Toward Healthy Aging, 11th Edition Chapter 11: Safe Medication Use

9. When discussing pharmacological considerations, a 68-year-old client asks, "Why do medications seem to act differently than they did when I was younger?" The nurse bases the response on what concept? a. Age-related changes affect the way drugs are metabolized by older adults. b. Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs have standardized dosages that are appropriate for all ages. c. Older adults may need larger doses of medication to bring about the desired effects. d. Adverse drug reactions occur with similar frequency in older adults as the general population.

ANS: A Age-related pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes explain why older adults react differently to medications. OTC drugs can result in altered drug outcomes since that relates to the individual's response to the medication. Age-related changes may require smaller doses of medication in older patients than in younger patients. The rule is to "start low and go slow." The older a person is, the more likely he or she is to have an adverse drug reaction.

2. Which age-related change affects absorption? a. Reduced saliva b. Reduced body water c. Increased adipose tissue d. Reduced enzyme activity

ANS: A Most medications are administered orally. This is potentially problematic due to an age-related reduction in saliva. When combined with medication with strong anticholinergic properties, swallowing sometimes very difficult. Reduced body water, increased adipose tissue, and reduced enzyme activity are age-related changes that affect distribution.

4. What area do nurses have the greatest effect on the safe, effective medication therapy of an older client? a. Educating the client to all aspects of the medication. b. Assessing for adverse reactions to the medication. c. Monitoring overall health of the client as it is affected by the medication. d. Evaluating the outcomes resulting from the medication.

ANS: A Nurses have the greatest opportunity to impact medication use and improve treatment outcomes through patient education. Assessing for reactions, monitoring effects, and evaluation of outcomes all depend on the client's understanding and compliance with the medication therapy (i.e., are affected by client education).

1. What factors affect the pharmacokinetics of lipophilic medications in older adults? a. Greater adipose tissue ratio to body mass b. Decreased total body water c. Increased glomerular filtration rate d. Increased creatinine clearance

ANS: A Older adults have a higher ratio of adipose (fat) tissue where lipophilic (fat-soluble) medications can be stored thus resulting in a potential for an accumulation of the medication and potentially fatal overdoses. Older adults have a decrease in lean body mass and an increase in fat. An increased body mass would not affect lipophilic medication absorption. Older adults have a decreased glomerular filtration rate, which begins to decline as early as age 25. Older adults have a decrease in overall kidney function.

3. What factor is an important contribution to polypharmacy in older adults? a. Inadequate communication among medical care providers b. Implementation of Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit c. Use of generic medications d. Increasing popularity of dietary and herbal supplements

ANS: A When communication among patients, nurses, other health care providers, and caregivers becomes fragmented, the risk for duplicative medications, inappropriate medications, potentially unsafe dosages, and potentially preventable interactions is heightened. Medicare Part D prescription drug benefits influence the financing of medication but are not directly related to polypharmacy. Generic medications are a way to keep medication costs down. The use of herbal supplements is an important factor when examining drug interactions or adverse reactions but is not a direct factor related to polypharmacy.

1. A 77-year-old Hispanic Catholic nun (retired) who immigrated to the United States 15 years ago lives alone but in an apartment complex where her biological sister lives as well. She is being discharged home after a hospitalization for congestive heart failure with prescriptions for eight different medications. She is considered at risk for medication misuse due to what potential contributing factors? (Select all that apply.) a. language barrier b. living alone c. large number of medications d. ethnic background e. religious background

ANS: A, B, C Language barriers, living alone, and a large number of medications are all factors that have been shown to contribute to medication misuse in older adults. There is no evidence that ethnic or religious background contributes to misuse.

7. The Beers Criteria is an effective tool for health care professionals prescribing and/or managing the medication therapy of older adults since it identifies medications that have what possible outcome? a. Not typically covered by drug benefit plans b. Higher than usual risk for injury c. Likely to be abused d. High risk of allergic reactions

ANS: B Drugs on the Beers' list are those that have been identified to have a higher than usual risk when used in older adults. The Beers Criteria have no relation to medication financing. There is no evidence that the drugs are likely to be abused by older adults. There is no greater likelihood of these drugs causing allergic reactions.

10. The nurse's first response when told by a client during an assessment interview that "I can't take furosemide" is to ask what question? a. "Is your health care provider aware that you are allergic to furosemide?" b. "Can you describe what happened when you took furosemide?" c. "When was the last time you took furosemide?" d. "Have you any questions regarding your reaction to furosemide?"

ANS: B It is important to document the type of adverse drug reaction, when the patient had it, how long it lasted, and how it was treated. Determining whether the health care provider is aware of the adverse drug reaction or when the medication was last taken does not have precedence over assessing the client's reaction to the medication since neither has a direct bearing on the management of a similar reaction. Evaluating the client's understanding of the reaction is appropriate but not as an initial response.

