PHARMACOLOGY HESI ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS 2023 (55 Q&A)

1. 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 esomeprazole. Which information should the client include in the nurse’s teaching plan? A. Once pain subsides, NSAID therapy can be continued B. Resume a diet that consists of milk, cream, and bland foods C. Notify the healthcare provider of the passage of black stool D. Call the clinic if diarrhea or headache occur when taking esomeprazole Answer: C. Notify the healthcare provider of the passage of black stool 2. When administering zolpidem to an older client, which computer documentation indicates that the desired outcome has been achieved? A. Sleeps soundly through the night B. Decreased episodes of incontinence C. Exhibits fewer emotional outburst D. Improved ability to concentrate Answer: A. Sleeps soundly through the night 3.A male client with a fungal infection of the toenail reports to the nurse that he has been applying an over-the-counter triple antibiotic ointment to the infection daily for two weeks without any improvement. Which action should the nurse take? A. Instruct the client to obtain a prescription for oral terbinafine B. Suggest that the client use the ointment twice a day to be more effective C. Reassure that the treatment of fungus-infected toenails often takes several months D. Advise the client to obtain a prescription-strength formulation of the ointment Answer: A. Instruct the client to obtain a prescription for oral terbinafine 4. A client with a nasogastric tube (NGT) has a prescription for sucralfate. The liquid form of the medication is not currently available in the pharmacy and tablets have been delivered to the medication dispensing system. Which action should the nurse include when administering the medication? A. Crush the tablet and mix it with water separately from other medications B. Crush the tablet and mix it with other crushed tablets diluted in water C. Withhold the medication until a liquid form is available on the nursing unit D. Crush the tablet and mix it with other liquid medications for administration Answer: A. Crush the tablet and mix it with water separately from other medications 5. A client with chronic asthma receives a prescription for montelukast, a leukotriene modifier. Which statement by the client indicates to the nurse that medication teaching was effective? A. I should take this medication only when I am having an asthma attack B. I will take the tablet every evening to control my asthma C. This medication will stop an asthma attack immediately D. I will not need to use my inhalers twice a day when I start this medication Answer: B. I will take the tablet every evening to control my asthma 6. The nurse is planning to administer the antiulcer GI agent sucralfate to a client with peptic ulcer disease. Which action should the nurse include in this client’s plan of care? A. Assess for secondary Candida infection B. Administer sucralfate once a day, preferably at bedtime C. Give sucralfate on an empty stomach D. Monitor for electrolyte imbalance Answer: C. Give sucralfate once a day, preferably at bedtime 7. A client with anemia secondary to chronic kidney disease (CKD) started a prescription for epoetin alfa two months ago. Which client finding best indicates that the medication is effective? A. Reports of increased energy levels and decreased fatigue B. Takes concurrent iron therapy without adverse effects C. Food diary shows increased consumption of iron-rich foods D. Hemoglobin level increased to 12 grams/dL (120 mmol/L) Answer: D. Hemoglobin level increased to 12 grams/dL (120 mmol/L) 8. The healthcare provider prescribes propylthiouracil (PTU) and Lugol’s solution, a strong idoine solution, for a client with hyperthyroidism. How should the nurse schedule the administration of these medications? A. Administer iodine one hour before PTU B. Offer both drugs together with a meal C. Schedule both medications at bedtime D. Give parental dose once every 24 hours Answer: B. Offer both drugs together with a meal 9. Twenty minutes after the nurse starts a secondary IV infusion of cefepime 2 grams using an infusion pump to deliver the dose in one hour, the client reports feeling nauseated. Which action should the nurse implement? A. Continue the infusion and administer a PRN antiemetic prescription B. Stop the medication infusion and notify the healthcare provider of the adverse effect C. Reassure the client that the nausea us not related to the IV infusion D. Increase the rate of the infusion to complete the dose of the medication more rapidly Answer: A. Continue the infusion and administer a PRN antiemetic prescription 10. A client with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, who has been taking pregabalin for 2 weeks reports diminished foot pain. The nurse notes that there is no improvement in the healing of several toe ulcerations. Which action should the nurse take? A. Review the plan of care for strategies used to manage the foot ulcerations B. Reassure the client that diabetic foot ulcers take several months to heal C. Explain that the medication dosage will probably need to be increased D. Withhold the next dose of the drug until the healthcare provider is notified Answer: A. Review the plan of care for strategies used to manage the foot ulcerations