A single prescription is to be given once at a specified time or as soon as possible. A stat
prescription is only given once, and it is given immediately. A standing prescription is written for
specific circumstances or a specific unit.
A nurse is reviewing a new prescription for ondansetron (Zofran) 4 mg PO PRN nausea and
vomiting for a client who has hyperemesis gravidarum. The nurse should clarify which of the
following parts of the prescription with the provider?
A. Name
B. Dosage
C. Route
D. Time - CORRECT ANSWERS ANS: D
The time and frequency of medication administration is not included and should be clarified with
the provider.
, Pharmacology HESI V2 Preparation exam with
questions and answers latest 2026-2027 RATED A+
A nurse is orienting a newly hired nurse and discussing how to take telephone prescription.
Which of the following statements by the newly hired nurse indicates understanding of the
discussion?
A. "A second nurse enters the prescription into the client's health record."
B. "Another nurse should listen to the phone call."
C. "The provider can clarify the prescription when he signs the health record."
D. "The 'read back' is omitted if this is a one-time prescription." - CORRECT ANSWERS
ANS: B
The second nurse should listen to a telephone prescription to prevent errors in communication.
The nurse who takes the telephone prescription should enter it into the client's health record to
prevent errors in translation. The nurse verifies the prescription is complete and accurate at the
time it is given by reading it back to the provider. A telephone prescription includes reading back
all types of medication prescription.
A nurse on a medical unit is admitting a client and completing a preassessment before
administration of medications. Which of the following data should the nurse include in the
preassessment? (Select all that apply.)
A. Use of herbal teas
B. Daily fluid intake
C. Current health status
D. Previous surgical history
E. Food allergies - CORRECT ANSWERS ANS: A, C, E
Use of herbal product,s which often contains caffeine, should be assessed prior to medication
administration because caffeine can affect medication biotransformation. Current health status
should be reviewed because new prescriptions can cause alterations in current health status.
Food allergies should be included in the preassessment that is completed prior to medication
administration to identify any potential interactions.
Daily fluid intake and surgical history is important, but it is not part of the presassessment that is
completed prior to medication administration.
questions and answers latest 2026-2027 RATED A+
A client is prescribed phenobarbital sodium (Luminal) for a seizure disorder. The medication has
a long half-life of 4 days. Based on this half-life, the medication will most likely be prescribed
A. once a day.
B. twice a day.
C. three times a day.
D. four times a day. - CORRECT ANSWERS ANS: A
Medication with long half-lives remain at their therapeutic levels between doses for long periods
of time. Therefore, this medication can be administered once a day.
A nurse educator is reviewing medication dosages and factors that influence medication
metabolism with a group of nurses. Medication dosages may need to be decreased for which of
the following reasons? (Select all that apply.)
A. Increased renal excretion
B. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes
C. Liver failure
D. Peripheral vascular disease
E. Concurrent use of medication metabolized by the same pathway - CORRECT ANSWERS
ANS: C, E
Liver failure decreases metabolism and thus increase the concentration of medication. This may
require decreasing the dosage of medication. When two medications are metabolized in the
same way, they may compete for metabolism, thereby increasing the concentration of one or
both medications.
Increased renal excretion may decrease concentration of the medication, requiring increased
dosage. Increased medication-metabolizing enzymes can decrease the concentration of the
medication. The dose might need increased. Peripheral vascular disease may impair
distribution, and more of the medication may be needed.
A nurse s preparing to administer eye drops to a client. Which of the following are appropriate
nursing interventions related to this procedure? (Select all that apply.)
A. Using medical aseptic technique
B. Asking the client to look up at the ceiling
C. Having the client lie in a side-lying position
,Pharmacology HESI V2 Preparation exam with
questions and answers latest 2026-2027 RATED A+
D. Dropping medication into the center of the client's conjunctival sac
E. Instructing the client to close the eye gently - CORRECT ANSWERS ANS:B, D, E
The medication should be dropped into the center of the conjunctival sac to promote better
distribution of the medication. The client should close the eye gently to allow improved
distribution of the medication.
Surgical aseptic technique is used to administer eye drops. The client should be sitting or in a
supine position to facilitate proper administration of eye drops.
