HESI RN
Care Hope College RN HESI Pharmacology Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A client is receiving intravenous vancomycin, and the nurse plans to draw blood for a peak and trough to determine the serum level of the drug. Which collection times would provide the best determination of these levels?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Vancomycin peak levels are drawn 1 hour post-infusion, and trough levels 1 hour pre-dose (
A) for accurate therapeutic monitoring. Two-hour intervals (
B) miss peak/trough. Mid-infusion (
C) is too early for peak. Immediate post-dose (
D) underestimates peak.
Question 2 of 5
Before administering the evening dose of carbamazepine, the nurse notes that the patient’s morning carbamazepine level was 84 mcg/mL. What action should the nurse take?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Carbamazepine’s therapeutic range is 4-12 mcg/mL; 84 mcg/mL (
A) indicates toxicity risk, requiring provider notification. Administering (
B) or withholding (
C) without consultation is unsafe. Assessing side effects (
D) is secondary to reporting.
Question 3 of 5
A client with atrial fibrillation has been prescribed dabigatran. What instruction should the nurse include in this client’s teaching plan?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Dabigatran increases bleeding risk; avoiding NSAIDs (
B) reduces this risk. Spinach (
A) affects warfarin, not dabigatran. Routine bleeding tests (
C) aren’t required for dabigatran. Antidotes (
D) like idarucizumab are hospital-administered, not kept at home.
Question 4 of 5
An adult patient at an outpatient clinic has been prescribed the antibiotic tetracycline HCI. What should the nurse include in the patient’s teaching plan?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Tetracycline causes photosensitivity, increasing sunburn risk, so sun protection (
B) is essential. Milk/antacids (
A) reduce absorption by chelating tetracycline. Orange juice (
C) contains calcium, impairing absorption. Weekly drug level checks (
D) are not required for tetracycline.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse initiates an infusion of piperacillin-tazobactam for a client with a urinary tract infection. Five minutes into the infusion, the client reports not feeling well. Which client manifestation should the nurse identify as a reason to stop the infusion?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A scratchy throat (
B) may indicate an allergic reaction, potentially anaphylaxis, requiring immediate cessation of the piperacillin-tazobactam infusion and assessment. Hypertension (
A), bradycardia (
C), and pupillary constriction (
D) are not typical signs of an allergic response to this antibiotic.