A 32-year-old woman residing in a long-term care facility has short bowel syndrome with chronic abdominal pain and is dependent on total parenteral nutrition through a central line. The order reads: hydromorphone 1 mg IV push every 4 hours PRN for pain rated 4 or greater, prescribed today at 0800 for post-surgical adhesion pain. At the start of the shift, the LPN and the outgoing nurse must reconcile the controlled substance record: the count sheet shows 10 mg of hydromorphone should remain in the automated dispensing cabinet, but only 8 mg is present, and the waste line for the last dose given is unsigned by a second nurse. The client's pain is 6/10, respirations are 16/min, and she is alert. Which actions should the LPN take? Select all that apply.

Notify the charge nurse and pharmacy immediately about the count discrepancy and unwitnessed waste.

Ask a second qualified nurse to observe in real time while any unused hydromorphone is wasted for future doses.

Sign the waste record for the prior dose after the fact so the count sheet balances.

Document the discrepancy in the narrative note and continue the shift without further action.

Independently increase the hydromorphone dose to 2 mg because the client's pain score is 6/10.

An LPN is preparing the 0800 medications for a 52-year-old female resident of a long-term care facility with atrial fibrillation, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and osteoarthritis. The order reads: "Digoxin 0.125 mg PO daily for atrial fibrillation, Dr. Alvarez, today 0730." The medication administration record also lists glipizide 5 mg PO daily and ibuprofen 400 mg PO every 6 hours PRN for joint pain. The resident's chart notes a documented allergy to sulfa drugs with a prior rash and hives, and warfarin 5 mg PO daily for stroke prevention related to atrial fibrillation. This morning's laboratory results show: apical pulse 52 beats/min, potassium 4.1 mEq/L, fasting glucose 68 mg/dL, and INR 3.8. The resident appears drowsy but arousable and reports mild nausea. Before deciding whether to administer any of these scheduled medications, which actions should the LPN take? Select all that apply.

Verify the resident's identity using two identifiers before preparing any medication.

Confirm the digoxin order details against the MAR, including drug, dose, route, and frequency.

Review the chart for documented allergies and prior reactions before giving any ordered drug.

Administer the digoxin IV push instead of by the oral route to speed absorption.

Chart the resident's drowsiness and nausea in the nursing notes and proceed with preparing the medications.

NCLEX-PN® Prep · Pharmacological Therapies

Pharmacological Therapies
NCLEX-PN® practice.

Medication administration, dosage calculation, side effects, and pain management within the practical nurse scope. The PN name for the category RNs know as Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies.

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An 78-year-old man arrives at the outpatient clinic for management of atrial fibrillation. His documented allergies include a rash reaction to sulfa drugs. His home medication list includes warfarin 5 mg daily, atenolol 25 mg daily, a daily multivitamin, and an OTC ibuprofen 200 mg he takes "a few times a week" for knee pain. His clinical picture includes stable heart rate and no active bleeding. The new order reads: "Continue warfarin 5 mg PO daily for atrial fibrillation, Dr. Alvarez, today's visit." The LPN/VN is reviewing the medication list before the client leaves the clinic. Which action should the LPN/VN take?

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Vol. 01 · Coverage

What you'll practice

Pharmacological Therapies practice covers the areas the 2026 NCSBN PN Test Plan lists for this category, framed for the practical nurse role.

Adverse effects and contraindications

Side effects and interactions

Dosage calculation

Expected actions and outcomes

Medication administration

Pharmacological pain management

Vol. 02 · The Method

How it works

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Vol. 03 · Questions

Common questions

How is PN pharmacology different from RN pharmacology?

The category itself is scoped differently. The RN plan calls it Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies and includes independent IV therapy. The PN plan calls it Pharmacological Therapies, reflecting the practical nurse medication scope. The drugs are the same; the role questions differ.

Does this include dosage calculation practice?

Yes. Dosage calculation is a named topic in the 2026 PN test plan, and practice includes calculation alongside administration, side effects, and expected outcomes.

How does Study With Lily keep medication questions accurate?

Medications are cross-referenced against a pharmacology database covering drug classes and naming patterns, and every question passes validation checks before you see it. See exactly how we build questions for the full process.

Vol. 04 · Keep Going

Practice Coordinated Care questions Practice Health Promotion questions See the full NCLEX-PN® prep guide Practice free NCLEX-PN® questions See exactly how we build questions

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NCLEX-PN® Prep · Pharmacological Therapies

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Pharmacological TherapiesNCLEX-PN® practice.

What you'll practice

How it works

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Common questions

Where to go next

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Pharmacological Therapies
NCLEX-PN® practice.

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