HESI Pharmacology Questions and Answers
1. A client is receiving tamsulosin (Flomax), an alpha adrenergic blocking agent, for the management of urinary
... [Show More] retention due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Which instruction is most important for the nurse to provide?
Stand and sit up slowly
2. Thirty minutes after administering trimethobenzamide (tigan) to a client with nausea, the nurse observes that the client is sedated, but arouses, easily and denies further nausea. Which action should the nurse implement?
Encourage the client to rest until feeling more alert.
3. A female client with osteoporosis has been taking a weekly dose of oral risedronate for several weeks. The client calls the clinic nurse to report increasing “hearburn.” How should the nurse respond?
Advise the client to go to the nearest emergency department.
4. The nurse is preparing medications for a client with bipolar disorder and notices that the antipsychotic medication was discontinued several days ago. Which medication should also be discontinued?
Lithium
5. An adolescent receives a new prescription for isotretinoin (claravis) for cystic acne. Which information is most important for the nurse to provide?
Consider an alternative summer job, other than life-guarding.
6. The nurse is teaching a male client with type 1 diabetes mellitus about the onset, peak, and duration of a new prescription for glargine (lantus) insulin. The the insulin is self-administered at 0800, when is the client most likely to experience hypoglycemia?
No peak occurs
7. Which nursing action has the highest priority when administering a dose of codeine with acetaminophen to a client?
Instruct the client to request assistance when ambulating to the bathroom.
8. A male client reveives a scopolamine transdermal patch 2 hours prior to surgery. Four hours after surgery, the client tells the nurse that he is experiencing pain and asks why the patch is not working. What action should the nurse take?
Explain that the medication is not given to prevent pain.
9. The nurse is administering the muscle relaxant baclofen (lioresal) PO to a client diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Which intervention should then nurse implement?
Advise the client to move slowly and cautiously when rising and walking.
10. During a home visit, the nurse assesses a client with Alzheimer’s Disease who recently started a new prescription for rivastigmine (exelon). The caregiver reports that the client seems to be thinking more clearly, but is not sleeping well at night. Which action should the nurse take?
Explain to the caregiver that insomnia is a common and temporary side effect when the medication is first started.
11. The nurse is administering IV fluconazole (Diflucan) to a client who has systemic candidiasis. After reviewing the client’s diagnostic studies, then nurse identifies a rising trend in the liver enzyme levels for aspartate aminotransferase (AST, also called SGOT). What action should the nurse implement?
Hold the dose and notify the healthcare provider of the changes in the laboratory studies.
12. A client with a history of asthma is experiencing an acute episode of wheezing and shortness of breath four hours after returning from surgery. Which prescription should the nurse administer at this time?
Pirbuterol (Maxair).
13. A client with hear failure (HF) develops hyperaldosteronism and spironolactone is prescribed. Which instruction should the nurse include in this client’s plan of care?
Limit intake of high-potassium foods.
14. A client receiving the urinary antispasmodic oxybutynin CL (Ditropan XL) reports having an extremely dry mouth. How should the nurse respond?
You can suck on hard candy to help relieve the mouth dryness, which is a common side effect.
15. A female client is being treated for tuberculosis with rifampin (rifadin). Which statement indicates that further teaching is needed?
”I’ll take my usual oral contraceptives for birth control.”
16. The nurse suspects that a client has experienced an adverse reaction to a prescribed medication. Which action should the nurse take first?
Complete a focuses system assessment of the client.
17. Calculation: convert 2 Liters to 2,000ml. Then take 2,000mL and divide by 24 hours. We should have 83.33 or rounded to the nearest whole number is 83. We set the pump running at 83 ml/ hour. DOUBLE CHECK YOUR MATH CALCULATION AND ASK ANOTHER TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IF IN DOUBT.
18. A client asks the nurse about using zinc as a complementary therapy for treatment of cold symptoms. What should the nurse explain to the client regarding the use of zinc?
There is very limited evidence it reduces cold symptoms.
19. Prior to administering oral doses of calcitriol (Rocaltrol) and calcium carbonate (Os-Cal) to a client with hypoparathyroidism, the nurse notes that the client’s total calcium level is 14 mg/dL or 3.5 mmol/L (SI). Which action should the nurse implement?
