PHARMACOLOGY HESI EXAM | COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
EXPERT SOLUTIONS | 2026 LATEST UPDATED | GET A+
A client receives a prescription for esomeprazole (Nexium) for heartburn. Which finding in the
client's history should the nurse report to the healthcare provider before administering the
prescription?
Eats spicy food three times a week.
History of deep vein thrombosis.
Drinks 2 alcoholic beverages on weekends.
Family history of diabetes mellitus. - (answer)History of deep vein thrombosis.
A male client who is in the terminal stage of cancer is cared for at home by his family and
receives a prescription for morphine at a rate to control intractable pain. When the hospice nurse
visits, the client awakens, moans in severe pain, and asks for an increase in the morphine dosage.
After determining the client's respirations are 10 per minute, what is the best action for the nurse
to implement?
Titrate the morphine dose upward until the client has adequate pain relief.
Suggest to the family that they can also give the client ibuprofen, a non-narcotic analgesic.
Hold additional morphine until the client's respirations are at least 16 per minute.
Inform the client that an increased dose of morphine increases side effects without additional
pain control. - (answer)Titrate the morphine dose upward until the client has adequate pain relief.
A client with Paget's disease is started on calcitonin (Calcimar) 500 mcg subcutaneously daily.
During the initial treatment, what is the priority nursing action?
Assess the injection site for inflammation.
Evaluate the client's level of pain.
Monitor the client's alkaline phosphatase levels.
,Observe the client for signs of hypersensitivity. - (answer)Observe the client for signs of
hypersensitivity.
A client is taking cyclosporine for renal allograft rejection prevention. After 9 months of drug
therapy, the nurse reviews laboratory data and notes that the blood urea nitrogen level is 36
mg/dl. What additional finding should the nurse identify?
Hypotension.
White blood cell count 10,000.
Creatinine 28 mg/dl.
Anaphylactic reaction. - (answer)Creatinine 28 mg/dl.
The nurse receives a unit of blood from the blood bank for a postoperative client who is currently
in the X-ray department. What action should the nurse implement?
Return the blood to the blood bank for refrigeration within 30 minutes.
Hang the blood transfusion as soon as the client returns to the unit.
Store the blood bag in the nursing unit's refrigerator until the client returns.
Take the unit of blood to the X-ray department to initiate the transfusion. - (answer)Return the
blood to the blood bank for refrigeration within 30 minutes.
Which side effects should the nurse monitor for a client who is receiving dexamethasone
(Decadron) following neurosurgery? (Select all that apply.)
Select all that apply
Mood swings.
Decreased appetite.
Increased weight gain.
Serum glucose level of 65 mg/dl.
,Delayed incisional wound healing.
Serum hemoglobin level of 9 mg/dl. - (answer)Mood swings.
Increased weight gain.
Delayed incisional wound healing.
Serum hemoglobin level of 9 mg/dl.
A client is taking danazol (Danocrine) for endometriosis and calls the clinic nurse to complain of
a dark, swollen, and painful leg. What instructions should the nurse provide the client?
Wear support stockings.
Elevate both legs and apply heat.
Proceed to the closest emergency room.
Walk for 20 to 30 minutes to reduce muscle cramps. - (answer)Proceed to the closest emergency
room.
A client asks the nurse to explain the meaning of a narrow therapeutic index of a medication.
What information should the nurse use to answer the question?
The onset of action for the medication occurs very quickly.
A small margin exists between safe and toxic plasma levels.
Bioavailability is significantly reduced by the first-pass effect.
Minimum dosage is needed for the medication to be effective. - (answer)A small margin exists
between safe and toxic plasma levels.
A c lient is receiving fentanyl via an epidural infusion. Which side effect should the nurse
anticipate in the first 24 hours of epidural analgesia ?
Headache.
Agitation.
, Urinary retention.
Abdominal cramping and diarrhea. - (answer)Urinary retention.
The healthcare provider prescribes a medication for an older adult client who is complaining of
insomnia, and instructs the client to return in two weeks. The nurse should question which
prescription?
Zolpidem (Ambien) 10 milligrams orally at bedtime.
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) 10 milligrams orally at bedtime.
Temazepam (Restoril) 7.5 milligrams orally at bedtime.
Ramelteon (Rozerem) 8 milligrams orally at bedtime. - (answer)Eszopiclone (Lunesta) 10
milligrams orally at bedtime.
Which route should the nurse clarify with the healthcare provider prior to administering a drug
with a high first-pass effect?
Oral.
Buccal.
Sublingual.
Intravenous. - (answer)Oral.
The therapeutic effect of insulin in treating Type 1 diabetes mellitus is based on which
physiologic action?
Facilitates transport of glucose into the cells.
Stimulates function of beta cells in the pancreas.
Increases intracellular receptor site sensitivity.
Delays carbohydrate digestion and absorption. - (answer)Facilitates transport of glucose into the
cells.