3. An antihypertensive medication has been prescribed for an older patient diagnosed with hypertension. The patient tells a clinic nurse "I would like to take an herbal substance to help lower my blood pressure instead of the prescription medication". Which action should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.) a. Tell the patient that herbal substances are less effective than prescription medications. b. Encourage the patient to discuss the use of an herbal substance with their primary care provider. c. Explore with the patient which herbal substance they are planning on taking. d. Educate the patient on possible interactions of the herbal substance with other medications. e. Instruct the patient not to take the herbal substance, as it is dangerous.

ANS: B, C, D The popularity of medicinal herbs and supplements continues to rise. A major concern with the use of herbs and supplements is the potential interactions with prescribed medications. It is important that the patient share his or her use of herbs and substances with all providers and that the provider review the herbs and the prescribed medications to ensure compatibility.

5. When developing a teaching plan for an older, newly diagnosed diabetic client, the nurse best ensures an understanding of oral hypoglycemic medications when providing what source of teaching? a. The package insert and assessing the client's reading skills b. Website address for the American Diabetes Association c. Oral explanations and sending the client home with a written copy d. Copy of information in paragraph form as opposed to numbered line fashion

ANS: C Providing memory aids, such as written information including charts, is effective in reinforcing teaching. Package inserts are not always written in lay language that is understandable and appropriate to the reading level of the older adult. The font size of the print may be too small for aging eyes. Not all older adults are computer literate or comfortable with the use of the computer. This method may be more effective for younger clients. A more effective manner in which to provide written information to older adults is in the form of lists using a large-size font.

8. What is the most effective method the nurse can implement to elicit an accurate medication assessment on new clients in a geriatric outpatient clinic setting? a. Ask the clients to make a list of all current medications. b. Work with a family members to make a list of the clients' medications. c. Ask that the client bring in all of the medications that they are currently taking. d. Request the clients' previous primary care providers to provide a list of prescribed medications.

ANS: C The gold standard is to use the "brown bag" approach. The patient is asked to bring all medications including prescription drugs, OTC drugs, and herbal and dietary supplements. The patient may not remember all of the medications that are being taken. As each medication is removed from the bag, necessary information is obtained. A complete medication assessment includes OTC drugs, as well as herbal and dietary supplements, not just prescription medications. Your primary source of information should be the patient if she is able to provide the information; the previous provider may not be able to provide information on supplements or OTC and herbal medications. The nurse needs to include more than just prescription medications. In addition, prescribed medications do not always reflect what is being taken.

4. An older patient is prescribed warfarin for stroke prevention. The nurse providing patient education should stress the importance of avoiding which foods? (Select all that apply.) a. Milk b. Whole grains c. Kale d. Spinach e. Red meats

ANS: C, D It is important to avoid "leafy green vegetables" when taking warfarin. None of the other choices are relevant to this medication.

6. The nurse suspects that a client is experiencing tardive dyskinesia when observing that behavior? a. Involuntary moving b. Involuntary twisting of facial muscles c. Inability to voluntarily get up out of a chair. d. Bilateral hand tremors

ANS;B Facial movements and involuntary twisting of the limbs, trunk, neck, and face is the definition of tardive dyskinesia. A compulsion to be in motion is the definition of akathisia. An inability to move is the definition of akinesia. A bilateral tremor and rigidity reflects Parkinsonian symptoms.

2. An older client prescribed a transdermal morphine patch for severe chronic pain is being educated on the appropriate administration of the medication. The nurse shows an understanding of essential information regarding this route of drug administration when making which statement? (Select all that apply.) a. "This is an effective route for delivering small doses of medication over long periods of time." b. "Since you have problems with digestion, this is a good way to take your medication." c. "Please show me how you would apply your patch." d. "Be careful to put the patch only on your chest but change locations with each application." e. "Be sure to avoid placing the patch on injured skin."

Ans, a,b,c,e Aging does increase the risk of developing an allergic reaction due to its effect on the immune system and decreased gastric motility. Transdermal medications bypass the gastrointestinal tract and so do not cause digestion problems, and their effectiveness is not affected by digestive problems. Demonstrating the application process is an excellent way to evaluate the client's understanding and technique. Transdermal patches can be applied to areas other than the chest, such as the arms, backs, legs, and abdomen, but damaged skin should be avoided.

11. An 81-year-old patient is being discharged from the hospital to home on seven different medications, which are to be taken at four different times during the day. What would be most useful in helping this patient manage the administration of the medications? a. The package inserts from all of the medications for the client to read b. A pillbox with compartments for each day and each of the doses c. A written list of all the client's medications and administration routine d. A suggestion that the client's caregiver administer the medications

Ans,b Providing a pillbox is an effective method to reinforce exactly which medications are to be given at what times. It also serves as an effective method to remind patients when they have missed a dose. Package inserts are often written in language that is not easy for patients to understand. Another consideration is that the size of the print in package inserts may be too small for aging eyes. Although providing a written list of the medications is appropriate, it does not make as much of an impact on the overall management of this patient's medications as other options. There is no indication that this patient cannot self-administer the medications.