Hold both medications until contacting the healthcare provider
20. A male client who has been taking a high-dose of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) comes to the clinic complaining of gastric pain and blood in his stool. The healthcare provider discontinues the NSAIDs and prescribes esomepraxole (Nexium). Which information should the nurse in this client’s teaching plan?
Notify the healthcare provider of the passage of black stools.
21. A client with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been taking riluzole for two weeks. The nurse notes that the client remains weak with observable muscle atrophy. What action should the nurse take?
Advise the client to schedule an appointment for liver function tests.
22. A female client who has trichomonas vaginalis receives a prescription for metronidazole (Flagyl). Which instruction should the nurse provide this client?
Male partners must also be treated.
23. A client with a history of angina is taking diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker. The client reports increasing fatigue with periods of feeling “faint.” Which client assessment should the nurse complete first?
Measure pulse and blood pressure for changes.
24. A peak and trough level was obtained from a client receiving an aminoglycoside IV piggyback every 8 hours. Which finding presents the highest risk for the client and should be reported immediately to the healthcare provider?
Decreased peak, decreased trough.
25. Which instruction should the nurse include when teaching a client about self-administration of a bulk-forming laxative?
Follow medication administration with an additional glass of water.
26. Ferrous sulfate elixir is prescribed for a client with iron deficiency anemia. Which instruction should the nurse provide this client about taking the liquid medication?
Use a straw to ingest.
27. To assess for effectiveness of amlodipine (Norvasc), a calcium channel blocker, what action should the nurse implement?
Measure the client’s blood pressure.
28. A client has been taking ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), by mouth, twice a day for chronic lower back pain for several months. Which assessment is most important for the nurse to complete.
Determine presence of abdominal pain.
29. The wife of a client diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease calls the clinic and tells the nurse her husband is having involuntary jerky movements of the legs and arms and is confused. Which action should the clinic nurse implement first?
Ask the client’s wife to list all medications her husband is currently taking.
30. Hormone replacement therapy with levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid) is prescribed for a client with hypothyroidism. The nurse should instruct the client to report which symptom because it indicates that the client is taking too much of the hormonal agent, Synthroid?
Restlessness.
31. A client with tuberculosis, whose antitubercular drugs include rifampin (Rifadin), reports to the nurse that his urine is reddish-orange. What response should the nurse provide this client?
This is an expected side effect and is harmless.
32. A client who is receiving pregabalin (Lyrica) for fibromyalgia complains of tremors in the hands. What action should the nurse implement?
Administer a prn dose of an antianxiety drug.
33. A client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is receiving calcium acetate (PhosLo) 667 mg PO. A decrease in which blood value indicates to the nurse that the medication is having the desired effects?
Phosphate
34. A client is discharged with a prescription for warfarin (Coumadin). Which discharge instruction should the nurse emphasize to the client?
Avoid going barefoot, especially outside.
35. The nurse is preparing a discharge teaching plan for a client who is taking ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (Cipro) tablets, which were prescribed because of a suspected anthrax exposure. Which instructions should be included in the teaching plan? (Select all that apply).
A: Limit exposure to sunlight and avoid tanning beds
C: Increase fluid intake while taking the medication
E: Report any tendon pain or swelling to the healthcare provider immediately.
36. A client receives a prescription for penicillin G 1,000,000 units IM daily. The medication is available in 1,200,000 units/2 ml syringe. How many ml should the nurse administer?
0.8 mL ~ after calculation, you must round to the nearest tenth!
37. A nitroglycerin infusion is prescribed for a client whose blood pressure is 210/112. Ten minutes after initiating the infusion at 10 mcg/minute, the client complains of a severe headache and numbness of the left arm. Which intervention should the nurse implement?
Turn off the nitroglycerin infusion.
38. A client who is obtunded arrives in the Emergency Center with a suspected drug overdose. The client becomes responsive after the administration of intravenous naloxone, but within a short period, the client’s level of consciousness decreases again and the respiratory rate decreases to 6 breaths per minute. Which action should the nurse take first?
Administer an additional dose of naloxone. [Show Less]