HESI RN
HESI Pharmacology Practice Exam
1. A client is prescribed allopurinol (Zyloprim) for chronic gout. Which instruction should the nurse include in the teaching plan?
- A. Take the medication with a full glass of water.
- B. Increase your intake of purine-rich foods.
- C. Stop taking the medication if you experience a gout attack.
- D. Take the medication with or without food.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct instruction for a client prescribed allopurinol (Zyloprim) for chronic gout is to take the medication with a full glass of water. This helps prevent kidney stones which can be a side effect of the medication. It is important for the client to avoid purine-rich foods to help manage gout symptoms. They should continue taking the medication even during a gout attack as prescribed by the healthcare provider. Allopurinol can be taken with or without food, so there is no need to take it on an empty stomach. Therefore, option A is the correct choice. Options B, C, and D are incorrect as increasing purine-rich foods is not recommended, stopping the medication during a gout attack is not advised, and allopurinol can be taken with or without food.
2. What is another name for the breast?
- A. Sebaceous glands
- B. Racemose glands
- C. Mammary glands
- D. Axillary glands
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Mammary glands. The mammary glands are the specific glands in the breast responsible for producing milk. Sebaceous glands (choice A) are oil-producing glands in the skin, racemose glands (choice B) are not a recognized term, and axillary glands (choice D) refer to glands found in the armpit region, not the breast.
3. The nurse is instructing a client with high cholesterol about diet and life style modification. What comment from the client indicates that the teaching has been effective?
- A. If I exercise at least two times weekly for one hour, I will lower my cholesterol.
- B. I need to avoid eating proteins, including red meat.
- C. I will limit my intake of beef to 4 ounces per week.
- D. My blood level of low density lipoproteins needs to increase.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Limiting saturated fat from animal food sources to no more than 4 ounces per week is an important diet modification for lowering cholesterol. To be effective in reducing cholesterol, the client should exercise 30 minutes per day, or at least 4 to 6 times per week. Red meat and all proteins do not need to be eliminated to lower cholesterol, but should be restricted to lean cuts of red meat and smaller portions. The low density lipoproteins need to decrease rather than increase.
4. In caring for a client who is receiving linezolid IV for nosocomial pneumonia, which assessment finding is most important for the nurse to report to the healthcare provider?
- A. Watery diarrhea
- B. Nausea
- C. Headache
- D. Dizziness
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Watery diarrhea. This finding is the most important to report as it may indicate Clostridioides difficile infection, a severe side effect of antibiotic therapy. Clostridioides difficile infection can lead to serious complications and requires immediate medical attention. Choices B, C, and D are common side effects of linezolid but are not as critical as watery diarrhea in this context.
5. In a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which of the following interventions is most important?
- A. Encouraging the patient to stop smoking.
- B. Administering bronchodilators.
- C. Monitoring oxygen saturation.
- D. Providing nutritional support.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Monitoring oxygen saturation is the most important intervention in a patient with COPD because it helps assess the adequacy of oxygenation. In COPD, patients often have compromised lung function, leading to decreased oxygen levels in the blood. Monitoring oxygen saturation allows healthcare providers to promptly identify and address any potential hypoxemia, which is vital in managing COPD exacerbations. While encouraging the patient to stop smoking (Choice A) is critical for long-term management, monitoring oxygen saturation takes precedence in the immediate care of a COPD patient. Administering bronchodilators (Choice B) and providing nutritional support (Choice D) are important aspects of managing COPD but are secondary to monitoring oxygen saturation, which directly impacts the patient's oxygenation status.