HESI RN
HESI Pharmacology Questions
Extract:
Question 1 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 mothers’ symptoms are no longer manageable, in hopes that her mother will not have to go to a nursing home. How should the nurse respond?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Rivastigmine slows cognitive decline in early Alzheimer’s, most effective when started early (
A). Delaying until symptoms worsen (
B) reduces efficacy. Assessing mental status (
C) or discussing progression (
D) are less direct.
Question 2 of 5
After taking orlistat for one week, a female client tells the home health nurse that she is experiencing increasingly frequent fatty stools and flatus. Which action should the nurse take?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Orlistat blocks dietary fat absorption, commonly causing fatty stools and flatus. Reviewing dietary intake (
B) assesses adherence to a low-fat diet, which can reduce these side effects. Stopping the drug (
A) is premature without evaluation. Increasing saturated fats (
C) worsens symptoms. Stool tests (D, E) are unnecessary as symptoms are expected.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is planning to discharge teaching for a client with diabetes mellitus who has a new prescription for insulin glargine. Which action should the nurse include in the discharge teaching?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Insulin glargine, a long-acting insulin, requires daily subcutaneous injection at a consistent dose. Teaching self-injection skills (
A) ensures proper administration. Dosing is not based on pre-meal glucose (
B). Glargine treats hyperglycemia, not hypoglycemia (
C). Ketoacidosis requires medical intervention, not dose increases (
D).
Question 4 of 5
Prior to administering the evening dose of carbamazepine, the nurse noted that the client’s morning carbamazepine level was 8.4 mg/L. Which action should the nurse take?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A carbamazepine level of 8.4 mg/L is therapeutic (4-12 mg/L). Administering the dose (
D) is appropriate. Withholding (
A), notifying (
B), or assessing side effects (
C) are unnecessary.
Question 5 of 5
A client with psychosis who is receiving an antipsychotic medication is continuously rubbing the back of the neck. Which nursing intervention is best for the nurse to implement?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Neck rubbing suggests acute dystonia, an antipsychotic side effect. Benztropine (
C), an anticholinergic, relieves dystonia. Pillows (
A), heating pads (
B), and therapy (
D) don’t address the cause.