HESI RN
Nightdale College HESI Pharmacology RN Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A client with nasal congestion receives a prescription for phenylephrine 10 mg by mouth every 4 hours. Which client condition should the nurse report to the healthcare provider before administering the medication? Which condition should the nurse report to the healthcare provider before administering the medication?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Phenylephrine, a vasoconstrictor, can elevate blood pressure, exacerbating hypertension and risking cardiovascular complications. Reporting this condition to the provider ensures safe administration. Diarrhea, bronchitis, or edema are not contraindications for phenylephrine.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse administers risedronate to a client with osteoporosis at 0700. The client asks for a glass of milk to drink with the medication. Which action should the nurse take? Which action should the nurse take?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Risedronate, a bisphosphonate, requires administration with water on an empty stomach to ensure absorption, as calcium in milk binds to the drug, reducing efficacy. Instructing the client to take it with water only is critical. Delaying or taking with food/milk is incorrect and reduces effectiveness.
Question 3 of 5
A client with peptic ulcer disease receives a new prescription for cimetidine. Which statement provided by the client requires additional instruction by the nurse? Which statement requires additional instruction by the nurse?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Smoking impairs cimetidine’s effectiveness and delays ulcer healing, requiring complete cessation, not just reduction. The client’s statement about reducing cigarette use indicates a misunderstanding, needing further instruction. Other statements about antacids, lethargy, and sexual dysfunction are correct.
Question 4 of 5
Rivastigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor, is prescribed for a female client with early stage Alzheimer's disease. The client's daughter tells the nurse that she plans to start administering the drug when her mother's symptoms are no longer manageable, in hopes that her mother will not have to go to a nursing home. How should the nurse respond? How should the nurse respond?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rivastigmine is most effective in early Alzheimer’s, slowing cognitive decline and delaying institutionalization. Explaining the need for early use corrects the daughter’s misconception, optimizing outcomes. Confirming disease progression or assessing mental status does not address the timing error, and affirming delayed use is incorrect.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse admits a client with a diagnosis of stage 4 cancer. The client has a prescription to wear a subcutaneous morphine sulfate patch for pain. The client is short of breath and difficult to arouse. While performing a head to toe assessment, the nurse discovers four patches on the client's body. Which action should the nurse take first? Which action should the nurse take first?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Multiple morphine patches indicate an overdose, causing respiratory depression and sedation. Removing the patches stops further drug absorption, addressing the root cause. Oxygen or reversal drugs may follow, but removing the source is the priority to prevent worsening of the overdose.