HESI RN
RN HESI Pharmacology Exam Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A client with myasthenia gravis receives a new prescription for pyridostigmine. Which information should the nurse obtain prior to administering the medication?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Pyridostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor, is best taken on an empty stomach to enhance absorption. Recent oral intake informs timing. Sleep, urination, and weight loss are unrelated to administration.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is teaching a client with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) about the onset, peak, and duration of a new prescription for glargine insulin. If the insulin is administered at 0800, when is the client most likely to experience hypoglycemia?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Glargine insulin has no pronounced peak, providing steady coverage for 24 hours, minimizing hypoglycemia risk at specific times. Midmorning, midafternoon, or midnight are not tied to glargine’s profile.
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 3 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
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
1500:
• Docusate sodium 240 mg orally every am
• Naloxone 2 mg intravenously as needed for respiratory depression
• Ibuprofen 600 mg orally every 6 hours
Question 4 of 5
The charge nurse places a fall precautions sign on the client's door. What side effects of morphine could contribute to this client's fall risk? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: B,C,D,E,F,G
Rationale: Nausea, orthostatic hypotension, sedation, euphoria, itching, and urinary retention can cause dizziness, weakness, or distraction, increasing fall risk. Seizures are rare with therapeutic morphine doses.
Extract:
Question 5 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.