13. A nurse’s goal for an older adult is to reduce the risk of adverse

medication effects. Which action will the nurse take?

a. Review the patient’s list of medications at each visit.

b. Teach that polypharmacy is to be avoided at all cost.

c. Avoid information about adverse effects.

d. Focus only on prescribed medications.

ANS: A

Strategies for reducing the risk for adverse medication effects include

reviewing the medications with older adults at each visit; examining for

potential interactions with food or other medications; simplifying and

individualizing medication regimens; taking every opportunity to inform older

adults and their families about all aspects of medication use; and encouraging

older adults to question their health care providers about all prescribed and

over-the-counter medications. Although polypharmacy often reflects

inappropriate prescribing, the concurrent use of multiple medications is often

necessary when an older adult has multiple acute and chronic conditions.

Older adults are at risk for adverse drug effects because of age-related

changes in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs.

Work collaboratively with the older adult to ensure safe and appropriate use of

all medications—both prescribed medications and over-the-counter

medications and herbal options.

14. An older-adult patient has developed acute confusion. The patient

has been on tranquilizers for the past week. The patient’s vital signs are

normal. What should the nurse do?

Take into account age-related changes in body systems that affect

a. pharmacokinetic activity.

Increase the dose of tranquilizer if the cause of the confusion is an

b. infection.

c. Note when the confusion occurs and medicate before that time.

d. Restrict phone calls to prevent further confusion.

ANS: A

Some sedatives and tranquilizers prescribed for acutely confused older adults

sometimes cause or exacerbate confusion. Carefully administer drugs used to

manage confused behaviors, taking into account age-related changes in body

systems that affect pharmacokinetic activity. When confusion has a

physiological cause (such as an infection), specifically treat that cause, rather