HESI RN
RN HESI Pharmacology Exam Questions
Question 1 of 5
A client with multiple sclerosis starts a new prescription, baclofen, to control muscle spasticity. Three days later, the client calls the clinic nurse and reports feeling fatigued and dizzy. Which instruction should the nurse provide?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Baclofen’s common side effects include fatigue and dizziness, which may subside with time. Avoiding hazardous activities prevents injury. Fluids/protein, stopping abruptly, or ER visits are inappropriate without severe symptoms.
Extract:
History and Physical
The client is a 42-year-old female who had a right above-the-knee amputation for osteomyelitis. The client has a drain in place and a surgical dressing that will need to be changed by the surgeon on post-op day 1.
Nurses' Notes
1400: Started continuous morphine in the left antecubital vein peripheral intravenous line. No redness, edema, or bleeding noted at the site. Vital signs: heart rate 77 bpm, blood pressure 118/74 mmHg, respiratory rate 16.
1800: Vital signs: heart rate 79 bpm, blood pressure 114/78 mmHg, respiratory rate 14.
1900: Responded to an alarm in the room. The client is not responsive. Her respiratory rate is 5 bpm. Her heart rate is 92 bpm. Her pupils are pinpoint.
Orders
• Admit to the surgical floor
• Clear liquid diet, advance as tolerated
• Continuous cardiorespiratory monitoring
• Morphine 1 mg/hr intravenously
• Alert surgeon to signs of bleeding or infection in the surgical site
• Docusate sodium 240 mg orally every am
• Naloxone 2 mg intravenously as needed for respiratory depression
• Ibuprofen 600 mg orally every 6 hours
Question 2 of 5
What should the nurse do immediately? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: B,C,F
Rationale: Low responsiveness and respiratory rate suggest morphine overdose. Rescue breaths, naloxone (opioid antagonist), and rapid response address respiratory depression. ECG, oxygen, and compressions are secondary without specific indications.
Extract:
Question 3 of 5
A client who experiences migraine headaches reports having fewer headaches since using the herbal remedy feverfew. Which information is most important for the nurse to include in a teaching plan for this client?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Feverfew’s antiplatelet effects increase bleeding risk when combined with aspirin or NSAIDs, critical for clients using these for migraines. Allergies, GI side effects, and anxiety are important but less urgent than bleeding risk.
Question 4 of 5
A client who is taking an oral dose of a tetracycline reports gastrointestinal (GI) upset. Which snack should the nurse instruct the client to take with the tetracycline?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tetracycline absorption is reduced by calcium in dairy products.
Toasted wheat bread and jelly, free of dairy or iron, minimizes GI upset and maintains efficacy. Cheese, yogurt, and milk contain calcium, impairing absorption.
Question 5 of 5
The healthcare provider prescribes enoxaparin sodium 80 mg subcutaneously twice daily. The nurse is preparing a preloaded 1 mL syringe labeled, 'enoxaparin sodium injection, USP 60 mg/0.6 mL'. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)
Correct Answer: 0.8
Rationale: Calculate: (80 mg ÷ 60 mg) × 0.6 mL = 0.8 mL. The nurse should administer 0.8 mL to deliver 80 mg of enoxaparin.