EXPERT SOLUTIONS | 2026 LATEST UPDATED | GET A+
A client receives a prescription for esomeprazole (Nexium) for heartburn. Which finding in the
client's history should the nurse report to the healthcare provider before administering the
prescription?
Eats spicy food three times a week.
History of deep vein thrombosis.
Drinks 2 alcoholic beverages on weekends.
Family history of diabetes mellitus. - (answer)History of deep vein thrombosis.
A male client who is in the terminal stage of cancer is cared for at home by his family and
receives a prescription for morphine at a rate to control intractable pain. When the hospice nurse
visits, the client awakens, moans in severe pain, and asks for an increase in the morphine dosage.
After determining the client's respirations are 10 per minute, what is the best action for the nurse
to implement?
Titrate the morphine dose upward until the client has adequate pain relief.
Suggest to the family that they can also give the client ibuprofen, a non-narcotic analgesic.
Hold additional morphine until the client's respirations are at least 16 per minute.
Inform the client that an increased dose of morphine increases side effects without additional
pain control. - (answer)Titrate the morphine dose upward until the client has adequate pain relief.
A client with Paget's disease is started on calcitonin (Calcimar) 500 mcg subcutaneously daily.
During the initial treatment, what is the priority nursing action?
Assess the injection site for inflammation.
Evaluate the client's level of pain.
Monitor the client's alkaline phosphatase levels.
,Observe the client for signs of hypersensitivity. - (answer)Observe the client for signs of
hypersensitivity.
A client is taking cyclosporine for renal allograft rejection prevention. After 9 months of drug
therapy, the nurse reviews laboratory data and notes that the blood urea nitrogen level is 36
mg/dl. What additional finding should the nurse identify?
Hypotension.
White blood cell count 10,000.
Creatinine 28 mg/dl.
Anaphylactic reaction. - (answer)Creatinine 28 mg/dl.
The nurse receives a unit of blood from the blood bank for a postoperative client who is currently
in the X-ray department. What action should the nurse implement?
Return the blood to the blood bank for refrigeration within 30 minutes.
Hang the blood transfusion as soon as the client returns to the unit.
Store the blood bag in the nursing unit's refrigerator until the client returns.
Take the unit of blood to the X-ray department to initiate the transfusion. - (answer)Return the
blood to the blood bank for refrigeration within 30 minutes.
Which side effects should the nurse monitor for a client who is receiving dexamethasone
(Decadron) following neurosurgery? (Select all that apply.)
Select all that apply
Mood swings.
Decreased appetite.
Increased weight gain.
Serum glucose level of 65 mg/dl.
,Delayed incisional wound healing.
Serum hemoglobin level of 9 mg/dl. - (answer)Mood swings.
Increased weight gain.
Delayed incisional wound healing.
Serum hemoglobin level of 9 mg/dl.
A client is taking danazol (Danocrine) for endometriosis and calls the clinic nurse to complain of
a dark, swollen, and painful leg. What instructions should the nurse provide the client?
Wear support stockings.
Elevate both legs and apply heat.
Proceed to the closest emergency room.
Walk for 20 to 30 minutes to reduce muscle cramps. - (answer)Proceed to the closest emergency
room.
A client asks the nurse to explain the meaning of a narrow therapeutic index of a medication.
What information should the nurse use to answer the question?
The onset of action for the medication occurs very quickly.
A small margin exists between safe and toxic plasma levels.
Bioavailability is significantly reduced by the first-pass effect.
Minimum dosage is needed for the medication to be effective. - (answer)A small margin exists
between safe and toxic plasma levels.
A c lient is receiving fentanyl via an epidural infusion. Which side effect should the nurse
anticipate in the first 24 hours of epidural analgesia ?
Headache.
Agitation.
, Urinary retention.
Abdominal cramping and diarrhea. - (answer)Urinary retention.
The healthcare provider prescribes a medication for an older adult client who is complaining of
insomnia, and instructs the client to return in two weeks. The nurse should question which
prescription?
Zolpidem (Ambien) 10 milligrams orally at bedtime.
Eszopiclone (Lunesta) 10 milligrams orally at bedtime.
Temazepam (Restoril) 7.5 milligrams orally at bedtime.
Ramelteon (Rozerem) 8 milligrams orally at bedtime. - (answer)Eszopiclone (Lunesta) 10
milligrams orally at bedtime.
Which route should the nurse clarify with the healthcare provider prior to administering a drug
with a high first-pass effect?
Oral.
Buccal.
Sublingual.
Intravenous. - (answer)Oral.
The therapeutic effect of insulin in treating Type 1 diabetes mellitus is based on which
physiologic action?
Facilitates transport of glucose into the cells.
Stimulates function of beta cells in the pancreas.
Increases intracellular receptor site sensitivity.
Delays carbohydrate digestion and absorption. - (answer)Facilitates transport of glucose into the
cells.