A nurse is completing discharge teaching to a client who has a new prescription for a
transdermal medication. Which of the following statements by the client indicates understanding
of the teaching?
A. "I will clean the site with an alcohol swab prior to applying the patch."
B. "I will rotate the application site weekly."
C. "I will apply the patch to an area of skin with no hair."
D. "I will place the new patch on the site of the old patch." - CORRECT ANSWERS ANS: C
Transdermal medication should be applied to a hairless area of skin to promote absorption of
medication.
The skin should be washed with soap and water and dried thoroughly before applying a
transdermal patch. Application sites should be rotated on a daily basis to prevent skin irritation.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription by the provider to
verify the trough level of the client's medication. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
A. Have a blood specimen obtained immediately prior to the next dose of medication.
B. Verify that the client has been on the medication for 24 hr before ordering a blood specimen.
C. Ask the client to provide a urine specimen after the next dose of medication.
D. Begin administering the medication, and obtain a blood specimen. - CORRECT ANSWERS
ANS: A
To verify trough levels of a medication, a blood specimen is obtained immediately before the
next dose of medication.
,Pharmacology HESI V2 Preparation exam with
questions and answers latest 2026-2027 RATED A+
A nurse is preparing a client's medication. Which of the following are legal responsibilities of the
nurse? (Select all that apply.)
A. Maintaining skill competency
B. Determining the dosage
C. Monitoring for adverse effects
D. Safeguarding medications
E. Identifying the client's diagnosis - CORRECT ANSWERS ANS: A, C, D
Determining medication dosage and identifying a diagnosis is the role/responsibility of the
provider. The nurse should be informed about a client's diagnosis.
A nurse is reviewing a client's health record and notes a new prescription by the provider for
lisinopril (Zestril) 10 mg PO every day. The nurse should recognize this as which of the following
types of prescription?
A. Single prescription
B. Stat prescription
C. Routine prescription
D. Standing prescription - CORRECT ANSWERS ANS: C
A routine prescription identifies a medication that is given on a regular schedule. This
medication is administered every day until discontinued.
A single prescription is to be given once at a specified time or as soon as possible. A stat
prescription is only given once, and it is given immediately. A standing prescription is written for
specific circumstances or a specific unit.
A nurse is reviewing a new prescription for ondansetron (Zofran) 4 mg PO PRN nausea and
vomiting for a client who has hyperemesis gravidarum. The nurse should clarify which of the
following parts of the prescription with the provider?
A. Name
B. Dosage
C. Route
D. Time - CORRECT ANSWERS ANS: D
The time and frequency of medication administration is not included and should be clarified with
the provider.
, Pharmacology HESI V2 Preparation exam with
questions and answers latest 2026-2027 RATED A+
A nurse is orienting a newly hired nurse and discussing how to take telephone prescription.
Which of the following statements by the newly hired nurse indicates understanding of the
discussion?
A. "A second nurse enters the prescription into the client's health record."
B. "Another nurse should listen to the phone call."
C. "The provider can clarify the prescription when he signs the health record."
D. "The 'read back' is omitted if this is a one-time prescription." - CORRECT ANSWERS
ANS: B
The second nurse should listen to a telephone prescription to prevent errors in communication.
The nurse who takes the telephone prescription should enter it into the client's health record to
prevent errors in translation. The nurse verifies the prescription is complete and accurate at the
time it is given by reading it back to the provider. A telephone prescription includes reading back
all types of medication prescription.
A nurse on a medical unit is admitting a client and completing a preassessment before
administration of medications. Which of the following data should the nurse include in the
preassessment? (Select all that apply.)
A. Use of herbal teas
B. Daily fluid intake
C. Current health status
D. Previous surgical history
E. Food allergies - CORRECT ANSWERS ANS: A, C, E
Use of herbal product,s which often contains caffeine, should be assessed prior to medication
administration because caffeine can affect medication biotransformation. Current health status
should be reviewed because new prescriptions can cause alterations in current health status.
Food allergies should be included in the preassessment that is completed prior to medication
administration to identify any potential interactions.
Daily fluid intake and surgical history is important, but it is not part of the presassessment that is
completed prior to medication administration.
