HESI RN
RN HESI Pharmacology Exam Questions
Question 1 of 5
A client receives a prescription for 500 mL of dextrose in 5% water intravenously (IV) to be infused over 3 hours. How many mL/hr should the nurse program the infusion pump to deliver? (Enter numerical value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest whole number.)
Correct Answer: 167
Rationale: Calculate: 500 mL ÷ 3 hours = 166.67 mL/hr, rounded to 167 mL/hr. The pump should deliver 167 mL/hr.
Question 2 of 5
A client with bipolar disorder admitted with severe depression and suicidal ideation receives a prescription for lithium carbonate. Which instruction should the nurse provide to the client?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: NSAIDs increase lithium levels, risking toxicity (e.g., tremors, confusion). Eliminating NSAIDs is critical. Glucose, dental notifications, and iodine foods are unrelated to lithium safety.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is administering sevelamer during lunch to a client with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The client asks the nurse to bring the medication later. The nurse should describe which action of sevelamer as an explanation for taking it with meals?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Sevelamer binds dietary phosphorus in the gut, reducing absorption in CKD to prevent hyperphosphatemia. Taking with meals ensures binding. Reflux, acid buffering, and indigestion are unrelated.
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 are heart rate 77 bpm, blood pressure 118/74 mmHg, respiratory rate 16 breaths/min.
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
Question 4 of 5
What other medications would the nurse expect the surgeon to prescribe along with morphine? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: A,D,E
Rationale: Ibuprofen enhances pain relief and reduces inflammation, while senna and docusate sodium prevent opioid-induced constipation. Propofol (anesthetic), methadone (chronic pain), and naloxone (emergency reversal) are inappropriate for routine post-op care.
Extract:
History and Physical
• - 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
•
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
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is discussing the client's pain management with a student nurse. Morphine is a(n) ----------------------- and it activates----------------receptors and is used to relieve -------------- .
Correct Answer: A,B,E
Rationale: Morphine is a pure opioid agonist (not antagonist, correcting the provided answer), activating mu receptors for analgesia, primarily for severe pain (e.g., post-surgical). Agonist-antagonists, local anesthetics, kappa, NMDA, or other pain types are incorrect.