PHARMACOLOGY CHAPTER 08: GERIATRIC
PHARMACOLOGY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
EXPLANATIONS.
1. The nurse is caring for an older adult patient who is receiving multiple
medications. When monitoring this patient for potential drug toxicity, the
nurse should review which lab values closely?
a. Complete blood count and serum glucose levels
b. Pancreatic enzymes and urinalysis
c. Serum creatinine and liver function tests (LFTs)
d. Serum lipids and electrolytes
ANS: C
With liver and kidney dysfunction, the efficacy of drugs is generally
increased and may cause toxicity. The nurse should review serum
creatinine levels to monitor renal function and LFTs to monitor hepatic
function. The other lab tests may be ordered for specific drugs if they affect
those body systems.
2. An older patient who reports a 2- to 3-year history of upper
gastrointestinal symptoms will begin taking ranitidine (Zantac) to treat this
disorder. The patient has completed a health history form. The nurse notes
that the patient answered “no” when asked if any medications were being
taken. Which action will the nurse take next?
a. Ask whether the patient uses over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
b. Obtain a careful dietary history for the past two weeks.
c. Recommend that the patient take antacid tablets.
d. Suggest that the patient add high-potassium foods to the diet.
ANS: A
Many patients do not think of OTC products as medications and often do
, not list them when asked about medication use. A patient who takes
ranitidine along with an OTC antacid could be duplicating medications. A
dietary history is important as well but would not be the most important
action in this case. The nurse should not recommend antacid tablets or high
potassium foods.
3. To assist an older, confused patient to adhere to a multidrug regimen, the
nurse will provide which recommendation?
a. Avoid the use of over-the-counter medications.
b. Bring all medications to each clinic visit.
c. Review the manufacturer’s information insert about each medication.
d. Save money by getting each drug at the pharmacy with the lowest price.
ANS: B
Patients who take multiple medications should be advised to bring
medications to each clinic visit. Patients may take OTC medications as long
as those are included in the list of medications reviewed by the provider.
Manufacturers’ inserts provide an overwhelming amount of information.
Patients should be advised to use only one pharmacy.
4. The nurse is caring for an older patient who is taking 25 mg per day of
hydrochlorothiazide. The nurse will closely monitor which lab value in this
patient?
a. Coagulation studies
b. White blood count
c. Liver function tests
d. Serum potassium
ANS: D
Older patients who take doses of hydrochlorothiazide between 25 to 50
mg/day have increased risk of electrolyte imbalances, so potassium should
be monitored closely.
PHARMACOLOGY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
EXPLANATIONS.
1. The nurse is caring for an older adult patient who is receiving multiple
medications. When monitoring this patient for potential drug toxicity, the
nurse should review which lab values closely?
a. Complete blood count and serum glucose levels
b. Pancreatic enzymes and urinalysis
c. Serum creatinine and liver function tests (LFTs)
d. Serum lipids and electrolytes
ANS: C
With liver and kidney dysfunction, the efficacy of drugs is generally
increased and may cause toxicity. The nurse should review serum
creatinine levels to monitor renal function and LFTs to monitor hepatic
function. The other lab tests may be ordered for specific drugs if they affect
those body systems.
2. An older patient who reports a 2- to 3-year history of upper
gastrointestinal symptoms will begin taking ranitidine (Zantac) to treat this
disorder. The patient has completed a health history form. The nurse notes
that the patient answered “no” when asked if any medications were being
taken. Which action will the nurse take next?
a. Ask whether the patient uses over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
b. Obtain a careful dietary history for the past two weeks.
c. Recommend that the patient take antacid tablets.
d. Suggest that the patient add high-potassium foods to the diet.
ANS: A
Many patients do not think of OTC products as medications and often do
, not list them when asked about medication use. A patient who takes
ranitidine along with an OTC antacid could be duplicating medications. A
dietary history is important as well but would not be the most important
action in this case. The nurse should not recommend antacid tablets or high
potassium foods.
3. To assist an older, confused patient to adhere to a multidrug regimen, the
nurse will provide which recommendation?
a. Avoid the use of over-the-counter medications.
b. Bring all medications to each clinic visit.
c. Review the manufacturer’s information insert about each medication.
d. Save money by getting each drug at the pharmacy with the lowest price.
ANS: B
Patients who take multiple medications should be advised to bring
medications to each clinic visit. Patients may take OTC medications as long
as those are included in the list of medications reviewed by the provider.
Manufacturers’ inserts provide an overwhelming amount of information.
Patients should be advised to use only one pharmacy.
4. The nurse is caring for an older patient who is taking 25 mg per day of
hydrochlorothiazide. The nurse will closely monitor which lab value in this
patient?
a. Coagulation studies
b. White blood count
c. Liver function tests
d. Serum potassium
ANS: D
Older patients who take doses of hydrochlorothiazide between 25 to 50
mg/day have increased risk of electrolyte imbalances, so potassium should
be monitored closely.
