HESI RN
RN HESI Pharmacology Exam Questions
Extract:
Question 1 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.
Question 2 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.
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: heart rate 77 bpm, blood pressure 118/74 mmHg, respiratory rate 16.
1800: Vital signs: heart rate 79 bpm, blood pressure 114/78 mmHg, respiratory rate 14.
1900: Responded to an alarm in the room. The client is not responsive. Her respiratory rate is 5 bpm. Her heart rate is 92 bpm. Her pupils are pinpoint.
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
• Docusate sodium 240 mg orally every am
• Naloxone 2 mg intravenously as needed for respiratory depression
• Ibuprofen 600 mg orally every 6 hours
Question 3 of 5
What should the nurse do immediately? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: B,C,F
Rationale: Low responsiveness and respiratory rate suggest morphine overdose. Rescue breaths, naloxone (opioid antagonist), and rapid response address respiratory depression. ECG, oxygen, and compressions are secondary without specific indications.
Extract:
Question 4 of 5
A client is receiving orlistat as part of a weight management program. Which ongoing assessment should be included in the plan of care to determine the effectiveness of the medication?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Orlistat blocks dietary fat absorption, aiding weight loss. Monitoring body mass index (BMI) assesses weight reduction and program success. Depression, calorie counts, and protein levels are unrelated to orlistat’s direct effects.
Question 5 of 5
A client recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease receives a new prescription for carbidopa-levodopa, a dopaminergic drug. To reduce the client's risk for injury, which instruction should the nurse provide?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Carbidopa-levodopa can cause orthostatic hypotension, increasing fall risk. Caution during position changes prevents dizziness or fainting. Beds, rugs (tripping hazard), or assistive devices are not universally needed.