HESI RN
HESI Pharmacology Questions
Extract:
Question 1 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?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Multiple morphine patches suggest overdose, causing respiratory depression and sedation. Removing patches (
A) stops further absorption, the priority. Blood pressure (
B), oxygen (
C), and reversal (
D) follow.
Question 2 of 5
Two months after taking nitrofurantoin for a bacterial infection, a client reports the onset of severe, watery diarrhea to the home care nurse. How should the nurse respond?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nitrofurantoin can cause severe diarrhea, potentially indicating C. difficile infection. Explaining it as an adverse effect needing evaluation (
B) is priority. Completion status (
A) is secondary, antidiarrheals (
C) may worsen infection, and reinfection (
D) is premature.
Question 3 of 5
An older adult client with restless legs syndrome begins taking melatonin at bedtime. When evaluating the effectiveness of the herb which client assessment should the nurse complete?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Melatonin regulates sleep-wake cycles and may reduce restless legs syndrome symptoms by improving sleep. Assessing sleep patterns (
C) evaluates effectiveness. Anxiety (
A), edema (
B), and pulses (
D) are unrelated.
Question 4 of 5
An elderly client with heart failure comet to the emergency room because of nausea, vomiting, and anorexia. Based on the client’s signs and symptoms, which data from the medical history has the most significance when planning this client’s care?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Digoxin toxicity causes nausea, vomiting, and anorexia; furosemide risks electrolyte imbalances (e.g., hypokalemia), exacerbating symptoms (
C). Bypass (
A), depression (
B), and colonoscopy (
D) are less relevant.
Question 5 of 5
Which assessment data indicated to the nurse that a client is having an anaphylactic reaction to a medication?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction involving multiple systems. Wheezing and dyspnea (
D) indicate respiratory involvement, a hallmark of anaphylaxis, requiring urgent intervention. Urticaria/pruritis (
A) are common but less specific. Insomnia/irritability (
B) and tinnitus/diplopia (
C) are unrelated.