Pharmacology NCLEX-PN Practice Quiz
141 NCLEX-PN style questions with detailed rationales. Test your medication knowledge including drug classes, side effects, and nursing implications.
Ready to Test Yourself?
141 questions modeled after the Exit Exam format — pick how many below.
About This Pharmacology Practice Test
This free Pharmacology practice test covers the drug classes LPN/LVN students are tested on: analgesics, anti-infectives, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine and diabetes, gastrointestinal, psychiatric, renal and urinary, reproductive, hematologic, and immune and inflammatory agents — plus medication safety and dosage. Every question is written in NCLEX-PN style with a full rationale after each answer.
What This Quiz Covers
- Analgesics 11
- Anti-Infectives 20
- Cardiovascular 16
- Respiratory 6
- Endocrine / Diabetes 15
- Gastrointestinal 11
- Psychiatric 20
- Renal / Urinary 5
- Reproductive 5
- Hematologic 10
- Immune / Inflammatory 5
- Med Safety & Dosage 17
Sample Questions
Five questions pulled straight from this quiz, with the same rationales you get after every answer.
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving morphine sulfate. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately?
- AConstricted pupils
- BRespiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute
- CBlood pressure of 118/76 mmHg
- DReport of mild constipation
Show answer & rationale
A respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min indicates severe respiratory depression, the most dangerous adverse effect of opioids. The nurse should hold the medication, notify the provider, and prepare to administer naloxone (Narcan), the opioid antagonist. Constricted pupils (miosis) and constipation are expected side effects, not emergencies.
2. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a new prescription for lisinopril. Which of the following adverse effects should the nurse include in the teaching?
- APersistent dry cough
- BIncreased urination
- CWeight gain
- DConstipation
Show answer & rationale
A persistent dry cough is the most common reason clients discontinue ACE inhibitors (drugs ending in -pril). This occurs due to the buildup of bradykinin in the lungs. Other adverse effects include hyperkalemia, angioedema (swelling of lips/tongue -- stop immediately), and first-dose hypotension. If the cough is intolerable, the provider may switch to an ARB.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer insulin to a client. The provider has prescribed NPH insulin and regular insulin. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
- ADraw up the NPH insulin first, then the regular insulin
- BDraw up the regular insulin first, then the NPH insulin
- CMix the insulins in separate syringes
- DAdminister the NPH insulin intravenously
Show answer & rationale
When mixing NPH and regular insulin in the same syringe, always draw up the clear (regular) insulin first, then the cloudy (NPH). The mnemonic is 'clear before cloudy.' This prevents contamination of the regular insulin vial with NPH particles. NPH insulin is never given intravenously -- only regular insulin can be administered IV.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who is taking warfarin. Which of the following laboratory values indicates a therapeutic response?
- AINR of 1.0
- BaPTT of 45 seconds
- CINR of 2.5
- DPlatelet count of 250,000
Show answer & rationale
The therapeutic INR range for warfarin is 2.0-3.0 (or 2.5-3.5 for mechanical heart valves). An INR of 2.5 is within the therapeutic range. INR of 1.0 is subtherapeutic (not anticoagulated). aPTT is used to monitor heparin, not warfarin. The antidote for warfarin toxicity is vitamin K.
5. A nurse is teaching a client who takes an MAOI antidepressant about foods to avoid. Which of the following foods should the client avoid? Select all that apply.
- AAged cheddar cheese
- BFresh grilled chicken
- CCured or smoked meats such as salami and pepperoni
- DDraft beer
- EWhite rice
- FFresh cottage cheese
Show answer & rationale
MAOIs combined with tyramine-rich foods can cause a hypertensive crisis. Foods to avoid include aged cheeses, cured/smoked/processed meats, draft beer, red wine, and fermented foods such as sauerkraut, soy sauce, and miso. Age is what matters with cheese, not cheese itself: FRESH unripened cheeses such as cottage, cream, and ricotta are low in tyramine and allowed, while aged and matured cheeses are not. Fresh meats and plain starches like white rice are also safe. Pearl: aged, cured, smoked, or fermented = avoid; fresh = fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these Pharmacology practice questions really free?
Yes. All 141 questions are free to use, with no account, no sign-up, and no card. You can retake the quiz as many times as you like.
Will this help with my ATI or HESI exit exam?
It should. Nursing school exit exams such as the ATI PN Comprehensive Predictor and the HESI PN Exit Exam are built to predict NCLEX-PN readiness, so they draw on the same content areas these questions follow. The question formats differ, but the material overlaps heavily.
Do the questions come with rationales?
Every one does. As soon as you answer, you see whether you were right along with a full explanation of the reasoning, including why the other options are wrong.
How long is the Pharmacology practice test?
You choose. Take a short set of 10 for a quick review, or work through the full pool of 141 questions as a longer practice test. You can also filter by topic to drill a single area.
Want to review before you test yourself? Read the Pharmacology study guides, or browse all 8 subject quizzes.
More practice quizzes
Every subject below is free, needs no account, and every question comes with a full rationale.
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