Drug Therapy in Geriatric Patients –
Nursing Pharmacology – Examination
Practice Questions with Answers
Introduction:
This document contains comprehensive practice questions with
detailed answers on drug therapy in geriatric patients,
focusing on nursing pharmacology. Topics include
pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in older adults,
polypharmacy, Beers criteria, adverse drug reactions, renal
and hepatic changes, and medication adherence. The material
is well suited for exam preparation and clinical decision-
making in elderly patient care.
Exam Questions and Answers:
In geriatric patients, the percentage of body fat is increased.
What are the pharmacologic implications of this physiologic
change?
1. A lipid-soluble medication will be eliminated more quickly
and not work as well.
,2. A lipid-soluble medication will accumulate in fat tissue and
its duration of action may be prolonged.
3. Absorption of lipid-soluble drugs is impaired in older adults.
4. The bioavailability of the lipid-soluble drug will be
increased in older adults. ---Correct Answer---2
All of the following statements about the Beer's List are true
except:
1. It is a list of medications or medication classes that should
generally be avoided in persons 65 years or older because they
are either ineffective or they pose unnecessarily high risk for
older persons and a safer alternative is available.
2. It is derived from the expert opinion of one geriatrician and
is not evidence-based.
3. These criteria have been adopted by the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services for regulation of long-term
care facilities.
4. These criteria are directed at the general population of
patients over 65 years of age and do not take disease states
into consideration ---Correct Answer---1
You are reviewing the data from several meta-analyses that
addressed the most common causes of adverse drug reactions
, in the older adult. Which of the following would you find to be
decreased and the most common cause of these problems in
older adults?
1. Body fat content
2. Liver function
3. Renal function/clearance
4. Plasma albumin levels ---Correct Answer---3
Which of the following is not consistent with the rules for
geriatric prescribing:
1. Half-life will be longer in older adults
2. Steady state is reached more quickly in the older adult
3. Reduce the number of drugs in the patient's regimen
whenever possible
4. Adverse drug responses present atypically in the older adult
---Correct Answer---2
A nurse is obtaining a drug history from an older adult patient
who is taking multiple medications prescribed by different
providers. Which two medications taken together create a
reason for concern?
a. Acetaminophen [Tylenol] and oxycodone
Nursing Pharmacology – Examination
Practice Questions with Answers
Introduction:
This document contains comprehensive practice questions with
detailed answers on drug therapy in geriatric patients,
focusing on nursing pharmacology. Topics include
pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in older adults,
polypharmacy, Beers criteria, adverse drug reactions, renal
and hepatic changes, and medication adherence. The material
is well suited for exam preparation and clinical decision-
making in elderly patient care.
Exam Questions and Answers:
In geriatric patients, the percentage of body fat is increased.
What are the pharmacologic implications of this physiologic
change?
1. A lipid-soluble medication will be eliminated more quickly
and not work as well.
,2. A lipid-soluble medication will accumulate in fat tissue and
its duration of action may be prolonged.
3. Absorption of lipid-soluble drugs is impaired in older adults.
4. The bioavailability of the lipid-soluble drug will be
increased in older adults. ---Correct Answer---2
All of the following statements about the Beer's List are true
except:
1. It is a list of medications or medication classes that should
generally be avoided in persons 65 years or older because they
are either ineffective or they pose unnecessarily high risk for
older persons and a safer alternative is available.
2. It is derived from the expert opinion of one geriatrician and
is not evidence-based.
3. These criteria have been adopted by the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services for regulation of long-term
care facilities.
4. These criteria are directed at the general population of
patients over 65 years of age and do not take disease states
into consideration ---Correct Answer---1
You are reviewing the data from several meta-analyses that
addressed the most common causes of adverse drug reactions
, in the older adult. Which of the following would you find to be
decreased and the most common cause of these problems in
older adults?
1. Body fat content
2. Liver function
3. Renal function/clearance
4. Plasma albumin levels ---Correct Answer---3
Which of the following is not consistent with the rules for
geriatric prescribing:
1. Half-life will be longer in older adults
2. Steady state is reached more quickly in the older adult
3. Reduce the number of drugs in the patient's regimen
whenever possible
4. Adverse drug responses present atypically in the older adult
---Correct Answer---2
A nurse is obtaining a drug history from an older adult patient
who is taking multiple medications prescribed by different
providers. Which two medications taken together create a
reason for concern?
a. Acetaminophen [Tylenol] and oxycodone
